New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-04-15
TWO ARMIES TO BE FORMED
ONE FOR HOME DEFENCE. THE OTHER
TO INVADE CUBA.
THE PLAN PROPOSES THE ADDITION OF ONE HUN
DRED THOUSAND TO THE PRESENT FORCE
WAR PREPARATIONS OF THE
NAVY DEPARTMENT

tBY TELEGRAPH TO THE THIDrNE.l
Washington, April 1.-THE War Department
has almost completed It's military plans Tor
meeting the responsibilities almost certain to he
imposed upon the Army by the final adoption OF
che OF the resolutions now pending in Congress.
and while no announcement of the contemplated
project Is likely be made in anticipation OF the
Presidents formal call for troops the general
proposition under consideration is now under
stood to be narrowed down to the reinforcement
of the Army by the addition of 100000 men.
or these 1000 will be needed for home defence
and police and this force will consist of the Ma
tional Guards under their present organization
their Governors remaining in command ana
their regimental officers being maintained
Tho other 90 0OO men. who would be accepted
as volunteers by the President. preferably from
the State militia, will be organized under FED
eral authority for the purpose OF invading ana
occupying Cuba until a stable Government Is
established. In any State should furnish
one or more regiments OF such volunteers the
officers up TO and including the grade OF coiohei
would be selected by the State all ohicers OF
higher rank being commissioned by the fresi-
dent. Where State furnishes less than resi-
ment Of volunteers complete reorganization Will
occur and such volunteers will be assigned 10
regiments under officers OF the Presidents selec-
ton.
General Miles was in consultation with Secre-
tary Alger to-day regarding the concentration
of regulars at Chickamauga. The orders nave
been practically agreed upon In all details. ana
the general mobilization OF infantry and cavalry
may begin at any moment. The only inforina-
ton that was given after the conference was
that no orders had been issued. but they might
be at an hours notice The matter was nnaly
placed In the hands Of the President TINS ai'er-
noon
Authorization was given by secretary A'ee'
to-day for the Immediate purchase OF one thou-
sand mules 10 be used rs pack animals Inns
was due TO Consul-General Lees statement 'na'
the Regular Army wagon would be USED Tor
transportation Of supplies In very re" pai's "a
Cuba The animals will be collected AT once ~
St Louis and sent TO Chckamauga as 500" do
troops assemble there.
The Navy Department took the suos'dAed heu
n r,ne steamer Venezuela at New-York to-day.
leaving the price to he paid TO the decision VI a."
arbitrator as provided under the Subsidy act IN
ca.s q, disagreement. 1t Is understood that the
owners wanted nearly twice as much FOR the
ve.seI az naval officers consider a fair price
and an impartial award will now be given AZ 10
the vessels present value ,, am,
noanders IN store distilled water In the douoIe
bottoms Of their vessels for use IN tne si,iIS
boilers The feet at Key West Is having DIM
Guilty in securing fresh water. and large ais
filling apparatus Is now being Installed ther"
Ar the Naval Station water now has TO be pur-
chased for all purposes at COST OF three ''"''
gallon. ..r
The Navy Department does not expect TO hear
from the battle-ship oregon and the gunooat
Marietta again until those vessels reach Monte
ydeo about April "A In any case III" Depart
uent will not announce their arrival al any
mort on account OF the orders Issued by S~cre-
iary Long to-day that the movements or naVal
vessels should hereafter he regarded as secret
The following vessels now hiting out nj Nor
folk Will be ready for active service next week
The cruiser Montgomery and the torpedo boat
Rodgers the revenue cutters Hamilton, Morri'',
Window Manning. Woodbury. and hudson. ana
the golfers Suwanee. Niagara and Merr!mac.
The cruiser Newark will be ready for commits
sion by April 80 The Charleston VIII he ready
at Mare Island by the end OF the present month.
and the Philadelp hia three weeks later.
The American liners 81, Paul and ST Louis
have not yet been added 10 the Navy, and until
there Is actual necessity for their use in war
they will not be purchased. II the Paris and
the New-York are required they may be leased
IA transports. but they Will not b. purchased
outright.
Choctaw Ii the name assigned to-day to tho
tug C. c. Coyle OF New orleans. and Powha-
tan TO the Penwood. OF Mobile The names
Fearless Active and Vigilant OF the three tugs
purchased Mt San Francisco Will be retained on
the naval list.
II is announced that the destination OF Cap
West in the next day or two. will be DRY Tortu-
gas where the coaling facilities are better than
near Key West The new Geographic cable TO
Tortugas is in successful operation.