The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-05-26
TO STRIKE PORTO RICO.
That is the Latest Plan in the
Conduct of the War.

New York, May ga special to che
Tribune from Washington says:
ExtraoI 1inary activity in the war
and navy departments this morning,
which was not limited to the higher Of
ficials, but included every individual in
both services, gave every indication of
important and Immediate developments
in the conduct of the war, while an uu-
usual secrecy served to strength the
impression that prompt and energetic
action along the whole line in the West
Indies had become a question of hours
rather than days. Rumors too definite
to be ignored, but impossible of Official
authorization, explained the remark
able hurry and hustle as due to the
PRESIDENT determination to have Por-
to Rico occupied by American soldiers
without further delay and that the
troops which had been concentrated At
Gulf ports for the invasion of Cuba
were to embark Immediately on the 30
transports which had been secured and
under convoy of Admiral Simpsons
squadron, he sent at once to seize San
Juan de Porto Rico and establish a
permanent colonial government in the
island similar to- that which General
Merritt is charged with creating in the
Philippines.
However startling the report, its
plausibility soon received cOrrObOra-
tive strength through the reluctance of
every hgn official to deny it, while
many sena tors and other prominen.
civilians having influential reIa
with those carrying on the war not
only affirmed the existence of the sug-
gested plan. but gave cogent reasons
for it's sudden adoption by the authori-
ties.
It was said that the events of the last
few days in Cuba, eliminating in the
useleSSness to Spain of Cervera's fleet
securely "corked up at Santiago, and
the destruction of untranmeled cable
communication between the colonies
and Madrid, gave every assurance or
the speedy collapse of Spanish resist
ance to the inevitable, and that the
United States government had awaken
ed to the necessity of actually possess
ing Porto Rico before the end came
That island and the Philippines had
come to be looked on as an essential
recompense to the United States for it's
expensive Intervention in behalf OF Gu
ba's freedom, and the fear had arisen
before Cuba fell. embarrassing conpli-
cations, leading possibly to grave polit-
zeal complications with European coun-
tries, might not be avoided.
With the Spanish military forces at
Havana effectually isolated and without
even remote hopes of reinforcements,
with SPANS naval force this side of the
Atlantic completely paraIyzed ana Win
the Madrid government already totter-
ing in its insecurity of policy, the oppor-
tunity for dealing crushing blow
through the seizure of Porto Rico was
hardly to be resisted The unsanltary
condition of Cuba, the strength of the
army there, and many other causes
which operated to delay the invasion
of that island with the insufficient force
of trained regulars which it had been
possible to concentrate at Tampa in
Single month, wholly disappeared as
factors of delay in the Porto Rican pro-
ject.
The military authorities expressed SUI
preme confidence in their ability to
sweep the Spa niards from Porto Rico
with the men now at their command,
while still reluctant to attempt the
greater task of establishing a position
in Cuba with the same force. With the
$4,000 we'll equipped and seasoned reg
ular troops gathered at Tampa, New
Orleans and Mobile, and the fleet OF
transports already loading. many of
them in fact ready to sail from those
points, satisfactory assurances were
given to the president that there would
be no possibility of a reverse at San
Juan de Porto Rico after the heavy
batteries had been reduced by Samp-
sons ships. The withdrawal of these
forces it was shown, would leave 1900
men, the pick of the volunteer army, at
the gulf ports, while scarcely a days
Journey away were the forty regiments
of infantry. nine light batteries of artil-
lery, and eight troops of cavalry in the
Chickamauga camp, rapidly being
trained in effective corps, with the GER
tainty of becoming speedily ready to
meet any emergency that might con-
front the government should Cuban oc-
cupation become necessary.