Evening star., 1898-04-28
GEN. SHAF TER'S VISIT
Thought to Have Reference to a
Cuban Invasion.
CONFERENCE At WAR DEPARTMENT
Richmond Urged as An Assembling
Point.
MANY PHYSICIANS APPLY

| Brigadier General William R. shafter.
who commands the brigade of troops at
J New Orleans, accompanied by Col Bab-
cock, formerly adjutant general of the de-
| partmen. OF California and one of General
| Skaters staff were at the War Depart
ment today. having been summoned to
Washington for conference with General
| Miles, the commander of the army. The
officials Of the War Department decline to
| say why General Shafter comes to Wash
irgton, but it is accepted to have special
reference to the proposed invasion of Cuba,
in connection with the sending of food to
the starving people in the island. General
Shafter is held in high esteem in army
circles. He is an officer of great bravery.
| and has fine record He saw Secretary
Alger for some time when he reached the
department today and later discussed with
General Miles the duties the latter has in
| store for MIN.
Rfchmond as an Assembling Point.
Senator Daniel was at the War Depart
| ent today and had a talk with Secretary
| Alger, in which he urged that Richmond
be selected as one of the mobilizing points
| for the volunteer army prior to it's in
vasion Of Cuba. The board of trade of
| Richmond and the city officials have
| offered the general government the use of
what Is known as Lee camp on the out
| skirts of the city, which, it is said, pos
Sesses superior advantages concentrat-
| ing point 1t was the muster ground for
| the confederacy thirty-seven years ago,
| and in view of the fact that Richmond has
been considered as one of the cities for
mobilizing the volunteer army the senator
! was encouraged to believe that the Secre-
| tary vii. look favorably on the request.
| There are accommodations at Camp Lee
| for 1900 men.
North Dakota's Quota.
| Senator Hansbrough of North Dakota
was al the War Department today to urge
! that his state be allowed to furnish a full
| regiment of infantry instead of two bat
| talions, as originally proposed. Secretary
Alger promised to take the request under
consideration.
| Cavalry From the West.
| 1t is now said to be definitely settled that
| Mr.. Melvin Grigsby of South Dakota will
! be given permission to raise one Of three
regiments of volunteer cavalry provided
| for in the volunteer army act. Mr.. Grigs-
| by is attorney general of the state, and
| had four years experience i'll cavalry sery-
| ice in the last war. With n view TO MAX
| ing the composition of these regiments
| somewhat national in character, and per-
| mittins other states to participate in their
| formation, two troops will be taken from
| Colorado two companies of cowboys from
| North Dakota and the others will be re-
| cruited, most of them. in Mr. GIigsby's
| state and in Nebraska.
Many Physicians Apply.
| Surgeon General Sternberg of the army
hog .aaa
| physicians who have offered their services
! to the government, and every mail brings
numerous additions to the list With a
view to answering generally many of these
| applications, and of Indicating the require
| ments and class of physicians who may be
| called on for service in the army, ne has
prepared the following circular letter:
"The surgeon general highly appreciates
| the patriotic motives which have induced
| this offer of services-in many instances
| by men promir ent in the profession and
! enjoying a lucrative practice, but the
labor OF answering these numerous letters
interferes with the necessary work of the
| office, which has been greatly increased by
the exigencies connected with equipping
| the regular and volunteer armies for field
service. 1t therefore becomes necessary
| to acknowledge letters Offering service and
inquiries relating to the medical DEPART
| men by the circular letters.
NO appointments are made in the reg
ular army except after examination by an
| army medical examining board. and all ap-
plicants mus be graduates in medicine
and less than ~ years of age.
THE surgeon general of the army has
nothing to do with the appointment of
medical officers for the volunteer army
Comma ratively
(acting assistant surgeons) are likely to be
required, and it is the intention to employ
for service with troops going to Cuba or
at hospitals on the gulf coast only such
as are immune to yellow fever.
"All applications and offers of service
will be placed on file for future reference
and for selection of the most available per-
sons for the special duty required, in case
of need
mo female nurses will be sent to Cuba
or to hospitals on the gulf coast, and it an
pears probable, at present, that there will
be no necessity for the employment of
trained female nurses. All applications
will, however. he placed on file for future
reference in case of need
VIII Adhere to the AIIOtments.
Adjutant General Corbin said this after
noon that the Secretary Of War has decided
" " tie dfiOtLneutS ALREADY made
to the various states and territories under
the Presidents call for 125 900 men for Ser
vice in the volunteer army, and that it is
crly Wa ste of time for the officials of the
different states to endeavor to have their
allotments increased. He said there had
been several changes in the original plan,
due TO the necessities of the case, and that
in enc or two instances where it was ad-
v:sable, changes had been made in the
character of the troops that the states or
territories should furnish. AS for instances
cavalry had been substituted for artillery |
and infantry for cavalry or artillery where |
srch changes were found expedient by |
reason of the character of the state mill |
tary organizations.
Gen. Corbin declared however, that in no |
case had the allotment of the states been
increased beyond the limit originally fixed, |
and that such course was now impossible |
unless the President should call for more |
troops. or unless some of the states should |
fail to provide their quota. Gen: Corbin |
said he had no knowledge of any purpose |
on the part Of the executive to call for |