Evening star., 1898-07-05
PORTO RICO NEXT
The Expedition to Sail After Santiago
Has Fallen.
PLANS OF TIE ADMINISTRATION
Attack on Havana to Be Deferred
for Some Time.
PORTO RICANS Ter E

It is said on good authority today that,
beyond the decision to at once get a squad
ron ready to go to Spain, no definite plans
have been reached as to when the invasion
Of Porto Rico will be made. All that is
known Is that unless plans change Porto
Rico will be the next place against which
troops will operate.
The entire question of the plans as to
Porto Rico will be held until Santiago has
fallen. That is expected to be almost i'm
mediately, and therefore the taking OF
Porto Rico will not be long postponed.
The reinforcements going to Gen. Shafter
may or may not be needed by him, but
they will be close enough to Porto Rico to
be sent there to join whatever forces may
go direct from southern shores.
Value of Regular Troops.
In all future land operations it is intend
ed to have large sprinkling of regular
troops, the assertion being that the pres
ence of regulars, differed by graduates of
West Point, tends to stiffen and strengthen
the volunteers. This makes 1t probable
that when Santiago has fallen and the
campaign against Porto Rico begins a num-
Der of the regular regiments at Santiago
will be withdrawn for work in Porto Rico.
About 10000 troops will be left in Santiago
for garrison duty. They will not be needed
to prevent the recapture of the city by
Spaniards, but they will be required to pre-
serve the peace and prevent excesses by
the Cubans. They will have to take care
OF practically the entire province of Santi-
ago. or the force to be left not over one
regiment will be from the regular army.
To Take Havana.
The administration is said to have come
to the conclusion that from $4,000 to 1OO,-
COO men will have to be sent against the
city of Havana. This is more apparent
since the game fight put up by the Span
iards at Santiago. 1t is seen that unless
Spain soon seeks peace the fighting around
Havana will be fierce and protracted. The
campaign may go on for q month after
Uncle Sans forces land unless Blanco Is
compelled. by starvation and internal trou-
bles, to surrender.
There are said to be thirty miles of in
trenchments in front of Havana. Line
after line of strong fortidcauons have been
erected for this distance. That mears
fighting fl ON the first line all the way back
to the city of Havana. The Spaniards will
sullenly fall back from line to line Blanco
is strengthening the Notifications in every
way. He has a fighting force of from 75,-
wv 10 loO,OOO This Will be increa Sed as
the Spanish troops in all the provinces will
retire to Havana just before the landing Of
the Americans. Every available weapon of
War and every man will be concentrated
to defend the city.
BlancO's Present Position.
Locking at the situation as now seen the
administration will not send hastily
equipped army to Havana. Weeks will be
taken to prepare the invading force and to
make 1t large enough to succeed Under
these circumstances Havana will be left un-
molested for good while 1t may even be
dscided to take the Canaries before Ha-
Vana Is attacked. Nothing will be lost to
allow Blanco to have his own way for
weeks. His circumstances will grow more
serious with each passing day. Hunger will
breed discontent and possibly revolution.
lie has already put in his best work
Strengthening his defenses and carnot do
much more in that line
Porto Rfcans In the City.
Evidences that Porto Rico is the next
number On the program is found in the fact
that members of the revolutionary party of
that island are in the city cooperating
with War Department officials in preparing
correct maps of the harbors, rivers roads,
mountains, towns. etc. The maps in pos
session OF the War Department lack much
or being correct. The Porto Ricans who
are at work here know the geography of
their country well and will bs of great as
sistance to War Department officials