Evening star., 1898-09-16
TO G ARR SON G U B A
Preparing for the Military Occupation of the
Island.

The military movements are being direct
ed rapidly toward the assembling Of a
large army in southern stations for WIN
ter camps and preparatory to the military
occupation of Cuba. About 10000 troops
are now located IN the south. Orders will
be issued, probably today, sending the 1st,
I'd, 9Th, 9th and 10th Cavalry from Mon
tauk to southern stations. The Sd Cav
airy has already gone south, and the 1st
and I'd Infantry were yesterday afternoon
ordered to Admission, and the Sth and 10th
to Huntsville, as appeared by the orders
last night. This leaves only the 7th, 9th
and 18th Infantry, the ID Volunteer En-
gineers and Companies G and FL, 4th Ar
tillery, at Montauk.
Last Troops ut Montauk.
Within a day or two possibly today
these last remaining troops will be ordered
south and Camp Wikoff will be no more.
From day to day orders have been issued
by the department detailing officers to the
Sd, 4th and the 7th Army Corps, and there
has been an almost steady march of SOL
diers toward the south. The purpose is to
establish winter camps between the 3Ist
and 33th parallels, and to assemble the
army for the occupation of Cuba and Porto
Rico as soon as the Spanish have evacu-
ated those islands. The major part of the
army thus assembled is, of course, des-
tined for service in Cuba, with a much
smaller force for Porto Rico and a reserve
in the winter camps. 1t is not the inten-
ton, however, to send the army of occupa-
ton to Cuba until after the unhealthy sea-
son has passed, and meanwhile the troops
will be put in the best possible condition
and selections for that service will be made
as experience demonstrates their fitness.
Nhen the army of occupation is sent to
cuba. 1t Is anticipated that it will he as
perfect an organization as can be got TO-
gether and able to Withstand the climatic
conditions.
On account of the desire of the War De-
partment that no chances shall be taken
In the way of exposure of the troops to the
dangers of the unhealthy season no i'm
patience Is felt on account of the rather
slow progress of the work of the commits
sion of evacuation at Havana. Great salts
faction is expressed at the progress being
made in Porto Rico, and the evacuation is
expected to occur speedily; but in connec-
tion with the occupation of Porto Rico the
same anxiety as to the health of the army
is not felt. nor are there similar difficulties
in connection with establishing the gov
ernment, Porto Rico becoming at once a
part of the territory of the United States
1t is stated at the War Department that
up to this time no report has been received
from the commission at Havana as to the
progress that has been made and that the
only communications received from the
commission have related to minor details
of preparation for their work This caused
pected that the work of this commission
would proceed deliberately, and it is not
designed that the evacuation shall occur at
a date SO early as to compel the sending
CT the American army of occupation to the
island before the unhealthy season has
closed.
No Trouble With Insurgents Expected
In assembling and organizing the army
for the occupation of Cuba the considera-
ton of possible trouble with the organized
insurgents Is not being taken into serious
account, as in the case of the Philippines.
The Havana dispatches stating that there
has developed strong sentiment lin favor
of independence and opposition to annexa-
tion, coupled with hostility toward the
United States, are read with rather an air
of amusement by officials of the adminis-
tratton, who suggest that 1t is absurd TO
give as reason for hostility on the part
of Cubans toward the United States that
the Cubans are in favor of entire indepen-
dence. The absurdity of this is shown in
the fact that the purpose of the Cubans to
establish a stable independent form of gov
ernment is strictly In accordance with the
terms of the Presidents proclamation and
therefore furnishes no reason for a feeling
of hostility. The intent of the Cubans to
establish an independent government, it is
declared, is certainly not hostile to the
purpose of this administration. 1t is strict
y in line with the declared purpose of both
this government and of the Cuban inSur-
gents All the information in the possession
of the War Department, it is said, indicates
the most cordial relations and harmony of
purpose between the Cubans and the repre-
sentatives of this government, and the
movement cited as hostile toward the
United States is exactly in line with gen
eral policy.