The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-05-03
War Department Negotiating with
tion of the New Troops.
CUBAN CAVALRY REGIMENT
TO ACCOMPANY THE 5000 REGULARS
WHEN THEY LEAVE TAMPA.
Auxiliary Cruiser Yale Sent to Sea
Under Sealed Orders-FIyins squad
ron still at Anchor.

WASHINGTON May 2.--The War De-
partment is bending all its energies to the
mastering In of the volunteers and the re-
cruiting of the regular army to it's full war
strength OF $1,000 men. These matters are
we'll under way and the officials. feel conf
dent that within a reasonable time both
the volunteer and the regular armies will
be ready for practical military duty. Sec
retary Alger and General Miles had a long
noon, presumably in regard to appointments
in the volunteer service. In few days all
the troops that have been ordered to Tampa
are expected to reach that place and the
eight large transports which are to conduct
the first expedition to Cuba have been
ordered to proceed to Tampa. The officials,
however, decline to make public any in
formation regarding the expedition or the
place in Cuba where it is to land. The quar-
termasters department has begun negotia-
tions with railroad companies for the trans
portation of the volunteers to their mobiliz-
ing points and and it is expected arrange
ments will be made for uniform rates on
all the lines so as to move the troops with
the least expense to the government.
General Wesley Merritt, commanding the
Department of the East. with headquarters
at New York, reported at the War De-
partment to-day for consultation with Sec
retary Alger. The purpose of his visit other
than that stated was not divulged. The
officers of the Commissary Department at
New York city to-day opened proposals for
supplying food to the army of $4,000 if the
government finds it necessary to contract
for that number 1t is said the officials are
opposed to buying concentrated foods on adj
vice of the medical department of the serV-
ice.
A board of medical officers convened in
this city to-day for the purpose of examin-
ing eighty candidates for positions as as
sistant surgeons in the regular army There
are eight vacancies in these positions, but
Surgeon General Sternberg, of the army
has applied for an increase of fifteen. Gen.
Sternberg has appointed the following
named persons who are "immunes from
yellow fever for service in the army and
who will be stationed at various places in
the South and may accompany the army
when it undertakes the occupation of Cuba:
DR.. John Guiteras, of Philadelphia who will
be stationed at Tampa. Drs. w. e. Parker
and w. w. Calhoun, of New Orleans, who
will be stationed at Tampa. Dr. Barnard E.
Baker, of Charleston, S. c., who will be
stationed at Key West, and DIR. Aristides
Agramonte, who is connected with the
Health Association of New York city, and
is a Cuban by birth. His assignment has
not yet been determined upon. Further ap-
pointments 20 these positions, which pay $3.50
per month, will be made. The surgeon gem
eral is completing preparations for utilizing
the convent at Key West whose use was
donated by the sisters for hospital purposes.
Accommodations will be made for $50 beds.
In addition the department, If necessary,
will avail itself of several sugar factories
at Key West, where there are accommoda-
tions for three hundred or more beds The
barracks at Fort Mcpherson Georgia, will
also be used for hospital purposes if neces-
sary. There are accommodations at Fort
Mcpherson for five hundred beds
A decision has been rendered to the War
Department regarding the maintenance of
NOiuillSSl IeCFullS HOlulUS Indt the time be-
tween enrolment and muster into the United
states service referred to in the general
orders of the department as the interval
during which the United States will provide
for the maintenance of volunteer recruits.
cannot ordinarily under the army regula-
tions exceed six days.
The naval militia of the country is has
tening to extend its aid to the government.
Commander Emerson, of the MARYLAND
naval militia, came to the Navy Depart
ment to-day and informed Lieutenant Glib
bons, the energetic young officer who has
done so much to form the naval militia, that
he has gathered another battalion of 1870
men which would be ready soon for active
service.
Commander Little, of the Rhode Island
naval militia, was also visitor at the de-
partment and explained that he had two
hundred men ready for mobilization. Com
mander Norton, of the North Carolina naval
militia, called personally and succeeded I'm
having the department change its order
made in the case of the monitor Nantucket
SO as to allow the North Carolina militia
instead of the militia of South Carolina TO
take that monitor from Wilmington to Port
Royal.
Naval bureau chiefs who have charge of
eQuipping the fleets with ammunition and
coal say that Commodore Dewey's engage
ment of yesterday does not deplete his
stock of projectiles, powder, coal and other
necessary supplies to any serious extent.
and that he has ample supplies of this vital
character to carry on such further opera
tions as may be necessary. The Bureau of
Equipment looks after the coal supply OF
the ships. 1t is known that the ships had
fun coal bunkers when they felt Hong
KONG. and, speaking generally, It is said