The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1898-05-24
! BIG ARMY NECESSARY
United States Has Large Task on
Her Hands.
CUBA MAY REQUIRE LONG OCCUPATION
And "a Growing Sentiment In Favor
of Retaining the Philippines May
Make the Army Large.

New York, May 90 A dispatch to the
Tribune from Washington says: Another
call for volunteers is under serious con-
sideration by the military authorities al
though 1t may not be issued for at least a
week or two, or, at any rate. until the
invasion of Cuba has begun and the neces-
sity for additional troops is clearly demon
strated.
The difficulties of arming and eauipping
many of the soldiers already mustered
into the service are reported to be disap-
pearing and from the experience gained In
the recent call army officers are satisfied
that more than month wull be consumed
in mastering an additional $4,000 men. and
that In this time equipments could be
prepared for that number
The unexpected and extraordinary drain
on the regular and volunteer force by the
Philippine expeditions, necessitating at the
outside $4,000 men, together with the pros
pect that Spain will not be influenced by
the European powers TO abandon her futile
struggle, but will wage war until her re-
sources are exhausted, is causing the mill
tary authorities considerable anxiety re-
garding the sufficiency of the armed force
of the government for carrying out the re-
spcnsibilties which have been undertaken.
The simple task OF freeing Cuba has been
increased through the necessities arising
in the Philippines and through the prob
ability Of being compelled to maintain an
army of occupation In Cuba for several
years. until the war is beginning to assume
tremendous dimensions. If Porto Rico ID
added to the scale eventually, as the Phil
ippines were, the magnitude of American
responsibility will be materially increased,
and further increase of the army Will
be compulsory.
Many public men are beginning to ex-
press the conviction that the forces of the
United States will be as difficult TO with
draw from Cuba as those of England have
been from Egypt, although there IS no mod :
| fication up to this time OF the resolution
| to make Cuba free and autonomous re-
| public and not mere dependent territorial
ACQUISITION.
With regard to the Philippines and Porto
| Rico, however. disposition Is already
| manifested to regard them as fruits of
| victory, and. in view OF the notorious in
capacity of their inhabitants for self gov
eminent, to take permanent possession Of
| them and TO provide them with complete
colonial establishments. Eventually they
may become in part self governing but the
strong arm of the United States may have
to be exerted indefinitely TO preserve their
peace and prosperity.
| The authorized strength Of the army a
month ago was $4,000 men. It has now
been increased to 1919 800. and Of the latter
number 194 900 will be actually under arms
and in the field before June /. OF this
| increase, by the expansion Of the regular
service through its reorganization under
| the three battalion formation, $4,000 men
| have been added to the standing army the
| other portion having been acquired through
| the call fer volunteers and by means OF
| tho enlistment OF two briaades OF i'm
munes and one OF engineers.
II Is already the prevailing belief that
| the expansion Of the regular service, though
contemplated only for the duration of the
! war, will be permanent and that the stand
| ing army will never again fall below SIS. 900.
| The latter number, in the opinion OF Cen
erai Miles. is essential for operations in
| Cuba next summer, although most OF the
| invading force will necessarily be composed
| of volunteers.
| The rapid development Of the Cuban In
| vasion project is given as another indication
| of the forthcoming necessity for additional
| volunteers. In It's inception a month ago
| the programme contemplated force OF
only 5000 men TO establish a base OF sup-
plies. from which the Cuban insurgents
were 10 be armed. clothed and fed and their
campaign against the spanards supported
| as occasion required.
| This plan was based on the presumption
! that reports regarding the insurgeni
/ strength which had been received from
| American consuls and others for the last
| two years were accurate and that the abil-
| ity Of General Gomez 10 crush the Span
| iards and shut them up IN the coast cities
| had not been exaggerated.
! For nearly two years positive assertions
have been uttered that the Ctbans. with
merely the moral encouragement Of tho
United States through the recognition OF
! bellieerency would quickly accomplish
| their own indcpandence.
| Within the last month the falsity OF these
assertions has been demonstrated to The
oor,plete satisfaction Ct the authorities