The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-04-16
FORCES IN CUBA.
Spanish Forces Would He Larger Than
the American.

Spanish Forces Would lie Larger Than
the American.
New York, April 15.-If war should
be brought on within the next few days
the United States could send to Cuba
not more thar 10000 to $1,000 troops,
says the Washington correspondent of
the Times. The fighting strength of the
standing army is now about 1900 men.
but at least 1000 ould have to man
the coast Notifications and the heavy
artillery, which the militia that could
be used for other purposes could not
handle. II is estimated that 1t would
take more than n week to land even
this small force in Cuba.
OF course, IL would take much longer
to get together an army of volunteers.
Militia is out of the question:. In the
opinion of officers. 1t would require
several weeks to organize, clothe, arm,
and drill in the necessary army evo-
lutions a body of volunteers large
enough to constitute an effective fight
ing force In the island.
The plan of campaign that will prob
ably be followed Is to form an immed-
! late junction with the revolutionary ar
mics, equip them by furnishing them
with arms and ammunition, and carry
on a joint attack on the Spanish forces.
BY this way 1t Is thought that some
decisive advantage could be gained over
the Spanish, a foothold obtained and
held until the arrival of reinforcements
! of volunteers would enable the Ameri-
can and Cuban forces to sweep the
spaniards out of h island. The reg
ular army of 15, 900 to 1000 effective
troops, IL Is thought, would be ample
for the 1t would be perfectly
safe to land them in Cuba as allies OF
the revolutionary soldiers, whose force
and effectiveness would then be dou-
bled, and Ii is quite probable that these
| forces alone would be sufficient to dis
lodge the S~paniards and free the ISL
ands.
1t is estimated hat h S~paniards
have l25, 900 to 150, 900, n the revo-
lutionists have somewhere between 49,
900 and 1900 soldiers under arms. A
great disparity would remain, even art
err the landing of the $1,000 to 10000
American roops as the Spaniarus
would still have more tina two TO one.
But Gomez has said that he could put
100. 900 men in the field IL he had rifles
and ammunition for them. Army Of
ficers are of the opinion that III THIS
country could at once furnish arms and
ammunition IL could at once raise In
cuba itself an effective force or so,ooo
to 100, 900 men to operate against tne
Spanish armies. which, together with
the Is, 900 to 20, 900 regular American
troops, ought to be able to clean the
dons out of Cuban i'm very short order,
The most encouraging element of the
situation is found in the character OF
the troops with which Spain has sought
to subjugate the island. They are raw
forces, composed of boys undo 20 to q
large extent and h discipline oi
experience. OF course, any plan oi
campaign hat the army is considering
involves the most energetic co-opera'
ton of the fleet of Captain sampson, ol
at least a large part OF 1t. The coas
of the island would have to be swep
clear of the Spanish patrol n gun
boats, and the importation Of any span
ish troops be made impossible. For tn
past month and a half Spain has beef
pouring In troops for Just ;his emer
gency that is about to confront her
IL is said tina some of the last troop
sent over are regulars. but the numpe
of seasoned troops now on the islan'
Is very small. and II will not increas
from this time on.