The Saint Paul globe., 1898-08-01

Ills Command at Camp Tbom,.
and Called to Washington to Re-
cetve Orders.
WASHINGTON, July 31.-An order
was issued from the war department
tooay Tor the dispatch of an armv iii.
vision to reinforce Gen Miles and Cen
BROOKE in Porto Rico. This will be
known as the provisional division and
Will be commanded by Mai Cen
wade at present in command at Camn
Thomas, Chickamauga. He is ordaro.5
10 turn over that command to Mai.
zen. breckenridge, and to report to
Secretary Alger at Washington for in
structions before departing for Porto
flco, bringing with him his adjutant
general and his aides.
The provisional division will consist
OF fifteen full regiments, and Gen.
Wade will select them, not from the
troops under his old command alone.
but with particular reference to an
adequate representation in the Porto
Rican campaign Of all states in the
Union.
Secretary Alger feels that his de-
partment has been subjected to some
unjust discrimination in selection Of
troops for active service, and denies,
as without foundation, reports that
politics had any part in the selection.
In the case Of the Fifth Illinois, which
was withdrawn from the Porto Rican
campaign in favor of the Indiana
troops just as the troops were about
ready to board the cars, it has already
been stated that the change was made
ON account Of the business of the COM
plaint that Illinois already had two
regiments in active service at the
front, while Indiana had not one. Even
in that case, however, Secretary Alger
did not make the selection of the regi-
ment to be held back; he simply in
structed the general in command to
select one Illinois regiment, without
designating it.
FIFTH CORPS COMING NORTH.
Secretary Alger is fastening prep
arations at Montauk Point for the re-
ception of the Fifth army corps now
at Santiago. Surgeon General Stern
berg has just dispatched Col. Forwood,
of his bureau, to the site of the camp,
with instructions to erect at once a
hospital capable of accommodating not
less than 500 soldiers. Gen. Shafter
has been authorized by a cablegram
from Secretary Alger to notify his
soldiers Of the good fortune in store
for them, In order that the men may
be cheered up to wait with patience
for their removal. This cannot be ef-
fected Immediately owing to the con-
ditiOn of the mon thamSaIUaS
The present programme is to begin,
as soon as posi- Die, the transportation
to Montauk Point of such soldiers as
have recovered from the fever and
those who have not been subjected to
it. The sick must wait, for the ply
sicians say that the climatic change
involved in bringing them North
would prove fatal in many cases. But
the delay is not likely to be extended.
Surgeon General Sternberg says that
convalescence in fever of a type as
mild as that at Santiago does not usu-
ally occupy more than ten days, al
though as the season runs on and the
virulence increases this period is
greatly extended. AS soon as that pc
riod is passed the men will be en-
barked for home. The matter of troop
ships for this work is already under
consideration, and is likely to be ad-
justed very satisfactorily.
The navy department has concluded
that it can dispense with the four big
American line steamers, formerly the
New York, St. Louis, ST. Paul and
Paris, and the war department has
begun negotiations for chartering
them Mr.. Griscom, the president Of
the line, will meet Col. Hecker, in
charge of transportation, tomorrow by
appointment at the war department to
make the necessary arrangements by
which the soldiers of the Fifth corps
can make flying trips on these ves-
sells from Cuba to the North.
The war department has corrected a
statement made yesterday as to the
remarkable casualties among the Off
GERS Of the Twentyfourth infantry, In
connection with the death of Capt.
Dodge. What was meant to have been
stated was that every captain of the
regiment has been either killed or in
capacitated by wounds or disease since
taking the field in the present cam
paign.