Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1898-05-12

tLaN
the day having passed without a re-
port from Admiral Sampson. the navy
department does not expect TO hear
from il for several days. The authority
for this statement is fully acquainted
with Admiral Simpsons plans, and the
remark would seem 10 indicate that
the admiral having failed to find the
enemy al the place expected had
turned his attention 10 the alternative
project. What this is cannot be ascer-
tanned. 1t is expected, however, that
the department is under no apprehen-
sion as 10 the safety of the admiral's
Meet. nor of any vessel of the fleet.
The war department saw fit 10 crafty
the universal desire and inform the
country through the press just where
the veteran state volunteer organiza-
tons are 10 be concentrated. Ii is
the first time that any official state
ment has been made as 10 the points
of concentration themselves. The order
as published by the department is
thought in some quarters 10 warrant
the assumption that il contemplates a
speedy movement OF the United states
military forces upon Cuba. and in
much greater force thar was originally
planned. The III department officials
refuse 10 say anything on this point,
but there is every evidence that they
expect a short, sharp. conclusive
And Immediate Campaign.
such as could not be waged by five or
ten thousand soldiers. 1t is also to be
noted that preparations made by the
quartermaster's department and the
commissary department. so far as it is
disclosed by actual orders indicate that
provision is being made for modifying
and transporting and feeding NAM
thousands Of men outside of the Unit
ed States. With a view 10 systematic
ing the great work OF mobilizing the
forces and putting them in service. the
war department has planned a scheme
which IL is believed will very much
hasten the work of getting the men to-
gether and equipping them, while
avoiding any congestion of the railroad
traffic such as is always TO be appre-
hended in cases of war. Instead of
allowing all the troops called for from
a particular state to be assembled and
broken in at the rendezvous the de-
partlnent is ~instructing its mastering
officers to complete the organization Of
regiments as rapidly as possible, and
as soon as n is organized, 10 report
the fact TO the department, when the
regiment will be ordered at once TO the
point selected for concentration. In
this way the government will be re-
lieved gradually in the
Distrib alton of stores.
which will be called for only as fast as
they are needed. The men also will he
more amenable 10 discipline when
quickly transferred to the %concentra-
ton points outside their own states.
1t Is the expectation that the first regi-
memts organized and reported from the
states will be sent TO Chattanooga,
thence going TO Cuba. via Mobile,
Tampa. New Orleans and Galveston,
for expeditions will be dispatched from
each Of these ports. The governor of a
state will IA no hand in the designa-
ton of the regiments to 20 TO particu-
ia Al it
ton will be dependent upon the
promptness with which the volunteers
are organized and are ready for trans
portation. Probably about one-third OF
the entire levy called for by the presi
dent, or about 10000 troops will con-
stitute the force to be sent South to
take part in the first Cuban service,
following the regular army forces. An
other third of the total call will be as
signed TO the defenses of the coast and
harbors, replacing the regular United
States troops withdrawn from these
posts. When these are equipped the
government will turn its attention TO
the third class. comprising the last
third of the l25,0O0 volunteers called
for. IL is the sincere
Hope of the War
department that il will not be called
upon TO fully equip these troops before
hostilities are at an end, but the work
OF preparation is proceeding on the con
trary assumption. This third division
will constitute the second reserve. 10
be drawn upon for reinforcements
whenever needed, and ii is possible
that the men never will be called upon
TO leave their own states, unless the
plans of the war department miscarry.
1t may be remarked. by the way. that
out OF the first class will come the
troops which will be sent TO the Phil
ippine islands. Gen. Miles has pre-
pared a scheme changing the boundar-
les Of the present departments to IA
cilitate the working out of this plan,
and it is now before Secretary Alger
for Improvement. The responses SO far
received from he mastering officers
continue TO be very encouraging. ThA
following telegram from Gov. Clough
to AdJt. Gen. Corbin shows the state
of feeling In the West:
state Camp. 81. Paul, Minn.-Troops
all mustered in, and believe we have
three regiments that are second TO none
the Twelfth, Thirteenth and Four
teenth. All are anxiously waiting TO
get 10 the front. Please do not oveI-