New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-05-01
READY TO MOVE ON CUBA.
AN INVASION THIS WEEK.
ONLY REGULAR TROOPS TO COMPOSE
THE LANDING EXPEDITION.
Volunteers NOT TO BE SUBJECTED To THE
HORRORS OF SUMMER cAMPAIGN--A BASE
FROM WEIGH REcoNcENTRADos MAY
BE FED AND INSURGENTS ARMED
TO BE ESTABLISHED.
ryrrcRApu rEr

BY TELEGRAPH TO TEE TRlBUNEJ
Washington. April 30.-Although Cuba is TO
be invaded in force next week it is not intended
that the operations shall extend beyond the es-
adjustment Of a base of supplies in close COM
r,unication with Key West. in order that relief
may be given 10 over half million starving re-
concentrates and that the insurgents may be
armed and equipped for the maintenance OF their
incessanty harassing ca:-paign against the
Spaniards There is no serious contemplation
Of any project involving the dispatch Of the Vol
unteer Army to Cuban territory during the sum-
n1er Several thousand inmunes may follow the
regular force in It's occupation Of Cuban base
but the National Guardsmen now being called
into service will remain in the United States.
This decision has been reached after careful
consideration Of the horrors Of the Cuban sum-
ner as demonstrated by the enormous mortality
it effected in the Spanish force last year.
THE CLIMATE THE WORST FOE.
Surgeon General Sternberg. OF the Army, has
furnished to his superior officers a statement
showing that the number OF deaths officially
recorded in the hfty-six military hospitals in the
Islard during the single year 1897 aggregated
80 53i. a number far III excess OF the entire
Regular Army Of the United States. OF this total
between five and six thousand soldiers sue
cumbed to yellow fever. more than six thousand
died from dysentery and enteritis seven thou
sand from malarial and other fevers. and two
thousand FIVE hundred from smallpox. In addi-
tion TO these. nearly thirty thousand were in
valided home III transports, their health totally
destroyed and their pitiabe physical condition
rendering them wholly unfit for military service
Nine-tenths Of the registered deaths occurred
in the summer months. and nearly all the men
sent back to Spain became incapaoitated during
the same period.
Sanitary conditions in Cuba in 1898 with
actual war in progress will be immeasurably
worse than they were in 1897. and the authori-
ties at washington are hnally convinced Of the
i-,,possitility Of conducting an extensive cam
rajgn In the island before next October.
THE BASE TO BE FORTIFIED.
Colonel Ludlow. Of the engineers. will be pro-
NOTED 10 the rank Of Brigadier-General. and &C
company the invading forces next week IN
charge OF the military defence OF the base 10 De
seized and held He will choose the most favor
able position, having regard for its strategic and
sanitary advantages. and under his direction
the necessary Notifications and entertainments
will be established to insure its impregna oility.
A number Of heavy rapid-hre rifles with their
mounts are already on the way to Key West TO
guard these Notifications. and within week
after the landing is effected the base Will be
absolutely insured against successful attack
Adiutant-General Corbin issued a circular OF
instructions to-day for recruiting officers 10 fol-
low in existing for the authorized expansion Of
the Regular Army to its footing Of $1,000
men. II applies with equal force in nearly all
IT'S provisions to the volunteer force and It's
essential features are given elsewhere