Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1898-05-10

NtH.= -!- uS-~' L1OL LSIIA wAgeQ
- y ----7-se.t thousand soldiers. 1t is
also to be noted that the preparations
by the quartermaSter'S department and
the conlmissary department. so far as
disclosed, indicate that provision is
being made for mobilizing, transporting
and feeding many thousands Of men,
With a view to systemizing the great
work OF modifying the forces and put
ting them in service, the War Depart
mcnt has planned Il scheme which, 1T
is believed, will very much hasten the
work of getting the men together and
eauipping them. while avoiding any
congestion of the railroad traffic, and
such is always to be apprehended in
case of war Instead OF allowing all
the troops called for from one point to
be assembled and broken in at the rem
devious. the department is instructing
its mastering officers to complete the
organization of regiments as rapidly as
possible and as soon as one Is organized
to report the fact to the department.
when the regiment will be ordered at
once to the point Of concentration. In
this way the government will be great
~ relieved in the distribution of stores.
which will be called for only as fast as
they are needed. The men also VIII be
more amenable to discipline which
quickly transferred to the concentra-a
ton points outside Of their own states.
1t Is the expectation that the first reg
iments organized and reported by the
states will be sent to Chattanooga.
thence to Cuba. via Mobile. Tampa,
New Orleans and Galveston. for ex-
petitions will be dispatched from each
Of these ports. The governor OF the
state will have no hand in the designa-
ton of the regiments to go to part!cu-
lar concentration camps; the destina-
ton will depend upon the promptness
with which the volunteers are organ
! lied and are ready for transportation.
These troops will follow the regular
| army to Cuba. When the troops are
organized. equipped and concentrated
the government will be ready to equip
! the second contingent, namely. the
forces about equal to another third Of
| the total call, which will be assigned to
| the defenses of the coast and harbors,
| replacing the regular United States
troops withdrawn from those posts.
| When these are equipped, the govern
nent will turn its attention to tNe
third class. comprising the last third
of the $4,000 volunteers called for. 1t
| is the sincere hope Of the War Depart
| ment that it will not be called upon to
fully equip these troops before hostili-
| ties are at an end, but the work Of pre-
paration on the contrary assumption.
This third division will constitute the
second reserves to be drawn upon for
reinforcements whenever needed. and it
! is possible that the men never will be
| called upon to leave their own states
unless the plans Of the War Depart
ment miscarry. It may be remarked,
by the way. that out of the first class
will come the troops which will be sent
to the Philippine Islands. General
Miles has prepared a scheme. changing
the boundaries of the present depart
mcnts to facilitate the working out OF
this plan, and it is now before Secre-
tary Alger for endorsement Inc re-
snonses 80 far received from the mus
tering officers continue to be very en-
couraginS.