Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1898-05-26
MUST POSSESS PORTO RICO.
United States Wants Il Before Peace Negotia-
tons Begin.
That Island and the Philippines VIII be
Insisted Upon as n War
Indemity.

New York, May ga special to the
traordlnary activity in the war and
navy departments this morning. which
was not limited to the higher officials,
but including every Individual in both
services. gave every indication of i'm
portant developments in the conduct of
the war, while an unusual secrecy
served to strengthen the impression
that prompt and energetic action along
the whole line in the West Indies had
become question OF hours rather than
days.
Rumors too definite to be ignored.
but impossible of official authentica-
ton, explained the remarkable hurry
and hustle as due to the Presidents
determination to have Porto Rico oc-
cupied by American soldiers without
further delay, and that the troops
which had been concentrated at CUR
ports for the invasion of Cuba were to
embark Immediately on the twenty
transports which had been secured,
and, under convoy of Admiral Samp-
sons squadron, be sent at once to
seize San Juan de Porto Rico and es-
tablish a permanent colonial govern
ment in the island SIMILAR to that
which Gen, Merritt Is charged with
creating in the Philippines.
However startling the, report, its
plausibility soon received corrobora-
tive strength through the reluctance
of every high official to deny 1t, while
many senators and other prominent
civilians having influential relations
with th.se carrying on the war, not
only affirmed the existence Of the sug-
gested plan, but gave cogent reasons
10 gttId oln " ha
thorities
1t was said that the events of the
last few days in Cuba. eliminating in
the uselessness to Spain of Cervera's
fleet, surely "corked up" at Santiago.
and the destruction Of untrammeled
| cable communication between the colo
MES of Madrid, gave every assurance
of the speedy collapse OF Spanish re-
| sistence to the inevitable, and the
| United States government had awak-
ened to the necessity OF possessing
Porto Rico before the end CAME
That island and the Philippines had
| come to be looked upon as an assem-
tial recompense to the United States
| for It's expensive Intervention In behalf
| of Cuba's freedom, and the fear had
| arisen that unless they were actually
secured before Cuba fell, embarrassing
complications, leading. possibly, to
grave international complications with
| European powers might not be avoid
| ed.
with the Spanish military forces at
Havana effectually isolated. and with
out even remote hopes of reinforce
ments, with Spain's naval force on this
| side of the Atlantic completely para
| lyzed, and with he Madrid govern
ment already lettering In lts insecurity
of policy, the opportunity for dealing
crushing blow through the island of
Porto Rico was hardly to be resisted.
The divisions of the aggregate force
of volunteers determined upon at yes
| terday's cabinet meeting Is practically
| the following preparations: Philippine
| Occupation. $4,000; Porto Rican occupa-
| ton. 25.00s. Cuba, 100000; reserve and
home defense. $4,000.
The estimate for the Cuban army of
| invasion was based on the conviction
which is now common to all author
| tiles, both civil and military in WASH
| lngton. that order cannot be restored
| over that large area of territory with
out the presence there for some time
to come of at least 100 regiments. and
| that little or no reliance can be placed
| on the capacity of Cubans for self-gov-
| eminent for at least year or two.
The military authorities expressed
| supreme confidence in their ability TO
| sweep the Spaniards from Porto Rico
with the men now at their command,
| while still reluctant to attempt the
greater task of establishing "A position
| In Cuba with the same force. With
the 1900 well equipped and seasoned
regular troops gathered at Tampa,
| New orleans and Mobile, and the fleet
of transports already loading, many
| of them In fact ready TO sail from those
| points, satisfactory assurances were
| given to the President that there would
be no possibility of reverse at San
| Juan de Porto Rico after the heavy
batteries had been reduced by Samp-