Rocky Ford enterprise., 1898-10-20

wnshIngton.-The war iepartme 1t
Is now prepared to occupy the Pearl
OF the Antilles" The troops are In
readiness for garrison duty. and be-
fore many weeks have passed every
foot Of Cuban soil Will echo to the
tread of American soldiery. and every
city and hamlet Will hear the voice Ct
succor and see the hand Of American
relief.
1t will be no easy task. this occupy
ing an island VIII homes lie waste.
whose Inhabitants are In the throes
OF starvation and most Of whom have
not been nmenable to law for three
years and more.
In fact. 1t Is the iawiessness grow
inE out of the enforced starvation OF
the past two years that will make the
task no extremely difficult. The trou-
BILE Is by no means over. for the re-
straIning hand. though 1t be the hand
OF freedom. will find many obstacles
thrown in its way by those who Will
mistake license for liberty.
While October goth has been settled
upon rs about the date OF the depart
urc of our troops. It Will probably be
ten days later before the actual move.
ment Cubaward will have begun.
The occupation of battery posts will
probably be begun at the western end
of the island and proceed gradually
eastward. as the Spanish gnrrisons are
Withdrawn. The arrangement so Tar
as agreed upon between the Spanish
and American commissioners Mt HUI
vana is that the Spanish forces shall
withdraw from the western provinces
first. 1t will probably be some time
before Havana Is occupied by our
forces.
There viii be no large expeditions to
Cuba. and the occupation of the island
by military force will be brought
about gradually. Troops will not bc
sent faster than Spanish troops are
Withdrawn for shipment to Spain. al
though the withdrawal/of the Spanish
forces will be urged forward ms rnp-
idly us transportation facilities will
permit. The quartermaster generals
department has made preparations to
transport our troops to Cuba safely
and comfortably. The fact that there
will be no attack of m enemy to fenr
and that NJ haste will be necessary in
transporting the troops will make It
possible for the quartermaster's dc.
partment to insure the greatest facll-
ity and comfort for the soldiers going
to Cuba.
The transport vessels belonging 20
the government will be In fine cond;-
tIon. The Mobile Is now at the
Cramp' shIpyar, in Philadelphia I'M
dergoins a thorough interior recon-
structi3n and will soon be ready for
service. The Mohawk is being SINH
larly overhauled by the Bath Iron
Works and she will be In commission
again in about two or three weeks.
After having been reconstructed these
vessels will have capacity for carry
Ing $500 men In greater comfort than
1t was possible to provide for much
smaller p1mber Of men.
Measures will be taken to insure the
greatest comfort possible for the gar
risoR forces upon their arrival In
Cuba. The fact that our troops will
not be sent there more rapidly than
the withdrawal of Spanish soldiers Is
carried on will make 1t possible to
quarter the United States troops in.
permanent Spanish barracks. Care has
been taken to renovatc thoroughly the
quarters at present occupied by the
Spaniards, so that there will be no
danger of diseases breaking out among
our troops on account of infectious
surroundings. The War Department is
determined to make extraordinary Of
forts. to avoid sickness among the sol.
diers. 1t is by no means expected
that the men can be kept In perfect
health, for the rainy season will not
be over and all the dangers incident to
tropical climate at that season will
have to lie guarded against. Many OF
the troops are in a weakened condi-
ton at present. but it is hoped that by
the careful selection of commanding
officers who are competent to care for
their men the health of the several
commands can be well preserved until
the coming of the more healthful sea-
sen.
The war department has decided TO
send five divisions of troops to Cuba
for garrison duty. Each division will
consist of three brlgades of only two
regiments each. 1t has been decided
to establish the headquarters of the
several commands at Havana. Puerto
Principe. and Santiago.
Major-Gen. Wade will be assigned to
the chief command. being stationed nj
Havana. Gen. Lawton will continue
in charge at Santiago and Gen. Tit:;-
hugh Lee will have the chief COM
mand at Puerto Principe.