Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1898-05-28
MAY Be ANOTHER CALI
The President Will Probably Issue
Another Call for Troops.
Army Now Numbers Almost Two Hundred
Thousand-There Must BE Fifty Thou
sand Men In Cuba Before Blanco Is
Driven to the Wall-PortO Rico
May Also he Invaded.

ThouSand-There Must BE fifty Thou
sand Men in Cuba Before Blanco Is
Driven to the Wall-Porto Rico
May Also he Invaded.
New YORK, May PA dispatch to
the Tribune from Washington says:
Another call for volunteers is under Sc
rious consideration by the military
authorities, although it may not be is
sued for al least a week or two, at any
rate, until the invasion of Cuba has be-
/ gun and the necessity for additional
troops is clearly demonstrated. The
difficulties of arming and e%quipping
many of the soldiers already mustered
into service are rapidly disappearing,
and from the experience gained in the
recent call, army officers are satisfied
that more than a month will be con-
sumcd in mastering in an additional
50,0 900 men, and that in this time equip
mcnts could be prepared for that num-
Der. The unexpected and extraordinary
drain on the regular and volunteer
force by the Philippines expedition,
necessitating at the outset $4,000 men,
together with the prospect that Spain
will t be influenced by European
powers to abandon her further struggle,
but viii wage war until her resources
are exhausted, is causing the military
authorities considerable anxiety re-
garding the s%ufiiciency OF the armed
force of the government for carrying
out the possibilities which have been
undertaken.
The simple task of freeing Cuba has
been increased, through the necessities
arising in the Philippines and through
the probability Of being compelled to
maintain an army of occupation in
Cuba several years, until the war be-
ginn to assume tremendous dimen-
sions. If Porto Rico is added to the
scales eventually as the Philippines
were, the magnitude of American re-
psD'"sS'a".i-'is'E ,vf%S,l. De matefL1y n.
creased, and further increase of the
army will be compulsory. Many public
men are beginning to express the con
viction that the forces of the United
States will be as difficult to withdraw
from Cuba as those of England have
been from Egypt, although there is no
modification up to this time OF the res
olution to allow Cuba free and auton-
omous republic, and not a mere indie
pendent territorial acquisition of the
United States,
With regard to the Philippines and
Porto Rico, however, a disposition is
already manifested to regard them as
fruits of victory, and in view Of the no
~torious incapacity of their inhabitants
for self-government, to take permanent
possession of them and provide them
with complete colonial establishments.
Eventually they may become in part
self-governing, but the strong arm OF
the United States may have to be ex-
erted indefinitely to preserve their
peace and prosperity.
The authorized strength of the army
a month ago was %, 900 men. 1t has
now been increased to l09,500, and OF
the latter number 10000 will be ac'
tually under arms and in the field be
fore June list. OF this increase, by the
expansion of the regular service
through its reorganization under the
three-battalion formation, $1,000 mer
have been added; the other por'
ton has been acquired through the
call made for volunteers and by
means of the enlistment of two
brigades of immuneS and one of en-
gineers. 1t is already the prevailing
belief that the expansion Of the regu
lar service, though contemplated only
for the duration of the war, will b,
permanent, and the standing army vii
hereafter be 50, 900. The latter number
in the opinion of Gen. Miles, is essen
tial for operations in Cuba next sum
mcr, although most of the invadin,
force will necessarily be composed O
volunteers.
The rapid development of the Cuban
invasion project is given as another in
dication of the Forthcoming necessit,
for additional volunteers. In its incep
ton a month ago the program con
templated a force of only 5000 men t.
establish a base of supplies, for the Gu
ban insurgents were to be armed
clothed and fed and their campaigI
against the Spaniards supported as nc
casion required. This plan was base
on the presumption that reports re
garding the insurgent strength whic
have been received from American cor
suls and others for the last two year
were accurate, and that the ability c
Gen. Gomez to crush the Spaniards an
shut them up in the coast cities had nc
been exaggerated. For nearly tw
years positive assertions had bee
numerous that the Cubans with merel
the moral encouragement of the Unite
States through a recognition of bellil
ercncy would quickly accomplish the.
own independence. Within the la.
month the falsity of these assertion
has been demonstrated to the complcf
satisfaction of the authorities here, an
through the reports of regular arm
officers who have recently made recol
noisances in the island it is now de
nitely known that little or no assis
ance from the Wanted ''armies Of Ii
Grafton" need be expected.
USED MONEY AND A PEN.
Now n Young Fellow Is In Trouble
rn.. HI,