The sun., 1898-05-28

to have strongly advised the Queen Re-
gent to prepare to fly, and her mother,
who is now in Madrid, is reported to
have given her the same advice. But, it
is added, the Qneen-Regent is deter
mined TO remain.
Continuing, the despatch adds: "The
defect of the Spanish fleet, which the
best-informed people regard as only a
question of few days, is bound to pre-
cipate an outbreak"
Plans of the Campaign.
Special Dispatch to THE Sun.
WASHINGTON, May 27.--The war con-
ference yesterday strengthens the pur-
pose OF the Administration to occupy
Porto Rico at once. Persons who are
close to the President and understand
thoroughly his ideas with relation to the
prosecution of the war and the policy to
be pursued now and in the immediate
future say that the immediate occupa-
tion OF Porto Rico before or simultan-
eously with the invasion of Cuba is the
Presidents own plan. The attack upon
Manila was the Presidents idea strong
ly advocated by him in the Cabinet
Councils and acquiesced in by his ad.
visers. 1t is said now by those who un-
doubtedly know the facts that he is tax
ing a position just as strongly in favor of
making an invasion OF Porto Rico the
next move.
The invasion OF Cuba may take place
simultaneously with that OF Porto Rico,
hut the Presidents idea is to take Porto
Rico first and to have the invasion OF
Cuba follow that. Indeed, there is reason
to believe that steps towards the invasion
of Porto Rico are already being taken,
and that very soon Simpsons fleet will
appear suddenly before San Juan and
that fortified port will be again bonn
barded, this time in dead earnest, and
an army of 10000 or more will be
landed.
1t is asserted positively on the very
best authority that the first troops en-
barked on the transports, though the
troops themselves may think they are
going to Cuba will be sent at once to
Porto Rico. The Presidents determin-
alton on this point is said to be fixed and
positive and to be based Oh a well-con-
sidered plan of operations, which was
decided on before the orders We're sent
to Admiral Dewey to destroy the Spanish
fleet at Manila. The President took the
position at that time that while every
effort should be made to supply the in
surgents with arms and provisions, our
first military and naval operations
should be directed against the Philip
pines and Porto Rico.
The first step in this plan OF opera
tions was the order to Admiral Dewey.
The brief bombardment of San Juan
some days more than two weeks ago
would have resulted in the occupation OF
that port, as Manila is now occupied,
had the Spanish fleet been found there,
as it was expected it would be, and an
invading army would have been sent as
soon as possible. We were not pre-
pared, however, at that time to trans.
port the troops Immediately, and the ap-
pearancc OF the Spanish fleet in the
Caribbean Sea rendered it desirable that
the capture Of San Juan should be de-
layed until the transports for troops
were ready, and that meanwhile Samp-
sons fleet should cooperate with Schley's
in an effort to destroy the Spanish
fleet. Though the Spanish fleet was not
destroyed, its bottling up at Santiago de
Cuba removes it as n factor and the
plan of Porto Rican invasion is to be
proceeded with.
Meanwhile, assistance is being rem
dered the insurgent army in Cuba, and
preparations are being perfected for the
landing of large invading army in
Cuba alter San Juan has been reduced
and Porto Rico occupied, This plan OF
operations gives us immunity, it is
thought from Spanish operations in the
Pacific, cuts Spain off from all base of
operations in the Atlantic, and leaves
the Spanish army in Cuba at our mercy,
without the possibility OF relief from
Spain. The natural expectation is that
Blanco, being placed in such position
will reason rom his necessities and sur
render Cuba without necessitating
great amo mt OF bloodshed and devasta-
ton.
This does not mean peaceful block
ade' nor a ''oloodless INVASION" A
large army will he landed in Cuba for
V gorous campaign, and the defences of
Havana will be reduced by our fleet.
Promptness and vigor in this movement,
after all the surrounding conditions have
been rendered satisfactory, are relied
upon to shorten the war and to reduce
the loss of life on our side. This plan
starts on the broad radius marked BY
Manila and Porto Rico, and draws in
our forces irresistibly around Cuba.
Fa cfovn TpnnnS Enr Mnu;I.