The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1898-06-03


Includes Road Building and Equip
ment Therefor, Railway Building,
Electric Light and Telegraph Plants
Congress Asked for More War Funds.
Washington, June lin significant
recommendation submitted to con-
gress today, Secretary Alger, through
the medium of a letter accompanying
his recommendations, outlines in a
general way the steps contemplated In
the campaign against Cuba, Porto
Rico and the Philippines. The letter
is from Chief Engineer Ludlow, who
makes the important statement that 1T
is now proposed to forward to Cuba an
army of invasion to be composed or
Il, 600 or 10000 troops, to be followed
as rapidly as practicable by 5O,O00
more. The secretary'S recommends
| tions are for appropriations aggregat-
! ing So, 107, 900. One recommendation Is
| for 81, ,562, 900 of deficiency in the ap-
| preparation for gun and mortar bat
teres, required Immediately for the
use Of the war department to remain
| available until expended. This amount
: is needed to provide emplacements for
| carriages of high power and rapid-fire
! guns to be procured by the ordnance
| department with the funds already ap-
| propriated, etc. A second one is for
| $195, 900 for the establishment and
maintenance of special electrical COM
municatiin in connection with the ar
| my in Cuba, Porto Rico and the Philip
| pine islands,
| Then follows a significant recon-
| mendation for $35O,OOO for an expedi-
tionary force to Cuba, required by
| the war department for immediate
use" The items are as follows: For
| machinery and equipment for the con-
struction and repair of roads $25, 600;
| construction and equipment Of mill
| tary railroads, s225,0OO; additional
| intrenching tools, electric appliances,
Photographic and topographic outfits.
| instruments and maps, manuals and
| for special and technical services, $780,
600; contingencies involving immedi-
! ate expenditure of imperative urgency
that cannot be specified in advance,
to be expended under the direction of
| the major general commanding the
| army $50 900.
The letter outlining the expedition
ary project against Cuba is written by
| General Ludlow, whose special engi-
| neering services were aVailed Of by
| Secretary Alger to outline what was
needed. 1t is dated May 22nd, was
forwarded by Secretary Alger and
says:
referring to letter Of April 26th
covering the project with estimates fo1
the establishment in Cuba of an ex-
peditionary force Of from 5000 to 5000
men. I invite attention to the follow
ing:
| provisional estimates for this pur-
pose amounted to $150,034 which have
been approved and made eXpendlble
under the immediate direction of the
major general commanding the army
in the deficiency act approved May 4
1898. This did not include several
| items that, while important, could
temporarily be omitted on the suppOsi-
| tiOn no important movement would be
| made. Furthermore, the project fol-
transfer to Cuba of an eXpeditionary
| force has been materially modified, ir
| that, instead of an assumed force OF
5000 for the establishment of a depot
| and base of supplies, it is now propos-
| ed 10000 troops, to be followed as
| rapidly as practicable by sc, 900 more
1t is, therefore, necessary to make pro
| vision for the greatly augmented scale
on which the expedition is to be equip.
| ped and Cor it's forward movement ir
the direction of Cuba"
| General Ludlow says for obvious
reasons the plans in detail cannot be
given, but that in general way they
| can be outlined. The general nature
of these engineering provisions. how
ever, may be clearly indicated and ir
fact estimated for. In the ensuing
| campaign account must be taken of the
fact that the rainy season in Cuba
covers the summer months and must
| be anticipated as affecting the time
and means required for transporta
ton in order not to delay movement
J and fnperil health. There are few
| regularly built roads in Cuba, the prin
| cipai ones being westward of Havana
1t is not likely that these roads have
been kept in repair and it is quite GER
tain that others must be constructed
and maintained. This will reQuir.
| road-making machinery as economic
ing the labor of troops and leavins
them free for the purely military work
| for which the numbers in question will
not be more than sufficient to equa
| the enemy In addition, special mean:
of transportation will be necessary ant
| portable three feet gauge railroad:
| must be provided both on the estab
lnhed lines and along such additiona
| and connecting lines, as may be feast
/ BILE and expedient- For railways there
shoeld not be less than thirty miles Of
track and suitable equipment, which
may be estimated at 5000 per mile fol
track and $500 per mile for equip.
nent. The total of this item, therefor.
is $225, ,0eO. Three outfits or road max
ing machinery, including rock quarry.
ing and .sslshing apparatus, road roll.
ers, ditchesS and graders, will cost
$1,000 each. say $4,000. In addition
there should be an additional allow.
ance Of say sl00. 100 for electric lights
dynamite and torpedo appliances, etc
including the employment OF scouts
J spies, etc.