Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1898-06-04
BIG WAR PREPARATIONS.
Alger Tells Congress What He Wants and
What For.


Alger Tells Congress What He Wants and
What For.
In significant recommendations sub.
mitted to congress last Wednesday,
Secretary Alger, through the medium
of letter accompanying his recon.
mendations outlines in general way
the steps contemplated in the CAIN
paign against Cuba, Porto Rico and
the Philippines. The letter is from
Chief Engineer Ludlow, who makes
the important statement that it is now
proposed to forward to Cuba an army
of invasion to be composed Of $4,000 or
10000 troops, to be followed as rapidly
as practicable by $4,000 more. The
secretary's recommendations are for
appropriations aggregating So, 1O7 900.
Que recommendation is for 50, 562, 900
of deficiency in the appropriation for
gun and mortar batteries "required
Immediately for the USE of the war de-
partment to remain available until ex-
pended" This amount is needed TO
provide emplacements for carriages Of
high power and rapid-fre guns to De
procured by the ordnance department
with the funds already appropriated,
etc. A second one is for Sl95, 1000 "for
the establishment and maintenance Of
special electrical communication in
connection with the army in Cuba,
Porto Rico and the Philippine islands" !"
Then follows a significant recon-.
mendation for $3.50, 900 for an expedi-
tionary force to Cuba "required by the
war department for immediate use" !"
The items are as follows:
For machinery for the construction
and repair of roads, $4,000; con-
slruclion and equipment of military
railroads, S225,OO0; additional en-
trenchng tools, electric appliances,
Photographic and tol ographic outfits,
instruments and lamps, manuals and
for special and technical services,
$4,000, contingencies involving i'm
mediate expenditure of imperative
urgency that cannot be specified in
advance, to be expended under the
direction of the major general COM
manding the army, s5o,0oO."
The letter outlining the expedition
ary project against Cuba is written by
General Ludlow, whose special engin'
eering services were avaihed OF by
Secretary Alger to outline what is
needed. 1t is dated May %; it was
forwarded by Secretary Alger and
says:
"Referring to my letter of April 26,
covering the project with estimates
for the establishment in Cuba OF an
expeditionary force of from 5000 to
5000 men, l invite attention to the
following:
"Provisional estimates for this pur-
pose amounted to S150,034, which
have been approved and made expen-
dible under the immediate direction OF
the major general commanding the
army in the deficiency act, approved
May 4, 1898. This did not include
several items that while important
could temporarily be omitted on the
supposition that no immediate move
ment would be made. Furthermore,
the project for transfer to Cuba of an
expeditionary force has been material
ly modified in that instead of an as
sumed force of 5000 for the establish
ment of depot and base of supplies
it is now proposed 10000 troops to be
followed as rapidly as practicable by
$4,000 more. 1t is, therefore, necess-
sary to make provision for the greatly
augmented scale on which the expe-
dition is to be equipped and for its
forward movement in the direction OF
Cuba"
General Ludlow says for obvious