Evening star., 1898-10-07
TO CONTROL IN CUBA
Our Authority to Be Established by
December l.
EGARDLESS OF SPANISH EVACUATION
General Lees Corps to Leave Early
in November.
THE MATTER OF DUTIES

| The 7th Army Corps, under command OF
Gen. F'itzhugh Lee. has been ordered from
Jacksonville to Savannah. 1t is stated
that the entire corps will go into camp
there temporarily. The reason of the re-
| moval from Jacksonville to Savannah IS
| for the purpose of preparing for early en-
| barhation to Cuba. The depth of the water
| at Jacksonville is not great enough for the
large transports of the government, and
| the authorities have decided that the en-
barkation can be made more conveniently
| from Savannah. Gen. Lee was in consul
| tation with the War Department yester.
| day afternoon and this morning regarding
| the arrangements for the removal OF the
| troops After few days rest in Virginia
| he will proceed directly to Savannah, and
will remain there until his command en-
! barks for Cuba
Departure of Lees Corps
The understanding is that the corps Will
leave about the first week in November
| and it is probable that most of the regi-
ments will be quartered In the central and
western part of the island. Gen. Lee him
self, it is stated, expects to be in Havana
| within a month. The preparation for the
| movement Of the 1th Corps is in pursuance
of the administrat!on.s policy of prompt
| military occupation of Havana and the
surrounding country. The news from Mad
| rid this morning that the Spanish govern
ment was promising to hurry the evacua-
| ton of the island by the Spanish soldiers
| has nothing to do with the present plans
| These promises have been made so fire.
| quenty that the American troops will oc-
| cupy the island without regard to the
Spaniards.
To Establish Control.
| There has been no change in the original
purpose, which was to have the authority
of the United States established from one
| end of the island to the other by December
| l. When Congress meets it is the inten-
ton that there shall not be even the shadow
! Of Spanish sovereignty remaining in Cuba.
| Whether Spain has succeeded in getting all
! her soldiers away or not, the military con-
| troi of the island will be absolutely in the
hands of the United States. American Off
| cials will be administering the custom
houses and the other functions of civil
| government will be carried temporarily
! as they have been carried on in Santiago
since the American flag was raised there
| Needed Modification of Duties.
The pressure is very great to have the
| Spanish officials ousted from the custom
| houses at once. There is the double neces-
| sity of preventing the revenues being stolen
| by outgoing officials, who improving
| tlitIf last OF ana the need
| O. modifying the duties so that cattle and
other articles of consumption which are
| so important food supplies to the peo-
| peo of Cuba may be admitted free. The
{ Treasury Department is ready to take
| charge of the custom houses at a days
| notice. The report of Robert 2. Porter
who has been in Cuba the last six weeks
| as a special commissioner will probably
| have sc netting to do with the policy to be
! followed regarding the customs duties. Mr..
| Porter is understood to be urgent in his
| rccomme Edat:ons for immediate American
| control.
| Composition of Lees Corps.
! General Lees corps comprises the follow
ing regiments all volunteer troops:
The I'd. 4th and 9th Illinois Infantry.
1G1st Indiana Infantry, I'd Louisiana In
| fantry 9th Missouri Infantry, Sd Nebras-
| ka infantry Organs regimenD. 1st North
| Carolina Infantry, ID South Carolina In
| fantry, 1st Texas Infantry, 4th Virginia In
| fantry and the I'd United States Volunteer
! Cavalry.
The general orders which will be issued to
| this division will direct that the movement
| begin about the 1st of November or as soon
| thereafter as practicable. The Indications
are based on the proceedings of the mill
| tary commission at Havana that the troops
| VIII be sent not in body, but in small
| reglmental and brigade commands and that
| these Will be landed first on the western
coast and perhaps in part on the south
l
| pose is to reduce the chances of hostile
| ciashing between the retiring Spanish troops
ana the incoming American forces by keen
| ing back the latter until the SpaniarCls have
| been deported
About the time the movem mt of the Lee
| command begins, another movement will
| take place OF troops now in the middle
| states toward the southern camps, which
| have been selected by the Schwan board
| lying in Georgia, South Carolina and Ala
! a DANA; rms movement will result in the
| ahandonment of the camps 1t Middletown
| "a; Lexington, KY, and Knoxville. The
| southern camps are to be laid out in the
best form with all the impr ,vements that
| thc experience of the last inner has die
| tated. Wherever permanent buildings will
| Conduce to the comfort and health of the
| troops they are to be erected although the
J cCflinahalns officers are to keep in mind at
an hmes the prorriety of avoiding enner-
| Vallon or the men by kecIlng them too
| closely indoors and way from camp life.
The First Expedition.
The first division of troops to garrison
Cuba is already under orders and should
| be started within a very few days from
the southern ports near their camping
| grounds. The first division starts under
| the temporary command of Brigadier Cen
| eral l.. Fl. Carpenter. u. S. T.. who COM
| mands the cavalry brigade composed of
| the 7th and Sth United States Cavalry. He
| Will hold command of the entire division
! simply by reason of seniority over Briga-
dier General Snyder and Brig sidier General
| Willston, the other brigade commanders
and in the end a permanent designation
| must be made of division co mmander 1t
| is the intention Of the War Department
that Major General Wade. now president
Of the military evacuation com mission, shall
| have supreme command of the entire force
! of United States troops assign I'd to duty in
| Cuba, but he will SCARCELY take active COM
| mand until he has completed his duties with
| the commission.
| The I'd Division will comp rise all the
| troops now under the command Of General
| Lee.
| DEPOsITORS WILL BE, PAID.