New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-05-07
ENGINEER CORPS FOR CUBA.
Continued from First Page.
Ike possession Of them in the name OF the

and take possession Of them in the name OF the
United Sta'es.
The previous plans provided for sending
force not exceeding ten thousand men to CUBA.
For this purpose the pick Of the regular troops
have been assembling at Tampa. and n leet
Of eight large transports had been secured
These vessels the largest and best OF 'hs
Mallory Lilac. Of the Merchants and M'he'S
Company ard OF the Plant system. Each Is
capable Of carrying about twelve huno3eo 'nen'
and they have beer chartered FOR thirty uaSs'
Yesterday orders came to the Quartermasters
Depa rtmcnt in this city to secure options on All
vessels which could be used "a Transports
enough being wanted to carry forty thousand
men. They were 10 be chartered for period
OF thirty days. 1t was said ln the orders mat
they were wanted Mt Key West In I'VE days
Launches were also wanted which could get 10
the same place in the game time
There was burrying and scurrying among the
owners Of vessels available. and II was 'ou"u
that q large number Of those best adapted to
the uses required were tied ny by the options
given to the Navy Department upon the reports
made by the Rodgers Board. which mas III
spected everything available FOR use l., the Gov
eminent as auxiliary cruisers, tofpedo-"o''S'
torpedo boat destroyers dispatch boats. trans
ports and forth
When the fact was communicated - WASH
ineton the War Department took irlm'h'"'c
steps to secure the cooperation OF me N"'S
D,nartment and the release Of such vessels as
the authorities dcs-e FOR imnodia'" Use. An
other difficulty experienced wns the desire ''
owners 10 sell their vesscls outright rather ina"
70 lease them for thirty days But lpiIons were
obtained and it Is expected that the Ve''e's De
sired will all be taken possession OF to-day.
There arc not many available vessels capnhie
Of carving one thcusard or twelve huhur'n
mon apiece but many which can carry n icSs
number. IKE the troopshlp Panther. Formerly
tho Venezuela 81 the He'd d Line. when com
fortably carries six hundred men.
The change II plans In regard 70 the nuinp''
Of men 10 be transported rom Florida wiz re-
Guire the transportation o. n large BODY 'i '''e
volunteers who have Just been mustered "''"
the Government service TO Tampa ana NeS
West There are only about TWO 'ho"S""'
available regular troops at the various p"'"'s
Of concentration-Tanra Mobile Ne"-O'-
leans ard Chickamauga -who can d" sent
on the expedition, and Ike nuInber VIII
have 10 be chosen from the l2'.ooo volunteers
who are assembled AZ The various state camps
ard u.usterng-in points The pick Of these VIII
have IN earlier opportunity than was antici-
pated for joining the army Of Invasion
The fact that requlstiors hav. been sent out
Tor large quantities 81 rations for troops Is an
added fact confirming the report that the de-
rnand for additional transport Vesseis points 70
the change Of plans which involves tn" move
men. OF a large army across the Gulf stream IN
The next few days.
,'nder the orders II the War Department the
s,rirtest secr.cr 50 naintancd In tho Army
Building In THIS city in regard I" ali plans 'or
Government operations. but the unuSunl nus,i'
and activity yesterday were sigrihch't "i me
importanC. attached 70 the unusual f'1ue1'S
involved IN the change Of u ms
4 martin. appearance VIII he given 10 IN"
building to-day when the order 81 the War De-
partment recurring every officer while on duty
IT. limo Of war to wear the Uniform Of his graz
II las been the custom for engineers quarter
masters cornmissari"s and other Army oilccr'
who's" duties not strictly mltaI' ~ herl
their uniforms FOR fuildfess occasions Only. ana
10 wear civilian clothes whom attending To their
daily duties. Hereafter there VIII be much
Va, re military appearance 10 the Offices under
control Of the Waf Department.
II could not il. learned last evening whether
any orders had oeen sent 20 the commanding
officers Of the Regular Army IN this vicinity to
qoi.cf The volunteer forces which VIII be called
mon 70 make UP the total force 81 forty tnou-
50 nd men for tn, army Of INVASION
a promincnt Army officer said yesterday that
he al NOT SEE how II would be possible 10y any
oc,i,ity of effort to get the troops and their sup
pics rcady FOR shipment from the FLORIDA coast
in nvc lave even IT. the vessels coulD y" GOV IN
readiness They would have 20 carry thirty
49,. -. ions mont 1on trains neldpicces and
p,obablv n neld balloon. and snch stores caiih"l
io loaded ir a minute. let alone taking men from
tho Northern states and arranging for ihern 10
hoard vessels for the trip to cuba and Porto
pic while Il is only short journey 10 the
former III. distance 10 the latter IS IN thc
roichhnrhood OF thousand miles from Key
West.