The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1898-12-15
THE ARM Y.
Needs Discuss-
ed BY Corbin.
CONDITION IN CUBA.
Thinks 10000 Men Are
Required There.

Washington Dec. l4.-Adjt. Gem
eral Corbin appeared today before the
House committee on military affairs.
His statements attracted unusual inter-
est, because of their direct reference
10 conditions in Cuba, Porto Rico and
The Philippines. and the military re-
quirements on which the war depart
ment was acting. AS to the need Of
an increased army. Gen. Corbin said
that was a most serious proposition He
said: The Cuban evacuation commits
sion has submitted a statement that in
order to preserve order and restore or
der in Cuba, it will require the pres
ence of an army of $4,000 men"
It was on this recommendation,
said Gen. Corbin, that the plan of
sending troops to Cuba was based. L.
might be found that $4,000 men would
not be absolutely requisite. But we
are holding $4,000 men in readiness to
go if required" said the general.
As to the Philippines, Gen. Otis
in command there, has recommended
that $4,000 men were required there. In
Porto Rico the officers in command
there recommended that the force now
is adequate for the requirements
1t must be borne in mind" said Gen.
Corbin, that an army in time if
peace is like insurance. 1t is a prepar-
auion for an emergency. If we had had
such an army last June no such loss
of life would have occurred
DO you think $4,000 men for Cuba a
conservative estimator" asked Mr. Jett
of Illinois
q think it is" answered the gen
eral.
And how long will that last?" asked
Mr. Hay.
u wish I could say answered Gen.
Corbin but no man can. You can't
view conditions in Cuba as you can in
Ohio or Pennsylvania. For 100 years
the people there have been accustomed
to be ruled by force The officers there
fear that with these conditions and
habits If troops are not there, trouble
may occur"
When questioned as to how soon the
United States troops could be with
drawn from Cuba, Gen. Corbin said
il was impossible to say even approx
imately. There is no. man living.
he said, lin my judgment, who can
foresee even for 80 days what the flu
ture will bring forth.
Gen. Corbin said the proposed large
increase of staff officers was essential
to the peculiar new .iutleS QeVOlVlnS
on army officers. In the Philippines,
for instance. they were collectors and
would remain so until congress pro-
vided otherwise. Mr.. Hay suggested
that Gen. Miles estimated 1000 for Porto
Rico, while Gen. Corbin proposed 5000.
I would defer entirely to the view
of the major general in command of
the army on that point" said Gen.
Corbin. IF he says 1000 then that is
undoubtedly adequate, as he has been
on the ground and knows the situation
there. =" What is your personal opinion
without reference to the recommended
tion to Cuban commission, as to the
number of men needed in Cuba?"
asked Mr. Hay.
81 would not have an opinion against
such a commission, responded the
general. The riotous events of the last
few days. he feared, he said, might
be the casting of the shadow Of future
events. The experience of the last war;
Gen. Corbin said, would not warrant
an affirmative answer to an inquiry
as to sufficiency of a volunteer reserve.
The national guard was an admirable
body Of men for ordinary emergencies