The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-06-02
Pertinent Comments Suggested
by the Situation.
THE LACK OF EQUIPMENT
Senator Nantes Willingness TO Go to
the Front-Ths Question OF Hawaiian
Acknowledgement Decision in
Cass Of Clark va. Fitzgerald.
Washington Bureau OF the standard, }
No. 1Al6 q street ~. w. /

the week has been the presidents Sec
ond call for troops for use in the Span
ish war. 1t is an interesting fact that
this second call is for the same number
Of men that were first summoned by
Father Abraham in 1861. The soldiers
including the new call will swell the
aggregate number of troops to partici-
pate in the Spanish war to about 270.-
900 in round numbers. There will be
49, 900 volunteers. something over co.
900 regulars. 10000 in the so-called i'm
mune regiments. and 5000 in the inde-
pendent cavalry regiments recruited in
the mountain states.
This is approximately the same num-
Der Of men that were enlisted in the
continental regiments in the revolu-
ton. Compared to the enormous levies
of the war of the rebellion this is rela-
lively an insignificant force. but never
theless the raising and eQuipping of ii
has been a task of no mean proper
tons. If the Spanish war has already
taught us the vast importance of a
large and well equipped navy, ii has
taught the even more significant les
son that the regular army and the mi
litia should be better cared for in time
of peace and prepared always for the
emergency of war. Regiment after
regiment has poured int Washington,
and Of them all only one was in condi-
ton to proceed at once to the 'front.'.
Of them were wholly without
equipment, some without rifles. others
without belts and cartridges. some
without uniforms, and many without
tents and other important camp equip
z
The camp established on the Virginia
hills, beyond which so many brave men
made their names immortal in the ev-
olution and the great rebellion, is poor
ly fitted for It's present uses and some
one seems to have blundered in it's Sc
lection. The first requisite of a camp
is water. 1t is actually necessary to
carry water several miles TO supply
the men at Camp Alger. Wells have
been sunk, but thus far not very sue
cessfully. Troops continue to come
and go at Camp Alger, but il is under
stood that several of the regiments
now there will remain in reserve until
the close of the war unless the exigen-
cies of the campaign demand their de-
parture.
1t is fully believed by army officers
that the conquest of Cube and Porto
Rico will be attended with but little
difficulty when ii Is once undertaken
in earnest. 1t is eve regarded as
probable that less men will be actively
employed in the invasion Of the An
titles than are tent TO the Philippines.
The present plan OF the war depart
ment contemplates the sendis~ of 80, 900
to 40, 900 men to the Philippine islands
Certainly no larger force will be en-
gagged in the invasion and occupation
of the Spanish islands in the West In
dies.
One of the disappointments of the
campaign has been the poor showing
that the Cuban insurgents are able to
make. The special emissaries of our
government who have visited the
camps of Genera Maxine Gomez and
General Calixto Garcia have reported
that the available force of the insur-
gents in the island is not to exceed
20, 900. SPANS effective army in Cuba
is somewhere between 50. 1000 and 100,-
900. Strange as it may seem the Span
iards can probably make a better
showing in the war against us h
they nave madea against the insurgents.
The latter have conducted a peculiar
partisan warfare in the mountains,
and except for the short time that
Gomez and the late Antonio Maceo ad-
vanced to the western part of the ISL
and. have done nothing aggressive
from the beginning of the war. There
is little likelihood of active co-opera-
ton between the insurgents n the
United States troops after the latter
enter the island. Certainly there will
be no division of authority or RESPONSE
bility. The Americans will the
war quite regardless of the advice and
independent of h assistance Of the
insurgent forces. 1t is not to be in
ferred from this hat Rowen and the
other representatives Of the war de-
partment who have visited Cuba have
reported anything to the discredit of
the insurgent armies or leaders, but
are not organized or disciplined
for advantageous offensive warfare,
and therefore there will be practically
no cooperation between them and the
American troops who Will enter the
island prepared to do business at once.
Senator Mantle has received many
kilograms and letters from Montana
men who are eager TO serve in his regi-
ment IL it is organized. Several COM
panies have also been offered from
other Rocky mountain states. There
will be no difficulty in filling the regi-
ment with first class men. But il Is
not yet definitely known that the reGi-
ment will be called into service. Sen
ator Mantle has been warmly congrat-
ulate0 Dy MS colledsucs on nS e
clared Willingness to enter the army,
and on the kin of men who will ride
with him IL he goes to the front.
The war tariff bill encountered q new
and unexpected obstacle in the Lodge
proposition to annex the Hawaiian ISL
ands. The friends of the proposition
claim that IL Is absolutely necessary
to the success of the Dewey relief ex-
petition tina the vessels shall be able
to coal at Honolulu, and this cannot be
lone without q violation OF neutrality
on the part Of the island republic. 1t
is also asserted that the Spanish con-
sui at Honolulu will protest against
the vessels being coaled, and that IL
this il done Hawaii will have to de-
clare war against Spain in order to
Iegitimatize the cosling Of h Amer
lear vessels. There Is no doubt. ac-
cording to advocates OF annexation,
that the little country viii willingly
do this to bring about annexation by
indirection. But the annexationists
say that IL will be a great deal more