The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1898-05-13

tDIGy having passed HILHOuL d ItpOIl
from Admiral Sampson, the navy de-
partment does 0 expect to hear from
him within several days. The author
ity for this statement is fully acquaint-
"a with Admiral SIMPSONS plans, and
the remark would seem to indicate
hat the admiral, having failed to find
the enemy at the place expected, had
turned his attention to the alternative
project. What this is cannot be aScer-
tained. 1t is evident, however,, that the
department is under no apprehension
sion as TO the safety Of the American
fleet nor Of n vessel Of the fleet.
The wa department saw fit today to
crafty the universal desire and inform
the country through the press just
where the various state volunteer or
CARNATIONS are to be concentrated It
is tine first time that any official state
ment mas been made as to the point of
concentration of troops. The order
as published 10y the department is
thought in some quarters to warrant
the assumption chat it contemplates a
speedy movement of the United States
military forces upon Cuba and in much
greater force han was originally plan
ned. The wal department officials re-
fuse to say anything on this point but
there is every evidence that they expect
q short, sharp, conclusive and immed-
late campaign, such as could not be
Waged by five or ten thousand soldiers.
1t is also to be noted that preparations
by the quartermaster's department and
the cOmnissary department, so far as
is disclosed by actual orders, indicates
that provision is being made for mob
iIization, and feeding many thousands
OF men outside of the United States.
With q view to systematiZing the great
work of putting the forces and put
ting them in service, the war depart
nnent has planned a scheme which, it
is believed, win very much hasten the
work of mobilizing the forces and put
equipping them, while avoiding any
congestion of the railroad traffic, such
as is always to be apprehended in
cases of war. Instead of allowing all
the rOOps called for from a particular
state to be assembled and broken In at
the rendezvous, the department is in
Structing it's mastering officers to COM
plete 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 to the point selected for con-
centration. In this way dhe govern
1nent will he greatly relieved in the
distribution of stores which will be
called for as fast as they are needed.
The men also will be more amenable
to discipline when quickly transferred
10 the concentration points outside OF
their own states. 1t is the expectation
that the first regiment organized and
reported from the states Will be sent
- ", 80 nDnan onip 70 (N.hn
Via Mobile, Tampa, New Orleans and
Galyeston; for expeditions will be dis
patched from each Of these ports.
The governor of a state will have
no hand in the designation of the regi-
mentS to go to particular concentra-
tiOn camps, the destination will de-
pend upon the prOmptness with which
the volunteers are organized and are
ready for transportation. Probably
about one-third of the entire levy call
Ct for by the president, or about 100000
troops, will constitute the force to be
sent south to take part in the first Gu
ban service, following the regular
army forces. These troops will be the
first to receive their equipment. When
they are organized, equipped and con-
centrated the government will be ready
to equip the second contingent; name
iy the forces, about equal to another
third Of the total call, which will he
assigned to the defences of the coast
and harbors, replacing the regular
United States troops withdrawn from
those posts.
When these are equipped, the gov-
eminent Will turn its attention 10 the
third class, comprising the last third
OF the 125 900 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 the hos
Utilities are at an end, but the work of
preparation is proceeding or the con-
trary assumption. This third division
will constitute the second reserve, TO be
drawn upon for Reinforcement when-
ever needed and it is possible that the
men never will be called Dor to leave
their own states, unless the plans OF
the war department miscarry. 1t may
be remarked by the way that out OF the
first class will come the troops hich
will be sent to the Philippine islands.
General Miles has prepared a scheme
changing the boundaries of the present
departments to facilitate the Working
out of this plan and it is now before
Secretary Alger for endorsement.
The responses SO far received from
the muster officers continue to be very
Encouraging
WHERE THE STATE TROOPS WILL
40.
In answer to repeated requests from
all sections of the ountr for lnfor-
amiton as to where the various organl-
cations of the state roops, which are
being mustered into the United States
service are to be sent, Secretary AL
ger today furnished the Associated
press a statement showing the deSti-
nation of the troops. The
Hist is subject to correction. 1t will be
noticed that, generally speaking three
points are to receive the greater num-
her of troops. The official list con-
tains the following:
"Among the troops assigned to
washington is one regiment of Virginia
infantry.
ITO camp George H. Thomas, Chick
amauga-North Carolina, one regi-
:ueox+r,. Co,,Hh ga rnijn9 one