Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1898-06-21
FROM WASHINGTON.
,orreypondenoe Of the Alexandra GaDette.]
WASHINGTON. June q.


sist of colored immunes. 1t provides
that the division shall include not to
exceed six regiments, that the men
shall be recruited from the nation at
large and that the President shall ap-
point the necessary officers.
The House committee on military al
fairs to-day agreed on a joint resolu-
ton reviving the grade OF Lieutenant
General in the army. 1t authorizes the
President to appoint lieutenant gen.
oral, the limitation in the bill as 10
choice from officers mot below the
grade of major general" being stricken
out BY the committee. The committee
disclalm any idea of having any single
military commander in view and assert
the object is to permit the selection by
the President to command the army OF
one who should have higher rank than
anv other officer, While Major Gener-
al Miles has frequently been urged for
lieutenant generalship, the members
OF the committee claim that his name
is no more than suggestion and that
the resolution leaves it open TO the
President whom he shall appoint, Inc
appointee, however. being SUBJECT 10
confirmation by the Senate. The com
mittee also favorably reported to the
House the bill giving the adjutant gen.
eral OF the army, post now held by
General Corbln, the rank, pay and al:
lowance of major general instead OF
brigadier general.
When Secretary Alger reached his OF
fee to-day, the transports with $4,000
troops, ne was informed, had arrived
safely off Santiago, and that direct
cable communication had been estab-
lished between the United States and
Guantanamo, where the U. S. marines
now hold possession of Cuban soil. The
vessels that have arrived off Santiago,
with the troops on board of each, &C.
cording to the data supplied to the War
Department by Gen. Shafter, numbered
with the convoy 80 vessels and is the
most numerous that ever LETT the
waters of the United States for for
eign country. 1t is expected here that
the transports will remain off Santiago
or perhaps nearer the exact landing
point OF the troops until Santiago has
been captured, when they will take
aboard the greater part OF the invading
army if they can be spared from that To-
cality and convoy the troops to Porto
Rico to effect the capture OF thstisland.
The Navy Department continues to
hear from Admiral Sampson relative to
the general condition Of affairs with
the feet of Santiago. These edvices
have not, up to noon to-day, brought
word OF the landing of the troops under
Gen. Shafter. The purpose OF the
move on Santiago was pointed out to.
day by an army official. He said San
tiego was not to be made military
base OF operations, as it was not adap-
ted for such use, as the town would be
practically useless as base of military
supplies. The occupation, he said, was
| BIT an incident of the general plan OF
occupying several points, and in due
time there would be landings at the
west end of Cuba just as there had
been at the east end.
Mr.. Bailey, the democratic leader o.
the House, says at next Monday;
meeting Of the democratic caucus
of that body, the resolution bind
ing the democratic members OF the
House to the action of the eau
Gus will be adopted, as two-third5 O.
them are in favor of it, and that those
who are unwilling to abide by two
thirds majority of their party will have
their names stricken off the democratic
list, as, to be effective, party must be
united. Messrs. Jones, Rlxey and
Lamb, of Virginia, were among those
who opposed the adoption OF the Bailey
resolution.
Congressman Otey OF Virginia wa;
OF the War Department this morning
10 see about arms for the 3rd Virginia
Regiment, now at Camp Alger He
was informed that the arms were all
ready aud that tie regiment would DC
supplied with them Immediately upon
the reception of the proper requisition
w. r. Wharton, son of General Gabe
Wharton of Virginia. has been ap-
nointed captain in one OF the negro
regiments to be raised in Virginia and
North Carolina.
The House today passed bill "a
pay j. Henry Rives of Virginia $29390,
that being the amount paid by him for
the arrest of John G.. Henry, deputy
collector, for enlightenment. The bill
was for 1885 81, but the committee re-
duced it 10 the amount specified.
The following changes in the 4th
class postoffices of Virginia were made
to-day Cliuch, Scott county, Mamie
E. Dingus appointed postmaster vice j..
Fl. Buckley, removed; The Falls, Not
toway county, Mrs. N. B. Snead, vice
VIM. A. Vaughn, removed; Villa,
Franklin county, Honora G. Angie,
vice Lee F. Chitwood, resigned.
The Secretary of War has rendered
decision holding that relative rank as
between officers of the same grade COM
missioned by the governor OF State or
territory is to be determined according
to the date of muster into the United
States servics. When such officers have
commissions bearing the same date,
and were mustered in the same date,
their relative rank will be determined,
first by previous length of service in the
United States army, regular or volun-
teer, or marine corps, under commits
sion; and secondly, in the absence of
any such service by lot.
Lieut. Col. James II. Allison, chief
eommissary of the 2ad army corps, has
sent to Secretary Alger the following
letter received by him from Col. Male,
commanding the 3rd Regiment OF Vir-
ginia infantry at that camp regarding
Che subsistence for the soldiers; "Re.
garding your inquiry IS to what COM