Evening star., 1898-12-14
GARRISON FOR CUBA
Evacuation Commission Say That
$4,000 Troops are Needed,
HOUSE MILITARY COMMITTEE HEARING
General Corbin Tells Of the Views
Of Commanders.
PROPER SIZE OF ARM y

Adjutant General COrbin appeared today
before the House committee on military
affairs. His statements attracted unusual
interest because of their direct reference to
conditions in Cuba, Porto Rico and the
Philippines and the military requirements
on which the War Department was acting.
AS to the need of an increased army Cen
eral Corbin said that was a most serious
proposition. He proceeded: 1.-The Cuban
evacuation commission. consisting of Gen
erals Wade and Butler and Admiral Samp-
son, has submitted a statement that in or
der to preserve order and restore order in
cuba it will require the presence of all
army of 10000 men"
General Corbn said he would send this
recommendation. in confidence, to the COM
mittee, but later it was arranged that it
should be submitted without confidential
reservations. II was on this recommenda-
ton. said General Corbin, that the plan OF
sending troops to Cuba was based. 1t
might be found that $4,000 men would not
be absolutely requisite.
But we are holding 10000 men in readi-
ness TO go If required said the general.
As 10 the Philippines. he went on, Gen
eral Otis, in command there, had recon-
mended that 25.OoO men were required
there. In Porto Rico the officers in com
mand there recommend that the force now
on hand is about adequate for the require
ments- The present force there is cleo.
~
OO for the Philippines and about 6.GO0 for
Porto Rico. leaving, with an army of 1OO-
COO. about 1s,o0J for reserves at home.
1t must be borne in mind" said Gen
C"rbin, that army in time of peace II
like insurance. 1t is q preparation for an
emergency. If we had had such an army
last June there would have been no such
loss of life as occurred
Garrison Needed for Cuba.
DO you think 10000 men for Cuba a CON
servative estimatc?" asked Mr. Jett of Hi
nois
Il think it is answered the general.
And how long will that Iast?" asked Nj
Hay.
L wish I could say answered Gen. Cor
bin But no man can say You cannot
view conditions in Cuba a you can in Ohio
o- Pennsylvania. For loo years the people
there nave been accustomed to be ruled Dy
force. The officers there fear that with
these conditions and habits if troops are
not there trouble may occur
tie went on to show how the Spanish sol
der had ruled throughout Cuba, forming
even the rural police forces and the mu-
McIpal police force at Havana
As TO the trouble which had occurred in
Porto Rico. Gen. Corhin said it was not due
to disposition to fight the United States.
Dut to q tendency in certain classes-wan-
d.rinS outlaw tands-toWard disorder
When questioned by Mr.. Hay of Virginia
as TO now soon the United States troops
N'eslI t'c "ttiilFd"h from Cuba. Gen. Cor
DIN SAID II was Impossible 10 say, even ap-
proXimateIy.
There is not a man living in my judg-
mtnt he said. who can fOresee even for
FORTH
Ia answer to objections as to the pro-
posed large increase of staff officers CEN
eral COrbin said this was essential to the
peculiar new duties developing on army Of
ncers. In the Philippines for instance
theS We're collectors Of customs. This was
50 at Manila and at San Juan. and it would
remain SO until Congress provided other
wise.
Occupation of Porto Rico.
Mr.. Hay suggested that General Miles es-
timated 1000 for Porto Rico, and asked
why General Corlin proposed 6.Or0. The
general explained that 1000 weH-trained
men probably would suffice, but those now
there were young and new to the service.
Il would defer entirely TO the view OF the
major general in command of the army on
that point, said General COrbin. IF he
says t,Ru. tntn lat Is undoubtedly ade-
quate, as he has been OF The ground and
Knows the situation there"
" nat L. your personal opinion without
reference To the Recommendation Of the
IUAaH commission, as 10 the number OF
men needed in Cuba2" asked Mr.. HAY.
"uuIdn have an opinion against such
q commission. responded The general lie
went ON to speak of the riotous events of
the last few days. lie feared. he said that
-' +iA-s~4At ~ tllt NftStlIlS Dl lut shadow OF
L"lH:t events No one could see ahead as
10 cuba and it was a most serious question
as To how long il would take to establish
order on d stable and permanent basis on
the island.
AS TO the volunteers drawn from the
states. General COrbin sa--. in answer TO
questions, they would unqueslionablv
furnish reserve. But whether il would he
an adequate, certain and speedy reserve
was not 50 certain The experience. of the
last war, he said, would not warrant an
dt-.rratlNe answer TO an inquiry as to the
sufhclency Of a volunteer reserve While
the volunteers We're available they might
not be available quickly enough
Gen Miles Thinks $4,000 Enough
Gen. Miles, who was before the senate
appropriations committee for none than
al hour today, said that he thought 25OO0
men would be enough for Cuba. He said
that tie island must IN time and at an
early day be policed by natives, which
should be recruited into the army under
american officers. Americans could not
stand the climate unless they were i'm
munes- tie thought the standing army
should be increased to 10000 men and
said at least some Of the volunteers should
be continued III service until the increase
WAS made.
The pending proposition is an amend
ment to the army deficiency bill providing
for the immediate muster out of 80 coo
volunteers 1t is understood that Secre-
tary AlgeT and Assistant Secretary Meikle-
John opposed such a provision and Adm
Gen. COrbin said In view of the racorn