The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1898-12-22
ARMIES OF OCCUPATION.
Plans for Placing More Troops in Cuba,
Porto Rico and the Philippines.

The recommendation of the Cuban Com
mission, composed OF Gems. Wade and
Butler and Admiral Sampson, dated Oct
10, provided for the distribution OF so Geo
United States troops iii Cuba, as follows
Province OF Pinar del Rio, 5000; Prov
ince OF Havana, $4,000; Province of Ma
tanzas, 10000; Province of Santa Clara,
10, Geo; Province OF Puerto Principe, 2 eco:
Province OF Santiago, eco.
The totals show as regiments OF in
fantry and five of cavalry. There is also
light artillery, as follows: Havana, four
batteries; MatanZas, two batteries.
Mai .-Gen. Wade, in forwarding the
Commission s recommendations to the de-
partment, made the following statement:
Cuba is and fop long time has been
really military camp and governed by
the most arbitrary rule. The Spanish
force consists of about goo Regulars,
Il 600 volunteers on duty, and 81, eco vol
unteers armed but not on duty. The in
surgents claim to have about &c, eco armed
men; making total of PSI eco. Probably
the military evacuation by Spain will re-
move about 100, eco men, leaving consider
ably more than that number who will
be or recently have been under arms to a
great extent living off the country.
Many OF these men will, from neces-
sity, If not from choice be without en-
ployment. Among these men, as well as
those who have not taken part in the late
political frictiOns. Many of these people
are very ignorant. Few understand what
independence and liberty mean or have
fixed ideas as to what the future of their
country will or should be. 1t will require
tact and force to harmonic the conflict
ing interests and insure order. If a large
force occupies the island as soon as Spain
evacuates, it can, under favorable condi-
tons, be much reduced in q few months.
But 1t Will be very unfortunate to begin
with small force and be obliged to in
crease it,
Adi't- Gen. Corbin last week appeared
before the House Committee on Military
Affairs to give his views in regard to the
necessity for enlarging the Army. Speak
ing of the urgent need of an increased
army, Gen. COrbin said that was a most
serious proposition.
1t was on the recommendation OF the
Cuban Commission, he said, that the plan
of sending troops to Cuba was based 1t
might be found that $4,000 men would not
be absolutely requisite, but we are hold
ing so, 900 men in readiness to go if re-
CURED"
AS to the Philippines, he continued,
Gen. Otis in command there, had recon-
mended that 5000 men were required
In Porto Rico the officers in command
there recommend that the force now on
hand, about 6,100 men, is adequate.
DO you think 900 men for Cuba a
conservative estimator asked Mr.. Jet, OF
Illinois.
IL think it is" answered Cen Corbin
"And how long will that last?" asked
Mr.. Hay.
ri wish / could say" answered Gen.
Corbln. But no man can say. You can
not 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"
When Mr.. Hay suggested that Gen.
Miles estimated 4 600 for Porto Rico, while
Gen. Corbin proposed 5000, the latter
said
Il would defer entirely to the view of
the Maior-General in command of the
Army on that point. If he says 1000, then
that is undoubtedly adequate, as he has
been on the ground and knows the stu
alton there
In regard to the release of volunteers,
Gen. Corbin said: 1.-THE War Department
is disposed to deal very leniently as to
letting off the men who are needed at
home. In some cases Colonels have been
to reduce companies to 90 men,
so as to let off men who were urgently
needed at home; and even below so we
are making discharges on satisfactory
that the presence Of the men
is needed at home"
The 1st NJ c. and 202d n Y landed in
Havana on Dec. ~. They were entbusi-
received by the Cubans, many of
whom followed them to the camping place
3Iit side of the city