The Forrest City times. [volume] (Forrest City, Ark.) 1871-1919, 1898-07-22
Porto Rico Next.

From now on public interest in
the war will be conferred at San
Juan, the chief sea port town of
Porto Rico.
For more than two years all
eyes were directed towards Havana
and the scene shifted to Washing.
Ion. Following the declaration of
war all attention was focused upon
Madrid. News from Madrid soon
became unintercsting and the
worlds demand was for informa.
ton from the Philippines. The de-
parturc Of the Cape Verde feet,
the progress of the Oregon in its
long journey from San Francisco
to Florida and the blockade of
Havana then became the chief in.
cidents of the war, followed by
the siege of Santiago, the destruc-
tion Of Ccrvera's feet, the move
ments of Camara's fleet, ending
with the surrender of Toral's
army with the eastern portion of
Cuba. These incidents are closed.
Public attention is still riveted
upon Manila, but not so much as
in the contemplated movements OF
the army and navy against Porto
Rico and Watson's mission TO
Spanish seacoast towns. The stu
ton at Manila presents but little
change. Admiral Dewey awaits
the coming of the army and when
Merrltt's forces are placed in posi-
ton there is certain TO be II repeti.
ton of the Santiago affair.
The Notifications at San Juan
are similar to those at Santiago,
but the hills at the entrance Of the
harbor are not as lofty AS those
which afford protection to the lat
ter port. Gen. Miles is now on his
way to Porto Rico and will effect
a landing upon the island. Troops
will follow him from Santiago,
Charleston and from other points.
The force under his command will
consist of from $4,000 to 10000
men, and will be composed of in.
fantry, cavalry and artillery, light
and heavy. In addition to this
Overwhelming force, the heaviest
ironclads in the navy will cooper
ate with the army and assaults
upon San Juan both from land and
sea will be made and continued
until the town and the Spanish
troops are forced to surrender.
None of the plans of the gov.
crnment has yet miscarried, and
no apprehension is felt among
those who have arranged the de-
tails of the campaign in Porto Rico
that Miles and his men and Samp.
son and his big fighting machines
will fail to accomplish their object,
which is the complete subjugation
of the island. By the end of next
week the stars and stripes may be
floating over the ramparts OF de-
fiant San Juan. The expeditions
TO Porto Rico will be under COM
mand of the most experienced gem
erals in the army, all Of whose
troops arc we'll seasoned and capa-
BILE of making short work OF the
siege. 1t is possible that the VIC
tory may be a bIoodless one. 1t
will be If the Madrid authorities
will permit the Spanish COM
mander at San Jnan TO use his dir
erection in the matter. Any num-
Der of men and any number of
warships needed for the annlhlla-
ton of every Spaniard on the
island and for the destruction OF
every fertilization about the city
of San Juan can be supplied by
the United States on very short
notice. The Spanish can obtain
no relnforcements from any source.
No nation in the world would at
tempt to fight against such odds
except Spain. The city is doomed,
and it the Spanish has returned to
their senses sufficiently to enable
them TO realize the situation they
will surrender the island without
the firing OF a gun.-Arkansas
Gazette,