The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-12-15
WHAT TROOPS ARE NEEDED.
ADJT. GEN. CORBIy FIXES THE
NUMBER AT 100000.
At Least $4,000 Required In Cuba
for the Present, $4,000 in the
Philippines, and About 5000 In
Porto Rieo-ls.OOO Home Reserves

SOfDln appeared To-Day BEFORE the mousse
committee on military affairs. His state
ments 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 20 the need of
an increased army, Gen. Corbin said that
was most serious proposition. He pro-
ceeded:
THE Cuban evacuation commission. con-
sisting of Gems. Wade and Butler and Adj
Hiral Sampson has submitted a sta teEnent
that TO preserve order in Cuba viii require
the presence OF an army of 5o,eoe men
Gen Corsyin said he would send this rec
ommendation In confidence TO the commit
tee. but ii was arranged that Ii should be
submitted without confidential reserva-
tons. IL was on this recommendation, said
Gen. Corbin. that the plan of sending troops
was based.
Ii might be found that 5000 men would
not be absolutely requisite.
But We are holding 5000 men in readi-
Ness TO go IL required" said the general
As to the Philippines. he vent on. Gen.
Otis. in command there, had recommended
that 5000 men were required there. In
Porto RICO the officers in command there
say that tie force now on hand is adequate
/ for the requirements. The present force
there Is 6, 100. That made the lou. 000-50, 900
for Cuba, $500 for the Philippines and
about 60Ge for Porto Rico, leaving US. with
an army II 10000. about 5000 for reserves
at home
Corbin, that an army in time of peace Is
IKE insurance 1t Is preparation for an
emergency. II We had had such an army
loss Of life as occurred
do you think that 5000 for Cuba is
conservative estimator" asked Jewett OF
Illinois.
Il think it is" answered the general
And how long will that last?' asked
Mr.. Ray.
II wish I could say" answered Gen.
no ma Cstn can
view conditions In Cuba as you can in Ohio
or Pennsylvania. For 100 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"
A large increase of staff officers. Gen.
Corbin said, was essential to the peculiar
new duties devolving on army officers. In
the Philippines. for instance they were
collectors OF customs. and would remain
so until congress provided otherwise.
When Hay suggested that Gen. Miles
estimated 400 for Porto Rico, while Gen.
Corb.n proposed 5000. the latter replied:
7 would defer entirely to the view of
the major general in command of the army
on that point. If ne says 4.otO. then that
is undoubtedly adequate, as he has been
on the ground and knows the situation
there
What is your personal opinion. without
reference TO the recommendations of the
Cuban commission, as 70 the number of
Il would not have an opinion against such
commission" responded the general.
The riotous events of the last few days
might be the casting Of the shadows of flu
ture events No one could see ahead as to
Cuba, and 1t was most serious question
as 10 how long Ii would take to establish
order on a stable and permanent basis on
the island.
A volunteer reserve would not answer.
The National Guard afforded an admira
bic body OF men for an ordinary emergen-
cy, such as the breaking out of riots but
81 nj n n soldiers
life
When members of the commission refer
red to the superior intelligence of the vol
unteers coming from civil life. above that
of the regular soldiers Gen. Corbin said
he considered the regular the equal in in
teihgence to the volunteer, owing to the
rigid requirements now made. The char
acter 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 II he had received
any complaints from the volunteers as to
their treatment during the recent war. He
said he was yet to hear OF a complaint
from n volunteer soldier. Such complaints
as came We're from outside sources. know
ing nothing about the facts and condi-
tons.
Would it be proper, under military
usage, for subordinate to submit com
plant asked Hay.
Not only proper. but ii is the very
thing he should do answered Gen. Corbin.
Mahoney and Fenton. specifying ccm-
HltlftS reaching tDsttf. 1tN boTpll Teit-
Grated that he had never received COM
plant, adding that he had asked volun-
teers with whom he had come in contact
to their views.
Chairman Huh added the statement that
the army Jared "a well or better than any
army that had ever taken the field
AT another point. Gen. Corb.n said no
exact forecast could be made as to the
Philippines. the possibility of trouble etc
Aguinaldo was reputed to have an army
OF 5000 men. but what that army would
do no one could tell. II was too large a
field for conjectures to enter upon in this
OFT hand way.
Owing To opportunities Of congressman
for the release OF volunteers the Assoc
ciated Press was requested TO send Gen
Corhins statement on that point. He said:
THE department is disposed TO deal very
lenlenty as 20 letting Oft men who are
needed at home. In some cases coIonels
have been instructed 10 reduce the com
paflies TO eighty, as 20 LET off men who
were urgently needed at home. And even
below eighty We are making discharges on
satisfactory statements that the presence
of the men Is needed az home"