The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1898-04-18
THE ARMY READY.
Arrangements Made for the Invasion of
Cuba

Washington, April 1e.-Gen. Miles said
this afternoon that the movements of
troops to the south, ordered yesterday.
will not begin until Monday morning
at the earliest. There was no special oc-
casion for haste in the matter, he said.
Although no definite information on
| that point could be obtained this after
noon, it is said that the Sixth Cavalry at
Fort Myer and the Fourth artillery at
Washington barracks, will hardly start
on their journey South before Monday
evening or Tuesday morning next.
An important conference was In pro-
gress this afternoon at the ONCE OF the
Secretary of War, the purpose OF whlcn
was to perfect arrangements for the use
of the national guards of the states ana
territories in the national defense IN
case it becomes necessary to reinforce
The regular army. There were present
Secretary Alger, Gen. Miles and Adju-
tant General Corbin, Representative Hill
of the House military committee and the
adJutant generals of the national guards
of nearly every state and territory in the
| United States
Adjutant General Corbin said in the
most positive terms that no call for vol
unteers for military sevrice, either militia
men or Others, would be made unless
| such a step is authorized by Congress
and approved by the President. He said
that all the details of such call rested
in the hands of the President and SO far
as lie knew had had yet been settled in the
matter beyond decision to make a call
| in case it became necessary and was fully
authorized by the action of Congress. 1t
was impossible for him to say at this
time how many men are likely to be
called out under the first call, but in 9TH
| er quarters it was learned that the Presi
dent has practically decided in the event
| of legislation to that end to issue a pro-
clamation asking for SO, 600 volunteers.
| Gen. Corbin said that if this was done
the call would be apportioned among the
different states and territories according
TO their population and that the org.-
Dization of the forces would be left en-
tirely to the Judgment of the government
| of the several states.
| Tt was announced at the navy depart
ment today that there was no intention
or necessity for the assignment OF naval
vessels for the transportation OF troops
Ito Cuba in the event that such step
was determined upon. Itlwas explained
that the war department would have en-
tire charge and direction of the trans
portation of the military forces, both by
land and water and that the quarter
! =
ing complete preparations for
the charter of fleet of steam vessels
for use in transporting the army to
Cuba in the event that such movement
is ordered by the President. The only
part that the navy would play in case
of this kind would be to send suitable
feet of warships along with the expedit-
The general understanding among mill
tary and naval officials is that the army
and navy, when the proper time arrived,
will make joint demonstration in great
force against the Spanish capital in Cuba
and that smaller expeditions will be or
ganized for the purpose of landing troops
at Matanzas, Santiago de Cuba, Cienfue-
gos and other points on the island with
a view to the capture or surrender of the
Spanish army and the establishment
of stable government in Cuba.
| Every bureau of the war department
has been called into requisitlon to par.
ticipate in the carrying out of the orders
| issued yesterday. The officers in com.
rand of the regiments which are to
move, have responded with alacrity to
| Sen. Miless orders and have indicated
their intention to proceed at once to their
destination Quartermaster General Lud
ington said today that all the comman.
ders would issue short time advertise
ments inviting proposals for Transporter
| ton from which such selections will be
made as seem to the best interest of the
government. He did not think any of
the commands would move before Mon
day. Already officers of the quartermas-
ter's department are on their way to the
mobilization points to secure accommoda-
| tions for the troops and make other neees.
sary arrangements.
In Gen. Miles's office the greatest activi-
| ty was noticeable today. Arrangements
are making whereby the army headquar-
tiers wherever they may be located will be
supplied with all the necessary official
data, maps, charts and books on mill
tary matters. There were large num-
Der of callers on the general today and
he also spent much time in conference
with the officials of his bureau respect.
ing the coming campaign. 1t was said
by one of the generals aides that prob
ably fourier five days will elapse before
he will start South to take active COM
mand of the army in the field. The ex-
peotation is that he will take with him
his personal staff as follows: Lieut. Col.
j. G. Gilmore, adjutant general; Capt.
f. Michler, Fifth Cavalry; Capt. Nj. p.
Maus. first infantry; Capt. Edward Davis
third artillery and Chief Clerk j. B.
Borton OF the generals Office, who will
look after the correspondence, etc.
Consul General Lee spent a great por-
ton of the day at the war department. in