Omaha daily bee., 1898-12-15
SOLDIERS REQUIRED IN CUBA.
Evacuation Commission Believes tha
.a.. $4,000 Troops Are Needed. -.

Evacuation Commission Believes that
.a'. $4,000 Troops Are Needed. -.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 14.-Adjutant Gem
eral Corbin stated at the hearing before the
house military affairs committee today that
the Cuban evacuation commission, Generals
Wade and Butler, and Admiral Sampson,
had recommended that an army Of $4,000
was requisite to maintain order In Cuba.
The large increase Of staff officers, General
Corbin said, was essential to the peculiar
duties devolving on army officers. In the
Philippines. for instance. they were collec-
tors Of customs and would remain so until
congress- provided otherwise.
When Mr.. Hay suggested that General
Miles estimated 1000 for Porto Rico, while
General Corbin proposed 5000, the latter re-
Piled;
II would defer entirely to the view of ma
jor general In command Of the army on that
point. II he says 4,OOO then that is undoubt-
edly adequate, as he has been on the ground
and knows the situation there" -t
what is your personal opinion. without
reference to the recommendation OF the Gu
ban commission, as to the number of men
needed In Cuba?" asked Mr.. Hay.
~ would not have an opinion against such
commission" responded the general. "The
riotous events Of the last few days may be
the casting OF the shadow Of future events. "
No one could see ahead as to Cuba and It
was a most serious question az to how long
1t would take to establish the government
on q permanent basis In the island. A vol
unteer reserve would not answer. The Ma
tiopal Guard afforded an admirable body OF
men for ordinary emergencies. such as the
breaking out of riots, but would not be
suited for q regular soldiers life.
When the members OF the commission re-
ferred to the superior intelligence Of the
volunteers, coming from civil life. above
that OF the regular soldier, General Corbir
said he considered the regular army equal
In intelligence to the volunteer. owing tt
the rigid requirements now made. The char.
| acter and intelligence Of the men who went
into the Santiago campaign were second tc
| none that ever cav service he declared.
The general was asked II he had received
any complaints from the volunteers as L
! their treatment during the recent war. HI
said he was yet to hear complaint from
a volunteer soldier. Such complaints al
, came were from outside sources, knowing
nothing about the facts and conditions.
| "Would 1t be proper. under military
usage. for q subordinate to submit com
plaint?" asked Mr.. Hay.
! mot only proper, but 1t Is the very thins
he should do" answered General Corbin.
| At another point, General Corbin said nc
exact forecast could be made as to tn,
Philippines. the possibility OF trouble. etc
Aguinaldo was reputed to have an army o.
46. 900 men. but what that army would d.
no one could tell 1t was too large delt
Of conjecture to enter upon In this of-hant
way
! Owing to opportunities Of congressman To-
the release Of volunteers, the Associated
Press was requested to send General Corbin'
statement on that point. He said:
The department is disposed to deal yer!
lenently as to letting of men who ar
needed at home. In some cases co.onel
have been instructed to reduce compauie
/ to eighty, so as TO let of men who wer
urgently needed at home. And even beloy
eighty We are giving discharges on salts
factory statements that the presence OF tn
men Ia needed at home.