Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1898-04-15

C1lckamauga - Deemed Expedi-
ent to Move the Troops Directly
10 the Coast Where They May Be
Held IN Readiness for Any Move
ment Out Of the Country in Case
Occasion Requires - Volunteers
Will Not Be Called for at Once.
Militia Will Be Drawn Into Ser
vice First = Movements Of the
twenty Fifth Infantry.
Special to the Register
Washington. D. c., April 1.-THE
plans Of the War Department for the
concentration Of as much Of the regu-
lar army as can De spared from the
Western States and Territories have
been pefected, and tn movement of
troops to the Eastern seaboard has
commenced The idea OF concentra-
tion at Chickamaugua Park, Chat
tanooga originally proposed by Gen.
Miles has been abandoned for the
reason that a large assemblage OF
troops there could serve no good pur-
pose and would entail large expense
for supplies at a point from which the
troops must be moved as soon as hos
tilities break cut 1t has been deter
mined that it would be far better to
concentrate the troops at various
points along the coast, and the move
ments now going on and others to be
u ~ hot
line.
1t has peen determined that there
will be no call for volunteers such as
was issued at the outbreak of theclV1l
war Instead requisition will be
made upon the various States for
quota Of the National Guard, and when
this apportionment is announced the
troops will be assembled at their
various armories, paraded, and all who
are unwilling to serve in either home
or foreign service, will be asked to
step three PAGES to the front. Their
places will at once be filled by new re-
cruits, the equipment distributed to
them, and thecOmmands will be ex-
pected to move upon orders with full
ranks, the men being sworn into the
service of the United States for a spe-
cifc period or during the war This
plan will not only give the government
armed and disciplined men, but will
meet the eXigency of summoning
green men as volunteers. whom the
GOVERNMENT CAN NOT ARM
even in an emergency. 1t is estimated
at the War Department that between
one and two million men have offered
their services, and to arm and equip
even q fraction Of them, at this time,
would be impossible, whereas the Ma
tional Guard is already armed and
equipped, Differed, drilled, and can
take the field at few hours notice
|. 1t is not expected, at ting War De-
partment, that many troops would be
sent to Cuba, at least not f n time
The programme IS 70 take summary
and immediate possession of some
Cuban seaport, and there land arms
and munitions for the equi iment OF the
insurgents, under the protection Of an
adequate force of United States troops
The native Cubans woulG be derended
upon to do the bulk of the fighting for
the expulsion Of the Spanish with the
United States as a base Of supplies,
and with whatever American assist
ance might be necessary from time to
time. Havana and other harbors
would be blockaded. and time would GO
the rest
Gen. Miles said to-day that up to this
time no further movements of troops
other than those announced some time
ago had been ordered, nor had any call
for volunteers been issued
The War Department officials have
completed preparations for any move
ment Of troops toward a common cen
ter and for calling out the militia when
ever such a step is
REGARDED AS NECESSARY.
If the Intervention resolution should be
enacted by both houses Immediately the
orders to move troops probably would
be promptly issued
Gradually the lines are tightening
around the news centres Of the Navy
Department. Some time ago Captain
Crowninshield, chief of the bureau of
navigation, issued an order forbidding
any of the employees of his bureau Civ
ing out news except on permission from
him. This did not interfere with the
posting of the movements Of ships In
the navigation bureau which has been
done for a long time past To-day,
however the officials of the bureau gave
notice that hereafter no information
would be given to the public respecting
| the arrival and departure of vessels
from any of the United States or for
eign ports This is done under explicit
| orders from Secretary Long. who be
lieves that in times OF great public cir
sis, like the present, when the navy is
likely to be called into active requisi-
ton, the best interests of the govern
ment require that no publicity shall be
given to the movements of the ships
composing it.
Nashville, Tenn, April 14.-If any
doubt existed regarding the patriotism
and warlike feeling of the residents OF
Illinois, Indiana and Tennessee. along
| the line of the Chicago & Eastern rail-
road. it would have been swept way by
| the reception given the Twenty fifth
! Infantry as it passed along. In every
town. on every street crossing and on
| the depot platforms, men waved their
| arms in frantic token Of approval and
| in most instances seconded their ges-
| lures BY wells. In the larger towns
where the train stopped for few min
! utes the crowd piled so closely in upon
the cars that it was impossible for the
soldiers to leave the train at all
Il was among those who answered
the first call in 1861 said the com
Dffit.ar CoI Andrew 8 RIIrt