The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1898-08-02
PREPARINo FoR THE END.
The Army and Navy VIII Soon Be Ma
terlally Reduced.

New York. August IA special to th'
Tribune from Washington says:
Army and navy officers consider tbs
war practically ended so far as actual
hostHities are concerned. and that there
will be no occasion hereafter to fire a
hostile shot except In the slight resistance
thai may be offered by the Spaniards 10
the progress Of the American forces In
General Miles brilliant Porto Rican
campaign.
! AT any rate u Is considered tnconceiv-
able that any new extensive operations
Will need 70 be undertaken and that even
II the peace negotiations are conducted
m the diiatory manner which has come to
be mseparable from the Spanlards. an ar
mtstice can hardly be delayed before a
week or ten days. or by that time the
Spanish garrtsons at san Juan and Ma
Mia will have laid down their arms. as
they did at Santiago.
Under the circumstances, II is not sur
prising to find that in the war depart-
ment as well as the naval department.
preparations for the new conditions of
peace arc rapidly going forward and
some OF them. at least. will be carried
into effect Immediately. With the future
Of the Philippines stiil in doubt. the d.
rectors OF the naval and military services
are devoting their attention chiefly TO the
West Indies and the forces ashore and
afioat in the Atlantic and east OF the Mis-
siSsippi
The necessity for the maintenance OF a
large army for the occupation of Cuba
and Porto Rico will initiate to prevent
any reduction in the Miles establishment
for some time TO come, although most OF
the volunteers who have not up to this
time left American soil will probably be |
mustered out OF the service within a
month after the treaty of peace is con-
cluded.
The regular army, which has been ex-
panded during the war from a strength
OF 5000 TO an approximate numerical aR-
sregate of 5000 men vial, in all probabn-
Wy remain upon its war footing for sew
eral years. the country having been
awakened to the expediency of maintain
rg greater standing army at home.
while the enlarged responsibilities in
Alaska, Hawaii, Cuba and Porto Rico
md perhaps the Philippines, imperatively
iemand considerable force for garrison
iuty. FcT some time at least Cuba cannot
)e trusted to work out the problem OF
without guardianship OF
Ir least $1,000 trained soldiers. Porto Rico =
will undoubtedly require about 10000 un-
ess greater difficulties attends the estab- :
tshment OF law and order in these is
ands than is now apprehended when
louble that number would be needed.
or Porto Rtco's rapid progress and of
he ability Of its people to relieve the
United States of much concern, army off,
ers have little doubt, but they are not so
ertatn about the Cubans after their per-
ormance at Santiago, and grave fears
re manifested that the professional
'uerillas and military agitators, together
Nth large elements of shiftleSs, lazy men
hat infest the Islands will prove a source
t continual irritation and probably COM
el the administering Of Justice and the
rotection of property there by the con-
Inual eXertton of the strong arm of the
'nited States until generation has
assed
Hawaii is expected to give no trouble at
Il. Its people have demonstrated their
biltty TO take care Of themselves and be-
ond a small detachment Of artillery and
erhaps a company of infantry the army
ill be able to leave the protection of the
stands entirely to the navy.
If the Philippines are to be held, tre-
lendous increase in the regular army
'ould be imperative so soon as congress