New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-05-16
ORDERED TO CAMP.
POINTS FOR CONCENTRATION OF voLUN-
TIERS DETERMINED.
CAMPS CHOSEN PRIMARILY WITH A VIEW TO
QUICK CoNCEN-rRATIoN-THE QUESTION OBJ

CAMPS CHOSEN PRIMARILY WITH VIE" 10
QUICK OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES QUESTION OF
SUPPLIES AND BEEF RATioNs IN CUBA
Ipr TELEGRAPH TO TRIDuSE.l
Washington. May 15.-At an important con-
ference held at the War Department last night
extending over several hours, the final assign
ment of volunteer troops and the points OF their
concentration were determined The secretary
OF War had with him General Miles, Adjutant-
General Corbin and the chiefs OF the Army de-
partments including those OF ordnance SUD
sistence and quar,ermas;er's. L; was decided
that the volunteers should be assembled al
designated camps with the least possible ue'aS'
the step being rendered necessary by Tue iac'
that the various State authorities were rapiu!
relineushing control OF their troops as theS
passed over the muster line under the au'hOiiS
Of the general Government. The camps seiecteu
In the order Of their importance were Chicha-
mauga. Washington Montauk Point, iampa'
New-Orleans Mobile and Key West General
Corbin in explanation of the order said to-day
ut was next to impossible to equip or subslst
the men scattered as they were all over the
country or in Of emergency 20 move thenl
speedily to any desired point. The local infiu-
ences' were in most instances demoralizing ana
II was wholly out Of the question to make SOL
the problem Of their subsistence, to furnish
them with arms clothing and camp and garrl-
son equipment; and TO secure the advantage OF
drill and instruction under trained officers. and
that was 10 set them together where they could
be organized into brigades and divisions. and
be made ready for efficient campaign work.
Before the end Of next week we intend TO
have over half the volunteers in camp. and
within a week later the entire volunteer army
ought TO have actual duty at one place or an
other some In Cuba / hope. some on the way
to the Philippines. others stationed at existing
army posts that require garrisons. and the re-
mainder organized as army corps at the great
camps. 1t will only be question Of a few days
before our best regular officers will be assigned
to stations In command Of the forces. and ac-
lively engaged in drilling them
NO FAvoRS TO ANY CORPS OR CAMP.
THE impression that any particular corps or
camp will have superior advantage over others
In furnishing the men who go to the front Is al
together erroneous. Certain troops that nave
been most prompt in muster and therefore
quickest TO get away from home will, perhaps,
be rewarded with service in the field earlier than
those which have not yet been organized, as IN
the case Of the Massachusetts, regiment sent to
Key West, and some of the commands that are
already starting for Chickamauga, like those OF
New-York, Illinois. Ohio Pennsylvania, and a
half dozen others But the location OF camps
was made primarily with view to the readiness
with which men and supplies could be concen-
trated at them and from which large forces
could be quickly moved 10 threatened points
and TO the important debarkation ports.
The precise location OF one OF the most I'M
por,ant camps has not been definitely decided
on. although Montauk Point. Long Island. is al
most sure 10 be selected Here will be gathered
the troops that have been directed to report TO
the Commanding General OF the Department OF
the East amounting 10 about an army corps.
This camp may be esta blished In the course OF
q week and to Il will be ordered $4,000 or 30,OOo
men from ew-Engand and the Middle states
II 1t is necessary to send very large force 10
Cuba, these men likely to go as those
from Chickamauga or Washington They can
be quickly put on board transports and sent
down the coast as soon as the enemy's warshps
are disposed Of"
II appears from the orders issued to-day that
ffty-three regiments. eleven light batteries of
artillery and practically forty troops OF cavalry
have been assigned 10 Chickamauga, aggre-
eating over fifty-fve thousand men, which will
make necessary the organization OF at least two
army corps on that field. but It Is the prevail
ing impression In Army circles that the moment
the Spanish feet in the Caribbean Sea is over
taken and destroyed fully half Of these voun-
teers will go forward TO Cuba The thirteen
volunteer regiments under orders to Tampa and
the FIVE designated to proceed at once TO other
Gulf ports also understood to be sure OF
Cuban duty as soon as any invasion occurs.
THE PROBLEM OF FEEDING THE TROOPS.
Even with the concentration Of the volun-
, teers at comparatively few points. the problem
OF feeding them is serious one. especially as
regards those on the Gulf coast II seventy
thousand men sent to Cuba they will need
at least one hundred thousand pounds OF fresh
beef a day and there is not beef in the
island il must be sent there for American SOL
diers would soon become inefficient without the
beef ration. The large packing houses in the
West are unable to meet the demand already
made upon them for timed beef and the sub
sistence officers therefore making efforts TO
secure beef the hoof 10 be sent South for
slaughter, and the Quartermaster- General is en-
deavoring to procure transports with large re-
frigerator capacity to carry these supplies. IT
Is already evident that this method will not
fully meet the demand and advertisements will
be sent out tomorrow calling for bids TO deliver
live cattle at such Cuban ports az may here
after be designated Six million canned beef
rations have already been secured. but this is
only half of what will be needed Ia the next
three months 1t includes cargo recently
shipped from Chicago TO Liverpool for English
consumption, but cabled orders have been sent
TO start the ship back to the United States the
moment che arrives on the other side.
ASSIGNMENTS TO THE CAMPS.