The Chipley banner. (Chipley, Washington County, Fla.) 1893-1943, 1898-04-23
entire ARMY
SOUqHBOUND.
Concentrate
On the Coast. :
Orders FROM Washington
Troops Will Begin to Hurry
SOuth at Once-DecisiOn OF
War Department Gre.
ated Excitement.

Decidedly the most warlike step
taken by the war department in pre-
pairing for the possibility Of On en-
counter with Spain was inaugurated
Friday, when orders were issued for
concentration at four points in the
south Of six regiments Of cavalry,
twenty-five regiments Of infantry and
the light batteries Of five regiments Of
artillery.
At Chickamauga there will be six
regiments of cavalry and the light bat
teries Of five regiments Of artillery; at
New Orleans, eight regiments Of in.
fantry; at Tampa, seven regiments OF
infantry, and at Mobile, seven regi.
ments Of infantry. Since the civil war
no such proportion Of the army has
been modified and the movement it.
self is the best evidence Of the gravity
Of the situation as looked upon by the
president and his advisers.
While the troops are to be scattered
among the points designated, all orders
will be issued from Atlanta, as in that
city Major General Nelson A. Miles,
who will have command of the army,
will locate his headquarters.
The determination to rendezvous
the troops where they can be accli-
mated to the conditions OF a more
tropical climate has been under con-
sideration by the president and his
cabinet for some time. 1t was not
until Friday, however, that the presi-
dent, in view Of the enormous expense
which will be cntailed, felt justified in
taking this step.
When Secretary Alger returned from
the cabinet meeting he at once called
into conference General Miles and Adj
jutant General Corbin, and acquainted
them with the result Of the cabinets
deliberation. There were hurried con-
situations, in which the quartermaster
general, who has charge OF the trans
portation Of troops; the commissary
general, who looks after their subsist-
ence, and representatives in Washing
ton of various railroads running to the
south, participated
The heavy batteries Of artillery in
the five regiments will remain at their
present posts.
The two regiments Of artillery re-
Gently authorized by congress have
not been recruited the full strength,
and in addition are not well equipped
with horses and other necessary re-
quisites, and therefore are not included
in Fridays orders.
The department has so distributed
the twenty-five regiments of infantry
at such convenient places on the gulf
that they will be accessible for trans
portion to Cuba.
Instructions to the commanding
officers of the regiments ordered to
move were sent out late in the after.
noon, with directions to be put into
into effect as soon as possible. 1t is
the confident expectation Of the off,
Gals that the movements in some
places will begin at once. The rail-
road facilities, the officials say, are
more than ample to meet the demands
Of the occasion, and no trouble will
be experienced in modelling this large
body Of men at the places designated
within a reasonably short space Of
time.
The command OF the army will de-
volve upon General Miles, who is now
at the head Of the military branch Of
the government.