The times., 1898-04-17
THE ARMY MOBILIZATION
Arranging for the TranspOrta-
iion of the Regular Army.
SIGSBEE'S NEW COMMAND
The heroic officer VIII Avenge Che
Names Destruction With the Aux
Hilary Cruiser sI. Paul-Thc Flying
Squadron Quietly Awaiting Orders
Ali in Readiness for War.

New York. April I6.-The general order
for the concentration Of the Regular Ar
my at Chickamauga, Mobile. New Or
leans and Tampa, issued by Major Gener-
,al Miles last night, was received by Gen
Merritt. commanding the Department of
the East. Upon its receipt the command
ers Of all the infantry and cavalry regi-
ments and of the light batteries in the
department were notified by telegraph
TO be ready TO start next Tuesday for
the points TO which they have been or
dered.
The order directed that all of the field
and camp equipage. wagons, horses and
mules together with rations for ten days.
be made ready. The order stated that
trains for the ample accommodation OF
officers. men, horses and camp outfit
would be at the railroad station nearest
the posts early Tuesday morning, but the
exact time for the departure OF each or
ganization would be made the subject Of
a subsequent order.
Lieut.. Col. Kimball, who was quarter
master of the Army Of the Potomac dur
ing the war is an encyclopedia of infor-
nation TO transportation lines, and he
was able 10 give all the information re-
quired in short order. After the confer
ence Lieut. Col Kim5an issued from his
Office invitations to the general passen-
ger agents OF twenty railroads 10 send
bids for transporting the troops. The
bids viii be opened at noon Monday.
The Cruiser 81. Paul.
New York, April ls.-As the last
consignment Of her cargo lands on the
pier early tomorrow morning, the ST.
Paul, OF the American Line, which reach
ed here at 7:30 this evening, becomes the
St Paul auxiliary cruiser of the Ameri-
can Government. Nothing that will be
left upon her will retain any connection
with the line except the officers and men,
and ii is more than likely that before
many hours most Of them will also have
passed over 10 the Navy Department
That viii be settled when she gets to the
Cramps shipyard, in Philadelphia. with
er she will be nayigated by her present
crew.
Capt. Charles ID. Sigsbee, late of the
Maine. VIII be in command Of her They
expect him on board early tomorrow
morning. word having been received to.
night al the Office of the American Line
that he had left Washington for this city
No ceremonies will mark the transfer OF
the vessel
Invasion of Cuba.
Atlanta, Ga, April l6-There is little
doubt In the mind OF Gen. Graham that
the invasion OF Cuba has been settled on
by the authorities at Washington imme-
diatelr on the declaration Of war. The
general is one Of the most discreet Of the
different department commanders and
has hitherto kept his opinions strictly Il
himself, but so sure seems to be the
onward march Of the events Of the las
few days that he feels compelled to ex,
press himself.
j have no doubt he said tonight. "oi
the purpose Of the Government in mass
ing troops on the coast OF the Gulf anC
the Atlantic. IT can have but one mean
ing. and that is the invasion of Cuba
This may seem little too previous il
one who occupies my position. but few
minues' reflection cannot fail TO justify
the assertion.
1T is evident TO the most casual oh
server that the War Department is send
ing only infantry and cavalry regiment
10 the different points of rendezvous.
Now what do these men know abou
the handling Of guns such as are use
in coast defenses? As they cannot the
be used as assistants in the operation o
the coast defenses. there remains onIt
one other object for their present uniyer
sal movement to the coast and that j
the invasion OF Cuba.
Just how soon IL viii come neither yol
nor I know. Perhaps in a few days
perhaps in as many hours. Everything
depends on the developments at Wash
fngton
An order issued from the Departmen
oi the Gulf today directs that the liel,
telegraph trains Of the department an,
the anbulances hospital wagons be a
once gathered IN Atlanta. The fel,
telegraph trains contain the apparatui
used in communicating between bodie
sf troops on the march In a wild countr,
OF on the field Of battle and could b.
of no possible use In this country
New York, April 16.-The monitor Ma
hant manned by New York naval militia
which left League Island under com