The Mena star., 1898-05-11
DECIDE ID MOVE ON CUBA
Troops to Be Landed on the Island as Fast as They Can Be Bri-
 gaded and Forwarded.
GEN. MILES TO START FOR THE FRONT.

Orders Given for 10000 Hammocks for
 the Cuban Campaign-A Great Camp to
 Be Located at Falls Chnrch-Army at
 ChIckamauga Park Ordered to Move at
 Once-ships Chartered.
 WASHINGTON, May 10.-To go at once or not to go for GO or 90 days. That was the question submitted squarely to the cabinet yesterday. The decision was to go at once. Alger won. He believed in an immediate movement of troops to Cuba and advocated 1t. Gen. Miles and the army officers insisted 1t was not expedient to make the move ment until the troops had been assem- bled, organized and somewhat sea- soned. They said that this would take from 60 to 90 days. The president brought forward the question and asked for opinions as to whether the movement should be made at once or should be delayed until the army was fully organized. The ground was gone over It was shown that the delay advised by the army officers would postpone action until the midst of the rainy season and that then further postponement until No vember might be unavoidable on ac- count of the fever. The cabinet act ed with deliberation and q thorough knowledge of the situation. The de- cision was emphatic and as nearly as can be learned unanimous. It was ito go at once. The administration de termined that the troops shall be moved to Cuba as fast as they can be brigaded and forwarded. The plan to organize and season thoroughly was abandoned. Cuba is to be occupied and the Spaniards are to be compelled to surrender without any more wait ing.
 Gen. Miles to start for the Front
 WASHINGTON, May 10.-By Friday morning the commanding general of the United States army, Maj. Gen. Miles, will have assembled his staff around him at Tampa, Fla. He leaves Washington tomorrow night. Unless present plans are changed. the gem eral will go with the first military ex- peditionary force to Cuba. He is not expected to relieve the major generals already selected for that task of the conduct of the campaign, but both in Florida and in Cuba will exercise the same general superintendence over the campaign that he now does from his headquarters in Washington. The arrangements for the move upon Cuba are being hastened with such an en- ergy that it is evident to any observer that the beginning of the campaign is imminent. II IS expected here that within a week the first troops will be on their way from the United States to Cuba. The only de- lay will arise in the difficulty of se- curing the necessary number of trans ports and the quartermaster's depart ment is making great efforts to assem- ble sufficient number of these ships at the gulf ports in time to receive the troops who are even now on their way there Orders have been given for l0,- 900 hammocks to be furnished imme- diately for the use of the army and to be delivered, beginning immediately, within the next fortnight. Experts have reported that hammock is an absolute necessity in the Cuban cam pdAs " Ao VAiS Ohlg luCduS bO escape the vermin which otherwise make sleep impossible to the soldier and it is also the only way he can escape the danpness of the dark rich soil.
 Engineers from the war department went out yesterday to the neighbor hood of Falls church and located de- hnitely the great camp upon which l will be concentrated from 30, 900 to 70, : 900 United States troops within the next week or two. The tract selected embraces about 1, 400 acres of splendid land, well-watered and wooded, and will afford accommodation for all the soldiers comprised within the presi- dents first order
 Chickamauga Troops on the Move.
 CHATTANOOGA, Tenn, May 10.-The entire army stationed at Chickamauga park has been ordered to the front. The First and Tenth cavalry % to New Orleans, the Second cavalry to Mobile, the Third and Sixth to Tampa. The entire infantry will go to Tampa. The movement began to-day.
 ships Chartered.
 WASHINGTON, May 10. Assistant Sec retary Meiklejohn to-day chartered about 30 ships, with a capacity for 25.. 900 men. They are to be used to con. vey troops to Cuba and the Philippines.
 Missouri Live Stock Growers.
 ST. JOSEPH, Mo, May 10. The first