The San Francisco call., 1898-12-15
FIFTY THOUSAND MEN
 FOR THE CUBAN ARMY
Adjutant General Corbin Believes That Number Necessary to
 Maintain Order.

WASHING1 ON, Dec. 14-Adjutant General Corbin appeared to-day before the House Committee on Military Af- fairs. His statements attracted unus- ual interest because Of their direct reference to conditions in Cuba. Porto Rico and the Philippines and the mili- tary requirements on which the War Department was acting. AS to the need of an increased army. he said that was a most serious proposition. He proceeded:
 'The Cuban evacuation commission. consisting of Generals Wade and But Ter and Admiral Sampson, has sub mitted a statement that in order to preserve order and restore order in Cuba, it will require the presence of an army of 50,0O0 men,"
 General Corbin said he would send this recommendation to the committee. but later it was arranged that it should be submitted without confidential res ervations. It was on this recommenda- tion, said General Corbin, that the plan of sending troops to Cuba was based. It might be found that the 50.000 men would not be requisite.
 But we are holding 50000 men in readiness to so if required said the general.
 As to the Philippines" he went on, General Otis, in command there, had recommended that 25,000 men were re- Quired there. In Porto Rico the of ficers in command say the force now on hand IS adequate for the requirements. The present force there Is 6100. That made 100 900 men-5O, 900 for Cuba, 25,- 900 for the Philippines, and about 5000 for Porto Rico, leaving us, with an army of 100000, about 18,000 for re- serves at home. If We had had such an army last June there would have been no such loss of life as occurred"
 Owing to importunities of Congress- men for the release or volunteers the press was requested to give General Corbin's statement on that point. He sd:
 "The Department is disposed to deal very leniently as to letting off men who are needed at home. In some cases colonels have been instructed to re- duce companies to eighty, so as to let off men who were urgently needed at home. And even below eighty we are making discharges on satisfactory statements that the presence of men are needed at home"
 The Senate Committee on Ap- propriations continued its hear ings on the army deficiency bill to-day, General Miles being before the committee for more than an hour. The pending proposition is an amendment, supported by several members, provid- ing for the immediate mastering out of 50,000 volunteers. It is understood Secretary Alger and Assistant Secre- tary Meiklejohn opposed such a pro- vision and Adjutant General Corbin said that, in view of the recommenda- tion of the Cuban Military Commission, 1t would be advisable.
 General Miles said to-day that he thought 25000 men would be enough for Cuba. He said the island must, in time, and at an early date, be policed by natives, which should be recruited into the army under American officers. Americans could not stand the climate unless they were immunes. He thought the standing army should be increased to 75,000 men, and said at least some of the volunteers should be continued in service until the increase was made