The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1898-06-13
EASY TO TAKE
United States Troops Can Land
in Porto Rico Whenever
They Please,
According to Mr.. Ajvado, Who
Has Been a Resident For
Many Years.
Easiest Way Would Be to Silence
Forts and Land at San
Juan.
The Island About the HealthieSt
Place on Earth. But 1t Is
Very Kst.

KEY WEST, Fla, June l3.-Mr. G. j.
Ajvado, who was for IL years q resi-.
dent Of San Juan, Porto Rico, is thor.
oughly in in favor Of the United States
taking possession Of Porto Rico at once.
He said to q representative Of the AS.
sociated Press:
"A United States expedition can land
when it pleases in Porto Rico, except
in the neighborhood Of San Juan. The
best harbor in Porto Rico is Guanica,
west Of Ponce, aud south of San Juan,
the latter place is distant is hours car.
riage ride. The roads between Guanica
and San Juan. as indeed every where in
Porto Rico, are excellent. and troops
with supplies could be moved about
the island readily. but l would not ad.
wise exposing men TO the tropical sun
on long marches. This, in spite of the
fact that the climate Of Porto Rico is
the healthlest III the world. The rainy
season does not begin until August and
Is of short duration. Yellow fever is
almost unknown. Our men, however,
are rot used to the hot weather aud
would wilt under it.
should Land at San Juan.
san Juan Is where the troops should
be landed. The American fleet should
finish the work that Admiral Sampson
started last month, and batter down
Moro and Fort San Carlos. The forts
are uot at all i~mpregnable; we can de.
stroy them at some expense, but judg.
ing from the previous bombafdment,
without loss Of life. Then the troops
can he landed to defeat the Spanish
soldiers and take possession Of the city.
The occupation Of San Juan would end
the war in Porto Rico for the Span.
lards could not make a stand any where
else.
Il don't underestimate the strength
Of the forts. New batteries have been
constructed, new and modern gun
mounted, and the force Of 5000 Span.
ish regular soldiers has been doubled.
The 5000 volunteers are valueless.
There are sarrlsons at Ponce. May.
aguez and other towns, but the great
mass OF troops Is at san Juan.
Populate Would Welcome Soldiers.
After the feet has silenced the forts,
the harbor may be counterminei and
cleared Of distractions, transports
taken in and troops landed. AS the
inhabitants Of Porto Rico are thor.
oughly disaffected, American troop,
would not lie required to subdue the
country; the people generally would
welcome our soldiers. Porto Rico has moi
been ravaged by a war. Horses, cattle
and all food supplies are abundant, and
although there Is no railroad system
the first class carriage roads rende,
communication with al parts Of the
island easy. It would be a pity TO de.
stroy san Juan, which Is a fine town
with nicely paved streets, wider thar
those Of Old Havana. Steps were re
Gently taken TO bring in good water
by al aqueduct system. Our soldier
could obtain good water III al parts 0
the island, and there Is No swamp land
as IN Cuba. The cheapest, quickes
and most humane way of c~onGuerin.
Porto Rico Is by the use Of big guns 0
out feet. \ land siege Of a Jua,
would be slow and expensive, both i,
the matter Of men and money