The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-05-14
ORDERS TO THE VOLUNTEERS
OVER 10000 INSTRUCTED TO PRO-
CEED TO CHICKAMAUGA PARK,
Where They Will BE clicked Into
pared for Active Service in Cuba.

pect of the war has undergone some change
since the report was received here to-day
of the appearance of the Spanish squadron
in the West Indies The presence of the
fleet resulted in the temporary postpone
ment of the movement of the army of in
vasion which was soon to have started for
the island. 1t is urged at the War Depart
me that there should be no soldiers on
the tter until the question of the definite
disposition Of the enemys ships is settled
and the troops enabled to proceed to the
island without being harassed by them. AS
one officer remarked to-day, 1--WE don't want
to mass our men on the island until we
know who is the mistress of the seas"
In consequence of the change in the pro-
gramme many of the volunteer troops will
not be sent direct to the gulf points as at
first proposed, but will proceed to the Chick
amauga battlefield where it was intended
they should be sent before the issuance of
the hurry orders of the early part of the
week for change in their destination. AT
Chickamauga the soldiers will have ample
opportunity to engage in field exercises and
tactics which will be very beneficial to them
prior to their work in Cuba. Although they
are reported to be equipped for active serv-
ice, the army officers say that in the case
of many of the volunteers it will be neces-
sary to renew their equipment and in addi-
ton provide the regiments with field trans
portation-that is, wagons etc. A large
part of the regular army is encamped at
Tampa ready to move whenever the order
comes and it is felt there that the troops
at Chckamauga can be sent to Tampa
promptly whenever the necessity arises
Telegraphic instructions to the troops
which have been ordered to proceed to
Cmckamauga were sent by Adjutant Gen
erai Corbin to the commanders of the state
organizations to-day. They are instructed,
on reaching Chickamauga to report to the
commanding general at that place, Major
General Brooke. The officers commanding
the state organizations will communicate
with the chief quartermasters of the re-
spective military departments, in which
they may be located, for the necessary
transportation, and with the chief commits
sary for ten days field rations, necessary
travel rations and coffee money. The quar-
termaster general and the commissary gem
eral of the War Department will instruct
the officers of their department in the vari-
Gus cities to provide the necessary trans
portatfon. rations and coffee money The
commanding officers are requested to tele-
graph to General Brooke the time of their
departure and to the adjutant general at
washington the amount of tentage and am
munition taken by the organizations.
Direct orders were given General Miles
THIS morning, suspending, for the present
the movement of the invading army upon
Cuba. General Miles, therefore, has post
poned his departure for the South and If is
announced authoritatively by the War De-
partment officials that it cannot be stated
with definiteness when General Miles will
leave The suspension of the movement of
the invading army on Cuba was induced,
as previously stated, by the proximity of the
Spanish Cape Verde squadron to Cuban
waters. 1t is deemed by the department Off
Gals to be the part of wisdom not to risk
the landing of troops on Cuban soil until
the landing can be effected under the pro-
lection of stronger fleet than is now avail
able for the purpose of mere protection
The fact that the army movement has been
postponed is indirect evidence that a de-
csive naval battle is expected to occur
within few days. 1t is not doubted that the
squadron under the command of Admiral
Sampson will seek an engagement with the
Spanish fleet at once, and it is with the idea
of awaiting the result of that conflict that
the orders for the movement of the land
forces are held in allegiance temporarily
Assistant Secretary of War Meikeljohn
announced to-day that the department ac-
quired yesterday two additional vessels for
transport purposes. They are the Still
water and the Breakwater both of New Or
leans. In common with the other twenty
seven vessels of the Atlantic transport fleet.
they are line seagoing ships. No chances
have been taken by the department in Sc
curing transport vessels Assistant Secre-
tary Meikejohn says that every one is ca
pable of crossing the Atlantic safely in any
weather. carving n no 1If-
most capacity of the vessel The twenty
nine transport ships now al the disposal of
the War Department on the Atlantic coast
are capable in the aggregate, of carrying
%, COO troops and 10000 animals. AS soon as
the department is prepared to start the
army expedition to Cuba the vessels will be
concentrated at points on the Southern
coast and the entire fleet will move to Cuba
as a body, under suitable escort of war
vessels
1t was announced yesterday that the
transports at New York would proceed
south Immediately with regiments of the
New York and Massachusetts volunteers
To-day, however, the vessels were ordered
not TO move until further adV1ces had been
given them. These orders were issued in
view of the reports from several sources
that two Spanish vessels had been sighted
off the upper Atlantic coast. In view of the
suspension of the land movement upon
Cuba it was deemed not advisable to send
transports loaded with troops South at this
time.
The secretary of war has made an order
that men enlisted or re-enlisted in the reg
uidr army during the war snail De informed
that they will be granted their discharges
If desired. at the close of the war upon
their individual application.
Adjutant General Corbin to-day stated
that three regiments of infantry and five
batteries of artillery. comprising 1.4l3 of
ficers and 29,067 privates. had been ordered
TO move to Chickamauga.
Representative Cummings of New York
has introduced bill authorizing the sec
rotary Of war to organize one regiment or
more OF sharpshooters possessing special
military qualifications, each company 10
consist of 100 expert marksmen from
different States, TO be between the ages of
,tWenty-one and forty years of age. The
field officers may be veterans of the civil
I war on both sides whose services We're dis
tinguished for gallantry in action or who
were REGIMENTS of medals of honor for