Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-06-02
WAR STEPS AHEAD.
THEY ARE INDICATED IN A LET
TER FROM ALGER TO CONGRESS
THE INVASION OF CUBA.
This Apparently 10 He Made mt Once.
Campaign Also Against Porto Rico
Road Making.

WASHINGTON, June LIN a slgniii-
cant recommendation submitted to Con-
| gress to-day, Secretary Alger, through
the medium of letter accompanying his
recommendation, outlines in a general
way the steps contemplated In the cam
paign contemplated against Cuba. Porto
Rico, and the Philippines. The letter is
from Chief-EngIneer Ludlow, who makes
tho important statement that il IS now
proposed to forward to Cuba an army Of
invasion TO be composed OF 1900 or 2O00O
troops, to be followed as rapidly as prac-
ticable by 5000 more.
Appropriations aggregating S,Ol7,0o0 are
asked for by the Secretary. One recon-
mendation is for $4,000, for gun and
mortar batteries which amount is re
quired Immediately for the use Of the
War Department, to remain available I'M
I'll spent" The amount is needed to pro-
vide emplacements for the carriages Of
high-power and rapid-fire guns to be pro-
cured by the ordnance department with
the funds already appropriated.
second one is "for the estab-
electrical communication in connection
with the army in Cuba, Porto Rico, and
the Philippine Islands" Then follows a
significant recommendation for $4,000
for IAN expeditionary force to Cuba" and
which is required by the War Depart
ment for immediate use." The items are
as follows: "For machinery and equip
ment for the construction and repair Of
roads, $4,000; construction and equipment
of military railroad, So, 600; additional in
trenching tools, electrical appliances, pho
tographic and topographic outfits, in
struments and maps, and for special and
technical services, 5000; contingencies
involving immediate expenditure of i'm
perative urgency, that cannot be specified
in advance, TO be expended under the di-
rection Of the major-general commanding
the army, $4,000"
CUBAN EXPEDITION.
The letter outlining the expedtionary
project against Cuba is written by Gen
eral Ludlow, whose special engineering
services were availed Of by Secretary
Alger TO outline what was needed. 1t is
dated May 22d,s was forwarded by Secre-
tary Alger, and says:
Referring to my letter of April 10Th,
covering the project OF the invasion of
Cuba with force of 5000, l invite at
tention to the provisional appropriations
which have been made expendable under
the army deficiency act, approved May
8. 1898. This did not include several items
that, while important, could temporarily
be omitted, on the supposition that no
immediate movement would be made
Furthermore, the project for the trans
fer to Cuba Of an expeditionary force has
been materially modified, in that, instead
of an assumed force of $1,000 for the es-
adjustment of a depot and base of sup
plies, 1t is now proposed TO send 10000
troops, to be followed as rapidly as
practicable by 5000 more. 1t is, there
fore, necessary to make provision for the
greatly-ausmented scale on which the
expedition is to be equipped, and for its
forward movement in the direction Of
Cuba"
General Ludlow says that "for obvious
reasons the plans in detail cannot bA
given, but that in a general way they
can be outlined. The general nature OF |
these engineering provisions. however, |
may be clearly indicated, and, in fact, |
for In the ensuing cam
paign account must be taken Of the fact |
that the rainy season in Cuba covers the |
summer months. and must be anticipated |
as affecting the time and means re-
luired for transportation, in order not |
10 delay movements and imperil health.
ROAD-MAKING.
'"rhere are few regularly-built roads I'm !
Cuba, the principal ones being westward
IF Habana. 1t is not likely that these
'oads have been kept in repair, and IT is
quite certain that others must be con-
;tructed and maintained. This will re-
,uire road-making machinery, for econo-
nizing the labor of troops, and leaving
hem free for the purely military work |
or which the numbers in question will
rot be more than sufficient TO equal the
nemy. In addition, special means Of
will be necessary and
portable three-feet railways must be
provided, both on the established lines
md along such additional and connect
ng lines as may be feasible and expe-
lent.
For railways. there should not be less |
han thirty miles of track and suitable
which may be estimated at
) 600 per mile for track. and $3.50 per
nile for equipment. The total of this
tenn. therefore, is $4,000.
Three outfits of road-making ma
hines, including rock-quarrying and
rushing apparatus. road-rollers, ditch
RS, and graders, will cost at least 5000
ach, say $4,000. In addition, there should
e an additional allowance of say $4,000
Or electric-lights, dynamite and torpedo
ppliances, ETC., including the employ
nf emil 10 |