The Breckenridge news. (Cloverport, Ky.) 1876-1955, 1898-03-23
NEED NO
VOLUNTEERS
Regulars And Militia Could
Attend to
Spain.
TROOPS WOULD MOVE QUICKLY.
All The Available Men Are Ready For
Immediate Action Only a Small
Army Required For Cuba.
TROOPS WOULD MOVE QUICKLY.



the United States" said an official Of the
war department., at will not be necessary
for this government to send large num-
Der of troops into Cuba. In my opinion,
we should need only 5000 men, OF just
enough TO preserve order after our navy
had taken possession Of the chief seaport
towns. It must DO remembered that Cuba
is now largely dependent upon the United
States for the food upon which her people
live. They import American beef Hpd 9TH
er supplies at Havana, as very little comes
in from the country districts. Let our
fleets once blockade the port OF Havana,
preventing the further importations Of
supplies, and we should have the island in
our possession quickly enough. There
would DO more or less disorder In the
town, and IL might be necessary to land a
few thousand troops to repress violence.
But 5000, coupled with the guns Of our
warships, would do the business
sit has been said that II we ore COM
PEELED to take foroible possession Of Cuba
in the summer or hot season the mortality
would DO frightful among ourtroops. But
/ do not think this Is SO. Do not forget
that our American soldiers are better dis
ciplined men than the raw recruits of
young boys which Spain has been pouring
into Cuba. 1t would not DO necessary for
us to send to the island any but troops Of
our reg ular army, men who know how to
take care OF themselves, who know what
camp hygiene and sanitation are, who
have sense enough not to gorge themselves
with green fruit In a strange country to
which they were unaoolimated. Besides
we have a splendid hospital and medical
corps. Some losses from yellow fever and
other fever there surely would be, but i do
not believe they would be as heavy as the
losses Of the Spanish troops have been
during the last three scars. The climate
Of Cuba is not unhealthful. 1t is only in
the largo cities like Havana and Santiago
and Cionfuegos that epidemics rage. And
what wonder that they rage thereS The
sanitary arrangements are about as bad as
they can be. Back in the country, espe-
cially in the hills, thoclimato is salubrious
and healthful.
Quick Action.
~ don't suppose IL Is generally known,
but the war department has made ar
rangements by which all our available
troops Of the regular army whose stations
are on railway lines can be put upon the
cars within six hours after the order Is
given. This means that from the Atlantic
to the Pacific, wherever there Is an army
post upon railway, the organization has
been perfected 30 that within six hours
trains would start from all points, carry
ing men. horses, camp equipage, artillery,
ammunition wagons, hospital and medi-
cal corps-everything belonging to the
service
at understand" concluded this official,
"that the same organization exists In the
"a A. akA T.aAa In.
struotions from tho department they have
perfected arrangements for loading every
thing upon the cars within a very few
hours. II tho order to move comes, there
will be a magnificent spectacle. IL will
be that of a hundred railway trains start
Ing all about the same time and rolling as
fast as steam will carry them toward the
seaboard. A few hours later a hundred
more trains will start on the same jour
ney. Andjf II should be necessary we can
keep up this hundred trains a day move
ment for a month At the outset how
ever, and through all the war, In my opin-
ION, none but trained troops would be
used. / do not believe we should ever
need more than 40, 900 men In the field for
occupation OF Cuba, coast defense, etc.
Fifteen thousand Of these would DO drawn
from our regular army posts and the re-
mainder from the state militia troops.
Another military expert said 20 me that
no could not soc why so many people were
afraid of a war with Spain. why" said
he, ''they talk as II IL were going to DO al
most rs terrible a thing as the war be-
tween the states The truth ID that II one
did not read the newspapers In no part OF
the United States would tho average citi-
zen discover that there was such a thing
as war In progress. There would be scares
In the seaport cities about the sudden de-
scent Of Spanish fleet upon the place, OF
course, but that would DO about as near
the actually Of war as our people would
get It would be a short and easy war.
We should suffer some upon the sea, but
In less than 90 days, venture to say.
Spain would sue for peace"
He Wanted His Mother.
One day last week colorcd man who
was aboard the battleship Maine when she
was destroyed In Havana harbor arrived
IN Washington. IN once had friends here,
and he started out TO lind them. But, not
knowing Just where they lived, no ran
against people who pretended TO DO his
friends, but who were enemies In disguise.
They took him In, robbed him OF his pock-
etbook and then kicked him out. Finally
the poor fellow found his real friends, and
whom they asked this hero-for the reports
say he behaved with bravery at the critical
moment-how no felt whsn the explosion
came, no replied;
at never wanted my mother 50 much II.
my life"
Next day no went 90 the navy depart
mont, where he was received with kind
mesa In the corridor Of. that big depart
ment an odd scene was witnessed. A white
hairod-man heard that the oplored boy had
been aboard tho Maine when she blew up,
and he went up 10 the sailor man and
threw his arms about him. That very
afternoon others came forward, . purse
was made up 70 reimburse Jack Tar for
his money loss, and employment was
found for him The wave Of sympathy
for the poor fellows d the Maine which
swept through she country was NOS all
superficial.
speaking OF this colorcd man femlDds
me OF an odd siyIo which prevails among