The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-09-17
Army of Occupation Not to Be Sent to
Cuba Until After the Unhealthy
Season Has Passed.
REDUCTION OF THE WAR FLEET
NORTH ATLANTIC SQUADRON CUT
DOWN TO THIRTY-ONE VESSELS.
COurt-MartiaI Ordered for the Trial
from Porto Rico-Camp News.

WASHINGTON, Sept. 16.-The military
movements are being directed rapidly to-
wards the assembling of a large army in
Southern stations for winter camps and
preparatory to the military occupation of
Cuba and Porto Rico. About seventy thou
sand troops are now located in the South
and orders will be issued sending the First,
Second, Sixth, Ninth and Tenth Cavalry
from Montauk to Southern stations. The
Third Cavalry already has gone South, and
the First and Second Infantry were yester-
day afternoon ordered to Admission and the
Eighth and Sixteenth to Huntsville. This
leaves the Seventh, Twenty-fourth and
Twenty-fifth Infantry, the Second Volunteer
engineers and Companies G and H, Fourth
Artillery, at Montauk. Within a day or two
these last remaining troops will be ordered
South and Camp Wikoff will be no more.
The purpose is to establish winter camps
between the thirty-f1rst and thirty-fifth par
allels. The major part of the army thus as
sembled is destined for service in Cuba,
with a much smaller force for Porto Rico
and a reserve in the winter camps. 1t is
not the intention, however. to send the
army of occupation to Cuba until after the
unhealthy season has passed, and mean
while the troops will be put in the best
possible condition.
On account of the desire of the War De-
partment that no chances shall be taken
in the way of exposure of the troops to
the dangers of the unhealthy season, no
impatience is felt on account of the rather
slow progress of the work of the commits
sion of evacuation at havana. Great salts
faction is expressed at the progress being
made in Porto Rico and the evacuation is
expected to occur speedily, but in connec-
ton with the occupation of Porto Rico the
same anxiety as to the health of the army
is not felt, nor are there similar difficulties
in connection with establishing the govern
ment, Porto Rico becoming at once a part
Of the territory of the United States.
In assembling and organizing the army for
the occupation of Cuba the consideration of
possible trouble with the organized insur-
gents is not being taken into serious ac-
count. The Havana dispatches stating that
there has developed strong sentiment in
favor of independence and opposition to an
nexation, coupled with hostility towards the
United States, is read with rather an air of
amusement by officials of the admnistra-
tion, who suggest that it is absurd to give
as a reason for hostility on the part of
Cubans towards the United States that the
Cubans are in favor of entire independence.
The purpose of the Cubans to establish
stable independent form of government is
strictly in accordance with the terms of the
Presidents proclamation, and. therefore,
furnishes no reason for feeling of hostil-
ity All the information in the possession
of the War Department, it is said, indicates
the most cordial relations and harmony of
purpose between the Cubans and the repre-
sentatives of this government