The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-09-28
ARMY OF OCCUPATION.
First Division Will Leave for Cuba
About October 20.


W ashington. Sept. ga compre-
hensive programme for moving troops
to Cuba has been outlined by the war
| department, and its initial features
have been decided upon. This result is
due to directions given by the presi-
dent on September 19 to the effect that
| details of troops be made for Cuba
Acting on this Major General Miles out
lined a plan for sending two divisions
to Cuba, the first under command of
Major General Wade to leave in Oc-
tOber, and the second division under
Major General Fitzhugh Lee to leave in
November. Each division will embrace
about 5000 men SO that the plan is to
have some 1000 troops in Cuba or on
the way there within the next sixty
days.
It is not contemplated, however, that
any large number of this force should
be assembled at any one point in this
country or in Cuba the disposition be
ing to have them scattered as they can
thereby be handled to better advantage.
From the fact that they go to Cuba it
does not follow that they will proceed
directly to Havana. On the contrary
the outlook is that there will be very
few troops at Havana, the bulk of them
being scattered through the western
end of the island, garrisOning the small
towns and thus gradually putting into
effect the military occupation or the
island. In anticipation of the move
the Quartermaster'S department is pre-
pairing to have transports available for
the troops. 1t had been intended to
thoroughly overhaul all the transports,
putting them in dry dock and trans
forming them from crude merchant
ships into modern transports. But this
plan will have to be altered in part, in
order to keep transports ready for the
approaching move towards Cuba
The war department has given out
the order directing the formation Of
the first division which is to go to Cuba
1t simply creates the division making
no mention of the proposed service IN
Cuba, or the expected time Of the de-
parture. Those features, however. were
embraced in a confidential telegram
sent to the several commanding or11cers
affected by the order 1t makes plain
to them that the division is for service
in Cuba not later than October 20.
The organizations forming this OCTOBER
division are as follows: cavalry Drl-
ade composed of the Seventh and
Eighth U. S cavalry to be commanded
by Brigadier General L. H Carpenter,
U s V First infantry brigade COM
and the Fourth U s volunteer infan-
try to be commanded by Brigadier
General Simon Snyder, U S. V.
Second infantry brigade composed OF
the First Z. S. infantry and the Sixth
U. S. V. infantry to be commanded by
Brigadier General E B. Williston, T.
5. V.
The order leaves upon command Of
the division. but General Synder VIII
be in temporary command until a per-
manent division commander is chosen.
General Miles recommendation of
General Wade for this command IS ike
" to be carried out, although it is still
Oman owing to the doubt as to General
FVa5a5e being free from the service at
+ba hood of the Cuban commission now
I7oI4f-eT sessions at Havana Although
~ N-0varober division under command
81 General Fftzhugh Lee has been fully
1,Tojscted as a part of this same pro-
eramne, its formal execution will be
deferred for a time. The regiments
forming the November division embrace
both cavalry and infantry, with General
Sumner in command of the first bri-
Cade