Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1898-12-15
NEEDS $4,000 MEN.
Continued from page ~

stations for United States troops, with
num'tar and kinds of troops at each on
the evacuation of Spain. The Spanish
troops now occupy so garrsons. count
ing Savannah and other cities as one
station each. 1t will Zoe neither practi-
cable nor advisable to replace all of
these garrisons. My recommendation
is based on holding the more important
with sufficient force TO operate in the
vicinity and furnish small garrdsons at
such other points as may become neces-
sary, this, / believe, will be the best
disposition to make of our troops when
they arrive.
Should this be approved, the troops
at each station should be promptly fur
nished when asked for by the evacua-
ton commission, SO as to be at their
stations in time to relieve Spanish gar
risons and prevent occupation by in
Surgent troops concentrated near most
Of the designated places. l consider
the number of troops named in the ac-
companying table as the smallest that
should be in the island, not including
those now in the department OF sam
tiago. In fixing this number | have
been governed by the following con-
siderations:
Cuba is, and for long time has
been, really a military camp and gov
erned by the most arbitrary rule
Practically there is no civil govern
lnent or authority. The Spanish forces
consist of about 11S.000 regulars. 21,0o0
volunteers on duty and $4,000 volun-
teers armed, but not on duty. The in
surgents claim to have about 10000
armed men, making a total of $4,000.
Probably the military evacuation by
Spain will remove about 100000 men,
number who will be or recently have
been under arms. TO a great extent.
living off the country.
MANY of these men will from neces-
sity, if not from choice, be without en-
ployment. Among these men, as well AS
those who have not taken part in the late
Spanish Cuban war. exist race feuds and
political friction. Many of these people
are very ignorant, few understand what
independence and liberty mean or have
any fixed ideas as to what the future of
their country will or should be. 1t will
require tact and force and harmonic the
conflicting interests and insure order. If
"a large force occupies the island as soon
as Spain evacuates, it can, under favor
able conditions, be much reduced in a few
months. But it will be very unfortunate
to begin with so small a force and be
obliged to increase it.
VERY respectfully,
u. F. WADE,
Major General Volunteers"
The table of proposed stations of the
United States troops submitted by Gen,
Wade shows a total of $4,000 troops, dis
tributed as follows:
Province of Pinar del Rio, 5000: province
of Havana, $4,000; province of Matanzas,
10000; province of Santa Clara, lO.0UU;
province of Puerto Principe, 1000: province
province of Santiago, 1000.
The towns at whicl ne troops are to be
stationed, with the numbers are as fol
lows:
Guanajay, 1000 infantry; Mariel 1000 in
fantry: Pinar del Rio 1000 infantry: Ha-
vana, 2200 infantry and 1000 cavalry; Ma
tanZas, 1000 infantry and 100 cavalry; car
denas, 1000 infantry; Cienfuegos. 1000 in
fantry and 10VJ cavalry; Trinidad, 1000 in
fantry; Sagua la Grande, 1000 infantry:
Santa Clara, 1000 infantry; Placetas, 1900
infantry; Caibarien and Remedies, 1000
infantry: Sancti Spiritus, 1000 infantry;
Nuevitas and Puerto Principe 1900 infan-
try and 1000 cavalry; Manzanllo 1000 in
fantry.
The total shows As regiments of infantry
and five of cavalry. There is also light
artillery as follows: Havana. four bat
teries Matanzas. two batteries; total,
six batteries of 1900 men.