The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-05-16
MAY NEED MORE TRooPs.
The Insurgent Army in Cuba Insig-
nificant.

The InsurSem Army IN CuDa AhslS-
nifcant.
A washington special to the Philadel-
phia Ledger says:
The President is said to be seriously
considering another call for volunteers, IN
view of the news received from Admiral
Dewey os the large Spanish force in the
Philippines. It is reported that Gen. Mer-
rift very strongly urged upon the admin
istration that a force equal to that deter
mined upon should be held in reserve in
the neighborhood of San Francisco, ready
to be sent to Manila If it was found that
they were needed. The news that the
Spanish government is preparing to for
ward 10000 more troops to the Philippines
has added strength to the position OF
those at the war department who have
insisted for week past that at least
25 900 regulars and volunteers should be
hurried across the Pacific for the occupa-
ton of Manila and the principal islands of
the Philippine group
There is an increasing belief at the war
department that at least 100000 regulars
and volunteers will be needed at the out
set for the subjugaHon of Cuba. The
original estimate of troops required was
larry force of insurgents, possibly 10000 or
10000 men. would assist the United States
troops in operations on the island.
The news received at the war depart
ment, from army officers who have visited
Cuba within the past few weeks, shows
conclusively that the insurgent army is
not only insignificant in numbers, but that
there is little disposition on the part of
natives of Cuba outside OF the army TO
"a tO q If
and ammunition. The Cuban forces have,
therefore, been practically eliminated
from the equation and 1t is felt that their
places must be supplied with additional
volunteers in sufficient numbers to meet
the Spanish forces, regulars and volun-
teers, which are reported TO aggregate
more than 100000 electives.
The present call for volunteers, if all the
states fill UP their quotas, and the addi-
tional regiments authorized outside of the
slate quotas, added to the regular army
when recruited to its full limit, will give
less than 100000 men for two armies or
invasion and for defense of our sea coast.
Under the conditions there is a growing
feeling that the number will be insult
ficent for the demands of the military
operation. and the President is already be-
ing urged to issuel another can for an
equal number of men.
the Secretary of War and tho Chief Exec
urive that a summer campaign in Cuba
end in the Philippines viii necessarily
mean the loss of many Of the troops from
sickness and the depletion of both armies
of invasion. In the case of the army n
Cuba the forces will be within a few hours
Of a base of supplies In the Philippines
at least a month must elapse before re-
serves can be forwarded.
The Secretary of War has therefore been
earnestly pressed to urge another call for
volunteers, who, after proper military
training and instruction in camp, will be
In condition to be utilized as supporting
forces to the armies which will shortly
be sent to Asia and the West Indies. It
is beginning to be recognized that the
present war IS to be no ninety-day CAM
paign, and may be protracted for many
months. The prospect is that the United
states must maintain an army of occu-
patton in Cuba Porto Rico and the Philip
pines for some time to come.
With such an outlook total of 100000
men, less IN number than the acclimated
Spanish troops which they will have TO
face, is declared to be absurdly Inadequate.
Army officers in high positions declare
that the present programme Of sending
small forces TO operate against double or
treble their number, all of whom are IN
acclimated and most Of whom are raw re-
cruits, Is simply to invite disaster.