The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-12-15
He Tells Mr.. HuII'S House Committee
that a Force of 100000 Men viii
Not Be Too Many.
GEN. MILES BEFORE SENATORS
EX-GOVERNOR MERRIAM. OF MINNIE
Sofa, MAY SUCCEED BLISS.
His Appointments as Secretary of the
Interior Said TO he Under Con-
observation-disclosures

WASHINGTON, Dec. 14-Adjutant Cen
eral Corbin appeared to-day before the
House committee on military affairs. His
statements attracted unusual interest because
of their direct reference to conditions in
Cuba, Porto Rico and the Philippines and
the military requirements on which the War
Department was acting. AS to the need of
an increased army, General Corbin said that
was most serious proposition. He proceed
ed: THE Cuban evacuation commission
consisting of Generals Wade and Butler and
Admiral Sampson-has submitted state
ment that in order to restore and preserve
order in Cuba it will require the pres
ence of an army of $4,000 men," General
Corbin said he would send this recommen-
dalton, in confidence, to the committee, but
later it was arranged that it should be sub
mitted without confidential reservations. 1t
was upon this recommendation, said Gem
eral Corbin, that the plan of sending troops
to Cuba based. 1t might be found that
$1,000 men would not be absolutely requisite.
but we are holding 5000 men in readiness
to go if required" said the general
AS to the Philippines, SAID General Cor
bin, General Otis, who is in command there,
had recommended that $4,000 men were re-
quired there. In Porto Rico the officers in
command there say that the force
now on hand is about adequate for the re-
quirements. The present force there is JOB
That made $1,000 men-50000 for Cuba, 1000
for the Philippines and about 5000 for Porto
Rico-leaving. with an army OF 100000 about
$4,000 for reserves at home. 1t must be
borne in mind,' said General Corbin, that
an army in time of peace is like insurance
1t is preparation for an emergency. If we
had had such an army last June there would
lave been no such loss of life as occurred
do you think $4,000 men for Cuba con-
sentative estimator asked Mr. Gett, of IL
llnois.
Il think it isl answered General Corbin
And how long will that last?' asked Mr.
Hay.
Il wish 1 could say" answered General
Corbin But no man can say. You cannot
view conditions in Cuba you can in Ohio
or Pennsylvania. For one hundred years
the people there have been accustomed to
be ruled by force. The officers there fear
that, with these conditions and habits. if
troops are not there, trouble may occur. y
General Corbin went on to show how the
Spanish soldier had ruled throughout Cuba,
forming even the rural police forces and the
municipal police force at Havana
AS to the trouble which had occurred in
Porto Rico, General Corbin said it was not
due to n disposition TO fight the United
States, but to tendency in certain classes
wandering outlawing bandS-toward disor
der When questioned by Mr.. Hay as to
how soon the United States troops could be
withdrawn, General Corbin said it was i'm
possible to say even approximately. There
is not man living, in my Judgment he
said, who can foresee even for thirty days
what the future will bring forth.