New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-04-21
UNDER THEIR OWN oFFTCERs
RrooKLYN REGIMENTS NOT TO BE CHANGED
IN CASE OF wAR-oUARDsMEN PREFER Oh
nnps TO A REQUEST FOR ENLISTMENT

Drps TO A REQUEST FOR ENLISTMENT
The INDIGNATION expressed by Brooklyns Ma
tional Guardsmen day or two ago "heh 'i'''
were informed or in some way gained 'he 'u'"'
that II called upon Cor active military uu'y 'ie'
vould not be commanded by their o"lce''' "''
appeared to a large extent yesterday upon ''.'
receipt Of new information at oTisauc i''u
o,,or.ors that the regiments will go to the 'front.'
oniccrs and all in their present form. INC
euardsnen Indignantly resent the ori''c''"
made upon them that they VIII refuse 10 Heh'
unless they can frame their own orders Inc
only point for which they are contendlns IS 'h@'
they shall not be separated from their present
commanders TO whom they are most loyal nha
between whom and themselves there arc strong
bonds OF personal friendship.
Fvo-y guardsman spoken with on the SUBJECT
draws n sharp distinction between being oroeEeu
out and being asked 20 volunteer Aceoi"'''. ~
their own Interpretation OF THESE TERMS '"7'
much prefer 10 be ordered rather than nave 'he
choice set before them. They say that "he"
they are asked to volunteer they are placed upoi'
a level with the ordinary citizen VINO mas 10
connection with military organization Ii
coll were issued by the Governor at the Presi-
dents request for all OF the regiments 10 pre-
sent themselves ready for duty. between 30 and
-
rssdv to serve within twenty-four hours IL
as1.d % volunteer the percentage would be
much lower
The oririon prevails at headquarters that the
National Guard OF the Northern States IS not
,,ka,, TO be sent to Cuba. The authority for this
heljer 20 in a high Office in the brigade. lie
saws that Spain's tactics IN Withdrawing hcr
SQUADRON from Cuban waters and leaving Cuna
nrscticallv at the mercy OF the North Atlantic
SQUADRON e taken in official circles 10 mean
that the Spanish mode of warfare will consist
OF a prolonged period OF privateering ana coast
encounters In this case II would ne neCessd'!
20 defend the entire coast. from Maine 70 hcy
West by detachments OF soldiers. IN addltion 10
the troops regularly on duty at the foruhed
points To provide for the danger OF Spanish
attack at any point on the coast the militiamen
would be- assigned to duty at the critical points'
and as far as possible each State would be de-
Tended by its own soldiers
Even II II were necessary to send a number
a, regiments from the Guard into Cuba with the
Regular Army, Il is expected that the Southern
States would furnish these detachments be-
cause the residents Of those States would he
better able 10 withstand the Cuban climate.
Considering all these things, few New-forkers
among the staff officers really expect to see duty
in Cuba.
Brigadier- General James Meier has made a
careful study OF the present situation. ana his
views correspond precisely with those stated lie
gays he cannot conceive OF any mcthod or war
fare which Spain would attempt except cam
paign consisting OF occasional flying attacks on
the coast. He expects to See tho spanish Hc't
stationed at respectful distance along the
coast with orders for ea,h vessel 20 strike when
II seer a good opportunity 10 do So without
CHANGING an encounter with too many United
States ships
I'VE Americans" said the General yesterday.
"who know Of the vast resources Of our coun-
try are unable to comprehend how spain can
look forward to ii war with us with any hope
Of success unless she IS TO carry on n gucrll
warfare the Spain IL on her Knees DO
fore the world begging for dollar wherever
she can hope TO get AT home her people
are on the verge Of a civil war. Unless they
are prepared to satisfy the patriotir spirit ct
homo b. making grand dash with their on
tire feet upon our squadrons. and then give W
tho fight they are certainly preparing for
prolonged campaign along the coast; and then
where will they get their coal?
Captain Henry s. Rasquin. Of tho Sd Bat
terry, has reported at brigade headquarters that
out Of tho eighty nine men In ha command
eghty-six are ready to in active war
fare II the battery were ordered out Captain
RasQuin would Immediately fill It's roster UP to
the limit imposed BY the code. which is one hun
drvd and fifteen. Twelve former members are
ready 10 rc-cnlist. and tho captain has walt
ing list from which ne could readily pick the re-
rlainder. Like the other commands In the Sec
ond Brigade. the Sd Battery cares less about
the form in which it Is taken into service than
It does about retaining It's officers