New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-04-18
PRICE THREE CENTS.
TO RAISE A BIG ARMY.
NEW PLAN FOR VOLUNTEERS!
ALL TO BE CARRIED ON UNDER ma.
TIONAL AUTHORITY.
THE FORCE TO Pc CALLED PROVISIONAL" AND
IT'S NUMERICAL LIMIT TO BE FOUR HUN
DRED THOUsAND-FIRSr DEMAND LIKE
LY TO BE FOR ONE HUNDRED
THOUsAND-BIIL GOING TO
CONGRESS TO-DAY.

LY TO BE FOR ONE HUNDRED
THoUsAND-MLL GOING TO
CONGRESS TO-DAY
fBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIpuSE.l
Washington, April 17.-Congress will be asked
tomorrow to authorize the organization Of Q
provisional army to occupy Cuba and support
the Presidents Intervention to establish sta
bty Of government in the disordered island.
The proposed measure which has been prepared
BY the War Department, is intended to obviate
the exasperating complications which the ex.
perience Of the Civil War has shown to be In.
separable from the method provided by existing
law and to enable the Executive to organize the
National forces on a practical and effective
basis
The force will not be termed volunteer" az
heretofore although composed OF men who en-
list voluntarily, but is to be called provisional"
and its limitation to numbers has been fixed
In the proposed law at four hundred thousand.
1t is doubtful II the Presidents first cali under
It's authority would exceed one-fourth that num-
ber. Congress would retain the power to curtail
the force in any case by Withholding approprta-
tons for maintenance beyond certain limit
which might be deemed advisable as conditions
altered from time to time
STATE IDENTITY LOST
The plan IS understood to be the outgrowth
OF many conferences at which efforts were made
to devise some method Of attaching the Ma.
tional Guard regiments to the regular establish
ment. permitting them to retain their existing
organizations This appeared to be impossible.
Although It Is expected that the proposed meas
ure may be antagonized by the influences which
recently defeated the Army Reorganization bill
Congress. on the urgent solicitation Of the
pras Ia n
gency and authorize the formation OF prac.
tical military establishment to meet the present
National need.
The provisional regiments are to number one
thousand men each. 1t is apparent that few Ma
tional Guard organizations could supply com.
mands Of this strength rendering 1t out OF the
question for them to volunteer as bodies under
officers OF their choice. In some instances
the quota called from a single State would
amount to a regiment. but In more cases men
| from several States would be needed to f out Q
regiment
The REIMBURSEMENT Of State identity appears
to the President to possess other advantages
besides the uniformity which Is considered es-
sental in the army Of occupation OF Cuba
Emphasis is laid on the necessity Of having
every officer from second lieutenant to colonel
commissioned by the President. instead Of per-
the responsibility OF selecting and commission
ing officers for National service in foreign
country. The provisional" army is intended
only for service outside the United States. The
existing National Guard Is to be depended on
| FOR domestic duty, the repelling OF possible In
| vasions and any other exigency which may re-
quire their activity on American territory ana
for these purposes modification or their OF.
ganlzatIon Is contemplated.
INCREASE IN REGULAR ARMY. TOO
The professional soldiers will find their places
in the regular Army. which is to be expanded.
under the provisions OF the modified Hull DILL
which may be considered by Congress .o-mor-
row. This will authorize the increase OF txist-
Ing regiments to the 1000 limit. the number OF
regiments remaining as they now are. This will
give a force Of 10000 cavalrymen. 1909 srtil-
lerymen and 25,OOO infantrymen. with COM
mensurate expansion Of the STAFF corps. me IN
crease in the line alone numbering 1000.
For the provisional army the active National
Guard as well as the militia veterans H'ill PROB
| ably volunteer with alacrity, and 1t is antici-
| pated that many desirable elements not now
| in the State militia organizations VIII welcome
the opportunity for service. The War Depart
| ment is confident that this will be the ease, as
indicated by offers from men all over the coun-
| try which have been received by the PRESIDENT
| and Secretary Alger, and which alone promise
the enlistment Of 100000 men who will trust
the President TO assign them to duty as well
| as select their officers.
FEEDING THE TROOPS.
The present arrangements for feeding the
Army. which have been perfected by years OF
experience In the Commissary Department. will
! not be disturbed by the mobilization OF forces
| at Mobile New Orleans. Tampa and Chicka-
mauga National Park. but all existing commits
sary stations throughout the country, where food
has been purchased for the widely distributed
posts. will be continued in active operation and
as fast as supplies are required they VIII 10
forwarded by the Quartermasters Department.
! TO the four places of concentration, ana suose-
quently when the troops have departed for the
| invasion of Cuba their subsistence stores will
follow them on protected transports. This VIII
secure the great advantage OF retaining ms
purchasing authority in officers familiar with II.
and distributing the calls on the market over
several parts OF the country
rh, ,roons already ordered 70 the front have
been directed to carry thirty days rations with
them which relieves the Commissary-Generai
OF all anxiety as TO their maintenance Tor at
least a month In that time arrangements VIII
! he made for so expanding his forces that no
complication or disorder is apt to arise when ne
Is called upon. as he will be in the next week.
to provide for additional force Of perhaps
10000. concentrated on the Gulf Coast. ana
maybe another 90 900 week later. nobilized at
several places to be used as reinforcements. II
| necessary.
The regular army ration which will be ex-
clusiyely used. is as follows. the weights being
given for 1000 rations: Bacon. $50 pounds;
hard bread. 1000 pounds; baked beans. lou
pounds; potatoes 1000 pounds; coffee (roasted).
so pounds sugar. $50 pounds; vinegar. 80
mounds. soap. 40 pounds salt. 10 pounds pep.
ner (black). 2lh pounds; total. 3,307la pounds.
EMERGENCY RATIONS.