Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-04-25
The Regular Army to Be First
Landed in Cuba.
AID TO BE GIVEN GOMEZ
Munitions Of War and Supplies to
Be Furnished.
VOL NTEERS TO FOLLOW

AS soon as it was announced by the
President to senators ard members of the
House that declaration that a state Of
war exists would be recommended to Con-
greSs in a message this morning, he was
assured that the suggestion would be acted
upon as soon as the message was re ceived.
There has been a strong desire in Congress
to make such declaration, ard both
houses were ready to do so, had it been
the desire of the President, or the cay that
Minister Woodford given his pass
ports by the Spanish government From
the time of the Maine report there has
been more or less sentiment in favor of d
declaration of war. Now the war actually
exists, and the declaration is Simply to
meet technical requirements in connection
with our international relations.
The foreign relations committee held a
special session at II o'clock to prepare the
war resolutions to be reported to the SEN
ate. An understanding was reached in both
houses that there would be no delay what
ever in responding to the Presidents mes
sage, and it is regarded necessary I'M
der the terms Of that act that war shall
be declared by Congress to exist before the
contemplated recruiting for the regular
army can be begun. This, more than any
thing else, renders a declaration desirable
today, rather than day or two later.
First Invasion OF Cuba.
The general understanding is that it is
the purpose of the President as has before
been stated in The Star. to use the regular
army for the first invasion, and not to call
On the volunteer army to leave our shores
until after they have become thoroughly
seasoned. The departure of several of the
vessels from SIMPSONS fleet for MatanZas,
reported in the Havana dispatches this
morning, is interpreted to be movement
In conjunction with a decision which has
been reached to Immediately land 5000 reg
ular troops at Matanzas or some other con-.
venient point in that direction, to establish
a base of supplies. 1t is understood that
arrangements have been completed for
tablishing communication between such a
base Of supplies and Gen. Gomez's army,
which is being concentrated for the purpose
of forming a junction. The hour of the
departure Of troops from shores will be
determined only by the question of how
fast it Is possible to get the 5000 men on
transports and put them under naval es-
cort. A large quantity Of military supplies
and of provisions for feeding the destitute
within reach of and under the protection of
the invading army and the army of Gomez
the base of supplies in Cuba
A Base of Supplies.
1t is felt that a force of 5000 men will
be amply able to establish the base of sup
plies and to protect it from any force the
Spanish could send against it. AS soon as
the force has landed the way will be open
to pour into the island all the supplies and
munitions of war that can possibly be need
ed, and the investment of the island will
begin. The vessels which have been detail
ed from SIMPSONS fleet will be quite able
to cover the landing of the troops from
the transports and giving them a clean
foothold. 1t is understood that the Cuban
army of Gomez. as fast they can be
assembled, will be provided with such
arms, ammunition, clothing, provisions,
horses and equipment as they need and be
as rapidly as possible put into condition
for effective service. After it has been
determined how effective Il force can be
relied upon from the Gomez army, it can
be decided to what extent our own I'M
acclimated soldiers will have to be called
upon for service in Cuba at this time.
Starting with the regulars. the more sea-
soned soldiers will be first drawn upon for
the army of invasion. The militia and
raw recruits will be kept in camp as long
as possible, to allow them to become sea-
soned, and when the calls upon them begin
careful selection will be made of those
seeming best suited for the sort Of service
for which reinforcements will be needed
The Regular Army.
The regular army, which will be recruit
ed under the bill which has been passed by
the House and is to be acted upon by the
Senate, will retain a character sharply
distinguished from the volunteer arm. 1t
will be built up by recruiting to nearly
three times its present size an army made
up of hardy and seasoned men. The re-
cruits will naturally be of very different
class of men from those comprising the
volunteer army. The men in the volunteer
army will be composed of men, for the
most part who would never think, in time
of peace, of adopting the profession of
private soldier. The recruits to the regular
army are expected to come from the same
class of men, used to hardships and priva-
ton, who ordinarily choose the profession
of soldiers in the ranks, ard they will be
recruited to fill up companies of men who
have become fully seasoned. Ths volun-
teers, coming chiefly from walks of private
life, where many of them have been used
to luxury and have never known what
hardship is, while experience has shown
that they make excellent soldiers, in fact
the best in time, need to be given longer
time in camp so that they may become
used to its hardshipS For this reason it is
probable that the volunteers will not be
called upon to join the army of invasion for
at least month, and it may be consider
ably longer before any of them are ordered
to duty outside this country.
EXPECT A LONG STRUGGLE