The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-06-02
ALGER,s RECOMMENDATION.
Money Wanted for Invasion of Cuba,
Porto Rico and the Philippines.

Porto Rico and the Philippines.
WASHINGTON, June LIN significant
recommendations submitted to Congress to-
day, Secretary Alger through the medium
of letter accompanying his recommended
tions, outlines in a general way the steps
contemplated in the campaign against Cuba,
Porto Rico and the Philippines. The letter
is from Chief Engineer Ludlow, who makes
the significant statement that it is now pro-
posed to forward to Cuba an army of inva-
sion to be composed of 1900 or 10000 troops
to be followed as rapidly as practicable by
$1,000 more. The secretary's recommended
tons were for appropriations aggregating
100000 One recommendation is for
2,562,000 of deficiency in the appropria-
ton for gun and mortar batteries "re-
CURED Immediately for the use of the
War Department to remain available until
expended" This amount is needed to pro-
vide emplacements for carriages of high
power and rapid-fire guns to be procured
by the ordnance department with the funds
already appropriated, etc. A second one is
for $4,000 for the establishment and main
tenance of special electrical communication
in connection with the army in Cuba
Porto Rico and the Philippine islands,"
This amount includes the purchase, equip
ment and repair of field electric telegraph,
signal equipment, ETC.. binocuar glasses
telescopes, heilostats, and other necessary
instruments, including necessary meteorolog-
zeal instruments for use on target ranges,
war balloons, telephone apparatus (exclud-
ing exchange service and maintenance of
the same); electric installations and main
tenance at military posts: maintenance and
repair of military telegraph lines and cables,
including the salaries of civilian employees,
supplies. general repairs etc.
Then follows a significant Recommended
ton for $500 for an expeditionary force
to Cuba required by the War Department
for immediate use." The items are as fol-
lows: For machinery and equipment for
the construction and repair of roads, $25, 000
construction and equipment of military rail-
roads, $225,OO0 additional intrenching tools,
electric appliances, Photographic and topo-
graphic outfits, instruments and maps
manuals and for special and technical serv-
ices, $4,000, contingencies involving immedi-
ate expenditure of imperative urgency that
cannot be specified in advance to be ex-
pended under the direction of the major
general commanding the army $4,000.
The letter outlining the expeditionary
project against Cuba is written by General
Ludlow, whose special engineering services
were availed of by Secretary Alger to out
line what was needed 1t is dated May %
was forwarded by Secretary Alger, and
says: Referring to my letter of April 26,
covering the project with estimates for the
force of from three to five thousand men.
invite attention to the following: Pro-
visional estimates for this purpose amount,
and made expendible under the immediate
direction of the major general commanding
the army in the deficiency act approved
items that while important could temper
arily be omitted on the superstition that no
immediate movement would be made
Furthermore, the project for transfer to
Cuba of expeditionary force has been
materially modified in that instead of an
assumed force of five thousand for the es-
Establishment of depot and base of supplies
1t is now proposed to forward an army Of
invasion to be composed of fifteen or twenty
as practicabie by ffty thousand more # y
therefore necessary to make provisions for
the greatly augmented scale on which the
expedition is to be equipped and for it's
forward movement in the direction of
Cuba
General Ludlow says for obvious reasons
the plans in detail cannot be given, but that
in a general way they can be outlined. The
general nature of these engineering provi-
Sions, however, may be clearly indicated
and, in fact, estimated for. In the ensuing
campaign 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 required for
transportation in order not to delay move
ments and imperil health. There are few
regularly built roads in Cuba. the principal
ones being westward of Havana. 1t is not
likely that these roads have been kept in
repair. and it is quite certain that others
must be constructed and maintained. This
will require road-making machinery, as
economizing the labor of troops and leaving
them free for the purely military work for
which the numbers in question will not be
more than sufficient to equal the enemy. In
addition special means of transportation will
be necessary and portable three-foot guage
railroads must be provided, both on the
established lines and along such additional
and connecting lines may be feasible and
expedient. For railways there should not
be less than thirty miles of track and suit
able equipment. which may be estimated at
5000 per mile for track. and 81, SEQ per mile
for equipment. The total of this item, there
fore, is $3.50 Three outfits of road-mak-
ing machines, including rock-quarrying and
crushing apparatus, road rollers. ditchers
and graders. will coSt-at 5000 each-say
$4,000. In addition there should be an addi-
tional allowance of say 100000 for electric
lights, dynamite and torpedo appliances,
etc. including the employment of scouts,
spies, etc.