Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1898-12-15
NEEDS 10000 MEN.
Adjutant General Corbin Says
that Cuban Garrisons
Will Need that Many to Restore Order
and Preserve It.
Philippines Need Only $4,000 Men While
Port, Rico Wants 5000.

W dShiH6tOii, lCCIs -<101AsxSAAS
General Corbin appeared. today, before
the House committee on military af-
fairs. AS to the need of an increased
army, Gen. Corbin said that was a
most serious proposition. He said:
THE Cuban evacuation commission
has submitted statement, that in
order to preserve order and restore or
der in Cuba, 1t will require the pres
ence of an army of $4,000 men,
Gen. Corbin said he would send this
recommendation, in confidence, to the
committee, but later it was arranged
that it would be submitted without
confidential reservations. AS to the
Philippines. Gen. Otis. in command
there, had recommended that $4,000
men were required there.
In Porto Rico the officers in COM
mand recommend that the force now
OH hand is about adequate for the re-
qurements. The present force there
is 600o That made $1,000 men for
Cuba, the Philippines and Porto Rico.
leaving of an army Of 100000 about
$4,000 for reserves at home.
ut must be borne in mind" said
Gen. Corbin, that an army in time of
ration for an emergency If we had
such an army last June then no such
loss of life would have occurred"
He went on to show how the Span
ish soldiers have ruled throughout
Cuba, forming even the rural police
forces, and the municipal police force
at Havana.
AS to the, trouble which had occur
red in Porto Rico, Gen. Corbin said 1t
was not due to disposition to fight
the United States, but to tendency
in certain classes toward disorder.
Gen. Corbin said the proposed large ill
crease of staff officers was essential to
the peculiar new duties devolving4 OH
army officers. In the Philippines. for m.
stance. they were collectors and would
wise. Mr.. Hay snggested mat Gen. sMHes
estimated 1000 for Porto Rico While Geii
Corbin proposed 6000.
Il would defer entirely to the view 5of
the major general in command 0f.lsthe
army on that point said Gen. COrfts.-
las he has been on the ground and knows
the situation there" FeaS
What is your personal opinion with
out reference to the recommendation 20
the Cuban commission, as to the number
OF men needed in Cuba?" asked Mr.. Hay.
Il would not have an opinion against
such a Recommendation" responded the
general. The .riotous events of the last
few days, he feared, ''migh. be the cast
ing of the shadow of future events" No
one could see ahead as to Cuba. and it
was a most serious question as to how
long it would take to establish order on
stable and permanent basis on the
island. The experience of the last war.
Gen Corbin said, would not warrant an
aff1rma tive answer to an inquiry as to the
sufficiency of a volunteer reserve. The
National Guard was an admirable body
of men for ordinary emergencies. such as
the breaking out of riots, but was not
best suited for soldiers field life.
When members of the commission re-
ferred to the super-intelligence of the
volunteers coming from civil life above
that of the regular soldiers, Gen. Corbin
said he considered the regular the equal
in intelligence to the volunteer. owing 10
the rigid requirements now made. The
character and Intelligence of the men
who Went into the Santiago campaign
was second TO none that ever saw service.
he declared.
The general was asked If he had re-
ceived any complaints from the volun-
teers as TO their treatment during the re-
cent war. He said he was yet to, hear a
from volunteer soldier. Such
complaints as came were from outside
sources, knowing nothing about the facts
and conditions.
Would ii be proper. under military
usage, for a subordinate to submit "a
"Mpot only proper, ' but the very thing
he should do answered Gen. Corbin.
Mr.. Mahany remarked that he had been
HOoueQ with complaints. one OF Inem
came from soldier who said: II have
loved my country, but it is the last oun-
try l will love-" Mr.. Fenton also specl-
fled complaints reaching him. After
these recitals, Gen. Corbin reiterated that
he had never received complaint, add
ing that he had asked volunteers with
whom he had come in contact as to their
views. Chairman Hull added the state
ment that the army Jared as well as or
better than any other army that had
ever taken the field:
Gen. Corbin said no exact forecast
could be made as to the Philippines
Aguinaldo was reputed to have an army
Of 5000 men, but what that army would
do no one could tell. 1t was too large a
field of conjecture to enter upon in this
Dffhand way.
Owing to the opportunities of congress-
men for the release of volunteers, The
Associated Press was requested to send
Gen. Corbin's statement on that point.
He said: THE department. is disposed to
deal very lenently as TO letting off men
who are needed at home. In some cases
colonies have been instructed to reduce
to 50 men, so as to let or men
who were urgently needed at home. And
sven below 50 we are making discharges
IN satisfactory statements that the pres
snce of the men is needed at home.