The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-06-08

War to Be Pushed i'm Cuba and Porto
Rico Despite Hot weather.

Rico Despite Hot Weather.
NEW YORK, June 7.--Summer has set
In in earnest with more fervent heat in
Florida and in Cuba than in WashiH n
but summer weather is not to be wasted
by the administration in siestas, says the
Washington correspondent of the Times
The Spanish forces in Cuba may have found
it comfortable consistent with the policy
Of prolonging the war to drop war when
summer came on and they may be inclined
to continue their old habit, but If they ex-
pect to do so the administration will create
very different impression before the sum-
mer is over. 1t has come to be the opinion
of medical men of some experience and
judgment of climatic risks that the Ameri-
can army will be quite as well Off during
the summer where they can reach the ene-
my and keep him from going to sleep FREE
quently. they would be frying on the
sands of Tampa bay or wasting away with
ennui in the other camps of concentration.
All plans for the occupation of Porto Rice
are kept very secret in the War Depart
ment. Just who has made them is not ascer-
tanned, but the assumption is that the best
suggestions have been made by the careful
mind of General Schofield, General Miles
being occupied very fully with the direction
of routine business and only having time to
consider plans with the purpose Of carrying
them out. When it comes to the details OF
business at Porto Rico, Santiago or in the
Philippines it is understood that the Pres-
dent will insist that the officer in command
of the expedition, be he Merritt, Shafter or
Miles himself, shall be permitted to work
out each for himself as completely as may
be, with cooperation Of the navy, his own
plan of campaign
as fS IN
of the hottest summer towns in Cuba, 1t 10
not hotter for the Spaniard than 1t will be
for the United States army and navy, and
the forces of the United States, as It APP
pears to the administration, will be much
better off in the matter of clothes, food
and discipline than the Spanish army. At
all events, it is and not a matter for
pleasure, that the country is embarked in
and some men are sure to lose their lives
in the field or in hospital as the result OF
the war. The administration does not desire
to prolong it, even If contractors for the
army take the other and heartless view
that war now and then is a good thing.
particularly for contractors. These are som0
of the ideas that are being discussed by the
administration at the beginning OF June,
with the hottest weather of the year COM
ing on. 1t is the opinion of some OF the
terminated before winter, If the summer Is
employed to good advantage. Movements
upon Porto Rico and Santiago. followed by
successes and probably by a season of camp
ing on acquired territory that is not un-
healthful, even for northern men, will main
tain the spirits of the troops not yet ready
but preparing to be ready by and by.
The navy and army will both be occupied
in the operations of the summer and possi-
bly, before the summer is ended 1t may be
that the navy will be called upon to go to
Cadiz to look for the lost fleet OF Spanish
reserve vessels. That has been thought OF
several times. and with Porto Rico occupied.
Santiago taken, Havana invested and the
Cadiz feet not yet on this side. ii will bo
possible to spare squadron Of half dozen
or more ships to run across the ocean and
see what has become of Admiral Camara
and his much-talked-of fighting ships.
Signs are multiplying in Washington
which confirm even in the minds of the
most cautious observers the stories OF hur-
ry orders for the troops at Tampa which
have been current for several days past.
The necessary circumspecton OF the re-
sponsible members OF the war administra-
ton prevents the exact nature of these or
ders becoming known. That every effort is
being made by all branches of the depart
ment TO get troops ready to move from
Tampa at very early day is beyond ques-
tion Every available soldier of the regular
army not actually set aside for duty else-
where has been sent to Tampa. Every reg
the Fifteenth. Eighteenth and Twenty