New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-05-24
STILL MORE TROOPS NEEDED
ANOTHER CALL FOR VOLUNTEERS UN.
DER CONSIDERATION.
INVASION OF CUBA AND OCCUPATION OF
THE PHILIPPINES REQUIRE A LARGER
FORCE THAN WAS AT FIRST
EXPECTED.
rrY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE

fBY TELEGRAPH TO TRIBUNE
Washington. May % Another call for voun-
teers Is under serious consideration by the MILL
tary authorities although il may not be issued
for at least a week two, or. any rate, until
the invasion Of Cuba has begun and the neces-
sity for additional troops is clearly demon
strated. The difficulties II armng and equipping
many OF the soldiers already mustered into the
service are rapidly disappearing. and from the
experience gained in the recent call Army on
GERS are satisfied that more than a month will
be consumed in mastering m additional oo.poo
men. and that in this time equipments could be
prepared for ;hat number. The unexpected and
extraordinary train on the regular and volunteer
force by the Philippines expedition, necesstatins
at the outset 1900 men, together witE the pros
pcct that Spain will not be Influenced by Euro
pean Powers 70 abandon her futile struggle. but
will stubbornly wage war until her inexplicable
resources are exhausted. is causing the military
authorities considerable anxiety regarding tho
sufciency OF the armed force OF the Government
for carrying out the responsibilities which have
been undertaken.
GREAT RESPONSIBILITIES INCURRED.
The simple task OF freeing Cuba has been
increased. though the necessities arising In the
Philippines and through the probability OF being
compelled 10 maintain an army OF occupation IN
cuba several years. until the is beginning
10 assume tremendous dimensions. II Porto
Rico is added 10 the scales eventually as the
Philippines were. the magnitude OF American
responsibility Will be materially increased, and
further increase OF the Army will be compulsory
Many public men are beginning to express the
conviction that the forces Of the United States
Will be as difficult TO withdraw from Cuba as
those OF England have been from Egypt. al
though there Is no modification up 10 this time
Of the resolution to make Cuba free and auton-
omous republic and not mere dependent terrl-
toral acquisition With regard TO the Philip
pines and Porto Rico however. disposition Is
already manifested TO regard them as fruits or
victory and in view Of the notorious incapacity
OF their inhabitants for self government. to take
permanent possession OF them and provide them
with complete colonial establishments. Event
ually they may become in part self-soverning
but the strong arm OF the United States may
have to he exerted indefinitely TO preserve their
peace and prosperity.
The authorized strength OF the Army a month
ago was % 900 men 1t has now been increased
TO 100 800 and OF the latter number l34OOo
will be actually under arms and In the field be-
fore June I. OF this increase by the expansion
OF the Regular service through its reorganza-
ton under the three battalion formation. $4,000
men have been added. the other portion having
been acquired through the call for volunteers
and by means of the enlistment Of two brigades
of immunes and one Of engineers. begun to-day.
II is already the prevailing belief that the ex-
panson Of the Regular service, though con-
templated only for the duration of the war. Will
be permanent, and that the standing army VIII
never again fall below $1,000 The latter num-
Der. In the opinion Of General Miles is essen
tal for operations in Cuba next summer. al
though most Of the invading force will neces-
sarily be composed Of volunteers.
LITTLE HELP EXPECTED FROM CUBANs
The rapid development Of the Cuban invasion
project Is given as another indication OF the
forthcoming necessity for additional volunteers
In its inception a month ago the programme
contemplated a force Of only 5000 men to estab-
lish base OF supplies. from which the CUBAN
insurgents were to be armed. clothed and fed
and their campaign against the Spaniards sup
ported as occasion required. This plan was
based on the presumption that reports regard
ing the insurgent strength which had been re-
ce,ved from American consuls and others for
the last two years were accurate. and that the
ability of General Gomez to crush the Span
iards and shut them UP In the coast cities nad
not been exaggerated. For nearly two years
positive assertions had been numerous that the
Cubans. with merely the moral encouragement
Of the United States through recognition OF
beiliserency would quickly accomplish their
own independence. Within the last month the
falsity OF these assertions has been demonstrat-
ed to the complete satisfaction OF the authorities
here, and through the reports Of Regular Army
officers who have recently made reconnoissances
in the island 1t Is now definitely known that
little or no assistance from the vaunted armies
OF liberation" need be expected On the con-
trary. the latest information. which Is OF un-
doubted trustworthiness, indicates conclusively
that had SO small force at first contem-
plated been landed In Cuba the rapid concen-
tratlon OF Spanish troops against 1t would have
Continued nm aecoud uaGA.