New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-04-25
} INVASION TILL FALL.
TIES OF TRAINING THE vOLUN-
TIERS FOR CUBAN SERVICE.
-,,,vv MONTHS NECESSARY AT LEAST-PROB-
,rus IN ARMAMENT PROSPECTS OF AP-
FALLING MORTALITY DURING
crrBAN SUMMER CAMPAIGN
Try TELEGRAPH TO TIE TRIBrNE.l


- crows more remote with every days con-
''s.rotion Of the magnitude of the project The
'-snossib,ty OF mobil!zng. eauipping and train
49, vast volunteer army composed Of the
ID raw material is emphasized by every de-
.r IN the development into practical effect OF
A.. theoretical plans. These have been matur-
.rg FOR years by the officers specially detailed
a. nrovide for just such exigencies as the pres
an necessity that of rapid expansion OF the
,.u standing force maintained for domestic
,,,e into army corps capable OF resisting
,o,.srn aggression and for operations outside OF
,,e territory OF the United States
7, 70 already evident that the making Of an
.-rov NJ 125OOO men is not matter OF days or
.sLs and that a period Of three months would
y. ordinarily the minimum time required by
..-s,ul officers to attempt the extensive opera
Tvs which may be !nseparabe from the re-
feasibility tho United States has assumed IN
~. Cuban matter. Enthusiasts who have been !
la 70 believe after a superficial consideration !
,hat the Presidents call for troops. meeting with
Az. nrompt response which could be reasonably |
LIED upon would result in an effective organi- /
,ston within a week have already come to the
,-oner realization Of the insurmountable Difficult
,,.s BY noticing that II required over a week
o, Gather the regular forces at the four points OF
.,ncAutration In the South These troops were
,or Immediate service. accustomed to flying
.h.nge, upon a moments notice. and theoreti- /
.sy at least, they might have been expected
n move with ten times the celebrity or raw
r.cruts assembling in nearly ten times their
numerical strength.
Army officers Of experience who are chargeo
with most Of the responsibility OF assembling
the volunteer army admit that its component /
narts cannot be made ready for effective service
outside Of the States to which the National
Cuard organizations belong in less than two or
three weeks. In the first place. under reauisl-
t,ons which will be made upon the Governors
OF the States tomorrow or next day FOR certain
,peciAed bodies Of cavalry. infantry and artil-
iery TO be concentrated at some point IN the
State Il Is not expected that such forces Will be
ready for entrance into the United States ser
vice for a week or perhaps three weeks Inc
law providing for the regular enlistment OF THESE
volunteers under the Regular Army regulations
will require . thorough physical examination
which the National Guardsmen have IN COM
paratvely few instances undergone. and 1t 10
considered likely that not over 90 per cent OF the
men who are offered by the National Guard VIII
pass the rigid examination that Is mace coii-
pulsory under the statutes. Additional reauis'-
tons for men Will therefore be necessary 10 Ill
the depleted quotas in the State militia Or
ean,zations and this will consume considerable
time.
ARMAMENT WITH THE NEW RIFLE
When forces are finally made UP the problem
OF armament and accounting VIII prooaniy nave
been definitely decided by the authorities III
Washington. 1t 10 notorious that inc arn'' a.
nrassnt issued TO the National Guard are worth
less for the practical purposes or war In HI
probability the new snall-calihre Krag-Jorgeh-
CEN MAGAZINE rife will be supplied 10 the voiun-
,eer. The Army Ordnance Bureau has had i's
agencies working night and day for the iast
two months manufacturing this weapon anu
fully 100000 Of them have accumulated IN 'ho
Springfield armory for issue. These are DANGER
ous arms and on account OF their rap,dity OF
FIRE the wisdom OF putting them into the hands
OF National Guardsmen has been serlousiy ue-
hated but the desrability OF establishing com
plete uniformity Of weapon and ammunition
throughout the service has won the day, ana II ,
the recommendations OF the experts are ioi-
,oued 90 they probably will be, the new soldiers
will be equipped with the magazine r1nes ana
taught TO use them.
Anoone the other causes calculated 10 delay
the volunteer army Ia the necessity OF furnishing ,
all its men with uniform clothing suitable 10
the campaign TO be undertaken. OF accnstohins
their stomachs 20 the severe coarse ra'ioh Vi
bacon and bread which experience has proven 70
b. essential in extensive field operations, ana
most tedious and necessary will he the training
IN camp life and extended military movements
with long daily marches. tours al the rihe
ranges and other hard work. when nave "'''l
demonstrated as essential 10 the prooucuon vi
an effective force NJ seasoned men.
The cheapest and readiest force to train IS
Che infantry. Of which the volunteers will fur
nish 80 900: but on account Of the nature OF 'he
Cuhan country II has been decided thai an un-
usual number OF cavalrymen VIII be need 20 ana
4, has become almost an Army maxim ina u
takes twice as long 10 develop a good cavalry
man as an infantryman AS an indication OF
the trouble 10 be met with In this direction u
appears that the State OF Ohio Is 70 De cai'en
upon to supply eight troops Of cavalrymeh a.
though the National Guard Of that state no"
has but one and that one largely socia or
ganzation, with little or no field practce' '"F
airy officers declare that the Ohio regiment Oh
cavalry should have four months practice ne
fore any responsible duty in Cuba can De III
trusted to 1t.
The question OF the artillery IS almost as
serious especially as it's efficiency will he OF
paramount Importance in the coming campaign
The guns now in use by the National Fuarn
artillery batteries will have 10 be thrown away
with the exception Of forty-two OF the resua
ton Army guns Of 23-inch calibre. which nave
already been issued. The militia artillery co"'
mands have had target practice Whatever
and until gunners make nearly every shot
effective they will be not only useless, but VIII
entail serious responsibility upon the supply
trains and ammunition columns TO supply them
with cartridges.
THE MATTER OF FOOTWEAR.
matter that has received little serious COT
sidera,on from the National Guardsnen IS that