The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-08-15
United States May Decide to Let Go
Manila and Found Thriving
American City at Subig Bay.
OUR FOREIGN ENDORSEMENT
ENGLISH PAPERS NOTICE GREAT
CHANGE ACROSS THE OCEAN.
President McKinley's Statesmanship n
Highly Regarded and "a New Era
for America Predicted.

WASHINGTON, Aug. 14.-The White
| House, the War Department and the Navy
| Department to-day resumed their usual
| Sunday quietude, condition which has not
prevailed since the Maine was blown up
| in Havana harbor, Feb. 15. Secretary AL
| ger was at the department few minutes
| and also went to the White House, but did
| not remain long. General Corbin came
| into his office during the day and looked
over his dispatches, but did not remain con-
| stantly on duty, as he has been doing.
| There were few clerks about the depart
| ments, but scarcely Sunday passes in
| peace times that this does not happen. The
| busy, warlike attitude has entirely disap-
| peared and Washington has settled down to
| a peace basis.
| The President believes that the most seri-
Gus problem which the peace commission
will be called on to deal with is the Philip
| pines Before the commission assemblies it
| is hoped the affairs of Cuba and Porto Rico
| will be found in such process of adjustment
| as to leave little for the commission to con-
| slider under that head. The absolute re-
| linquishment by Spain of all sovereignty
| over the islands in the West Indies will al
| low only the proper questions to be set
| tied between the governments-that is,
| what Spain shall take away and what shall
| remain as captures of war and the protec-
| ton of Spanish subjects and their proper
| ty in the islands. The greater questions
| growing out of the war as relating to Cuba
| and Porto Rico will have to be dealt with
| hv the United States alone. The fact that
| the Philippines will present the difficult
problem in the peace negotiations has
caused the administration to give it a great
deal of careful attention. Several sugges-
/ hov do 10 ebon bo
done. one being the retention of the bay,
| city and harbor of Manila, just what the
| protocol gives temporarily. Another is
| that Subig bay and a sufficient amount of
| territory for naval and coaling station be
| secured and the building up of an American
| city at that place begun. Still another idea,
| which is being considered, is the retention
| of the Island of LuZon, the advocates of
| that plan believing that there would be
| trouble between the governments which &C.
| cupied a portion of the island with a line
| of demarkation, such as would exist in case
| Manila and the bay only was retained.
| The Island of Luzon is the largest of the
| group and contains about three million peo~
| pie, which are said to be the better class
| in the Philippines. 1t is believed, however,
| that the administration and the commission
| will be greatly influenced by the reports
WHICH lIdl lDtWGy anu 1eueTil
Will make on the subject Their reports are
| expected before the commission meets
| The final determination to the govern
ment of Porto Rico and the settlement of
| the government of Cuba are problems for
settlement, but the impression prevails that
these islands will become quite rapidly
Americanzed, and every encouragement for
| them to do SO will be given. Porto Rico
will be under military control for lhe pres
ent. Cuba also will be similarly governed
| but it is probable that American reforms
| in the matter of government will be such
| that the people of Cuba will see tie advan-
| tage of becoming annexed to the United
| States. 1t is thought the sanitary improve
men of Havana end other cities, the man.
| agement of the municipalities and liberality
| offered the country people will be of such a
| character as soon to convince the people
| that the changed conditions are for their
| good.
| There has been little doubt about soon
| settling the transfer of Porto Rico, and the
| reception which the American troops have
received in that island is a justification for
the belief. Porto Rico will be treated at
! once as an American possession. The first
movement in this direction will be the send
| ing of a delegation of officials from the
| S9lOliIS " investigate anu re-
Lort on the mail facilities there now, and to
make such recommendations they deter
mine. Mail routes methods of transporta-
| tion and the conditions of postoffices gener-
| ally in the island will be examined. Military
postoffices will be established at once where
| ever troops are stationed, and at such other
| points as may be demanded by the interests
| of Americans and the people of the islands,
| If the present offices be not available. A
| similar course will be taken in Cuba, but
| this is likely to be delayed. as the immediate
| removal of the Spanish and the occupation
| by the United States is not expected.
| No more troops will be sent to General
| Merritt unless he asks for them. 1t is be-
| lieved at the War Department that the IS 900
men now there are sufficient to garrison
| Manila and the ground which the United
| States for the present will occupy. All OF
the troops that were with General Shafter
in the Santiago campaign will be out of
Cuba by Friday of this week. General
Shafter will accompany them to Monta Tx
Point. There will remain at Santiago five
regiments of immunes to do garrison duty
1t is yet possible that q battery will be sent
to Santiago to take the place of the bat
teries which are to be removed
General Miles has about 5000 men in
occupation of the island and perhaps more
than are needed after the Spanish evacuate
The remainder OF the troops will remain in
the various camps to which they have been
assigned for the present, though something
may be done looking towards diminishing
the number when it becomes apparent that
they are no longer needed. The government
will dispose Of the transports that have