The Bryan daily eagle. (Bryan, Tex.) 1895-1898, 1898-05-29
TO PORTO RICO FIRST.
Indications Are That They VIII 60 There
before They 90 10 Cuba.


ments OF a military nature, IL has been
marked by a strengthening Of the con.
yiction, now general, that Puerto Rico
and not Cuba, Is TO be the irs, object Of
invasion by the combined land and
naval forces Of the United States.
The United States Is not making its
plans know, nor l. the war board TAX.
ing tho public into IT, confidence, but
there are other ways In which coming
events make themselves known, even In
war times.
A significant indication Of the atti.
tude Of the military arm Of the govern
ment toward tho Porto Rican invasion
isafforied by the earnestness with which
high members Of General Miles staff
urge the measure. The commanding
general or the army Is not talking for
publication, but II Il understood that
the members Of his STAFF, who declare
unreservedly in favor Of taking Porto
Rico without delay, reflect his views on
that subject.
The announcement that General Miles
may leave Washington IN day or two
on tour Of inspection Of the army
camps In the south, Is regarded as con.
hrmatory Of the understanding that
there Is to be no invasion Of Cuba az
once. Il has been taken for granted
that General Miles will go to Cuba with
the army. II the invasion Is 10 BE- put
off. and Porto Rico taken instead, the
present tour Of inspection is easily ex.
planned.
The strongest argument used In favor
Of the attack on Porto Rico now i that
II Is the easiest thing the army can do
Just at present, and, In fact, about tho
only thing IL can do. The decision was
reached ldAg ago that not less than 80.
OOO-pruferably 1900 - men will 10
needed for the first army that Is sent to
Cuba. Not more than $4,000 mon are
now In shape for a foreign campaign
These are the regulars aud the equipped
volunteers at Tampa. The rest OF the
volunteer army Is unframed and un.
equipped, and II may be accepted once
and for all that IL is not going 20 be sent
20 Cuba until Il Is both equipped aud 10
some extent, at Last, instructed In aud
Injured 10 the practices Of war
With tho $4,000 men already az Tam.
pa, II is urged, Porto Rico could be
taken aud subdued while the rsst Of the
army Is being put in shape at Chicka-
manga, Washington and the other
camps. Then, when all has been made
ready for the grand move on Cuba, the
regulars could DO withdrawn from Por.
TO Rico aud used 20 lead :he army
against Blanco The facts that while
giving needed training to the regular.
themselves and delivering them from
the facilitating inaction at Tampa, thi.
move would strike deadly blow al
Spain In a vital part OF her colonial
structure and rob the reserve fleet Of IL,
only base Of supplies on this side Of the
Atlantic, are urged as reasons In is a.
vor, which are believed 70 have had the
effect OF determining the powers that b
to undertake H.
There does not seem 10 BE-, il Is point
ed ont, anything 20 prevent the prompt
execution Of the plan, since the troops
the supplies, aud the transports are al
at Tampa; and all, according TO the 10
ports received here, are ready 10 move
on short notice. The fact that Genera
Shaftcr has been authorized 10 send 1
portion Of his command at Tampa (,
Jacksonville, 80 a. 20 make them NOR
comfortable In camp, Is taken here to in
dictate that there Il no intention to sent
them TO Cuba at once IfGenoml Shat
ter knew that his entire force would b
called on TO 20 TO Cuba next week or TN
week following, Il Is urged that he woul,
not 90 to the trouble Of having then
break camp and move over TO Jackson
vile.
The plan, rs IL Is construed here, 4
for General Shafter 10 send the leas
available Of his volunteers to jackson
vile, while holding the regulars and TN
pick OF the new troops TO the number D
1900 or 10000 ready for the expedition
TO Porto Rico.
SO much attention is being given 4
the Porto Rico occupation by the mill
tary authorities that Is assumed by OH
GERS that the army aud navy plans hay
gone along together. When the mo
ment Of attack arrives It may he expect
cd that Sampson will be outside tn
harbor prepared TO attack the batterie
he has already tested while the Ian
forces are trying the ability Of SPANS
troops to defend land positions.