Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1898-07-28
OUTLINE OF PLANS.
Statement In Reference to the Carrying on
of the War with Spain-Coast Not
to Be SheIIed.

Washington, July IA significant
statement was made to the Associated
press yesterday by one in a position to
speak with knowledge and authority
as to the plans of the administration
with reference to future war opera
tions. In substance the statement was
as follows: -
Commodore Watson, in proceeding to the
Spanish peninsula as soon as the Porto Rican
expedition is under way, is not to lombard
the cities on the Spanish coast No such idea
of the bombardment of the coast is enter
tanned. While there may be other incidental
purposes the main mission OF Watson is &c
take care OF Camaras feet The movement OF
this feet and the fears and apprehension
caused by reports concerning 1t are to be
stopped for all time The ships under Camara
will be located by Watson and finally met and
engaged. The talk occasionally INDUCED in as
to the Canary islands is utterly without foun-
dation This government has no plan to take
these islands and does not want them
Despite popular expectation that Porto Rico
opera tions will be followed Immediately by &C
ton against Havana, it be said that Ha-
vana will not be attacked while yellow fever
conditions exist This is certain 1t would be
the height of national folly to engage our troops
in and about the fever pest hole Consequently
it will be left until the climate lends its aid in
the autumn Shafter will hold his own in the
eastern strip now surrendered may gradually
push his way over some other districts, and ii
there should be any particular need of imme-
date aggressive action at any point will move
against it. but Havana will be left until yellow
fever dangers are past.
Meantime in the next two months there will
be enough to keep this government busy We
will have to cope with the most serious prob
lens yet of providing for the government and
the future of the lands involved in this war.
The hauling down of the Spanish flag and the
hosting of that OF the United States means
more than. on its face, it indicates to the pop
ular mind No more important matter is to
enc he att of he m MT n N
the details to be arranged for the disposition.
control or temporary possession pending final
transfer of possession of these additions to
our domain. There are questions of the most
intricate and far-reaching character to be de-
cided.
Porto Rico whose fall Is liable to be re-
corded within week or ten days. will have &c
have a military government Porto Rico. of
course, is to be kept permanently by this gov
eminent, but there must be a military govern
ment first and many preliminary details will
have to be worked out There must be re-
Mobilization of existing systems of govern
ment where we have carried our arms and
while local schemes and conditions will form
the basis of general system for the control of
the land, there must be numerous changes
aboliShing such laws as may be oppressive
Laws will have to be very thoroughly gone
over and the tariff system revised in some way
but in general and as far as possible the sys-
tenn of government which now exists is to be
followed
Next winter, however, when congress con-
venes, the necessity for laws covering such
matters will be recognized by Recommended
tionS to congress to that end and to be SUBJ
mitted by the president and it is very probable
the shaping of the destinies of Porto Rico and
similar cir cunlStanced acceSSionS will be left
to commission or commissions to be appoint
ed to draft the laws by adoption by congress
The government is likely to be busy from now
on considering all these matters OF govern.
mental detail
1t is certainty as far as now can be foreseeD
that Guam, the island in the La 1rone group
that was captured by this government, will be
permanently retained as coaling and supply
station For these purposes it is valuable from
it's location between the Sandwich and the
Philippine islands, and on the point whether
the rest of them will be kept I am not sure.
They may be and they may not be. The dis
position of the Philippines is unsettled and de-
ponds upon circumstances.
AS to the attitude of Garcia and the insur-
gents in Cuba there is change in our inten-
ton This government has not been misled in
its estimate of these forces. With the oppres-
sive hand Spain has put on them so long, con-
tending against the conditions imposed by in
justice and oppression, there would have been
little expectation of greater abilities than are
now shown by them This government will
have to treat them kindly, but firmly. 1t has
made pledge to establish firm and stable
government and that must be carried out