The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-05-10
APPORTIONMENT OF TROOPS
WHERE INDIANA AND OTHER STATE
VOLUNTEERS WILL BE SENT.
Supplies and Equipment Necessary
for Field Service-PreparatiOn at
Chickamauga Park.

paftrnent to-day saw mt to crafty the uni
versal desire and inform the country
through the press, just where the various
State volunteer organizations are to be con-
centrated. 1t is the first time that any Off
cial statement has been made as to the
points of concentration themselves. The Or
der as published by the department is
thought in some quarters to warrant the
assumption that it contemplates speedy
movement of the United States military
forces upon Cuba, and in much greater
force than originally planned. The War De-
partment officials refuse to say anything on
this point, but there is every evidence that
they expect short, sharp, conclusive and
immediate campaign, such as could not be
waged by 5000 or 10000 soldiers. 1t is also
to be noted that preparations made by the
Quartermasters Department and the Com
missary Department, so far as it disclosed
by actual orders, indicate that provision is
being made for mobilization and transport
ing and feeding many thousands of men
outside Of the United States.
With a view to systematizing the great
work of mobilizing. the forces and putting
them in service, the War Department has
planned scheme which, it is believed, will
very much hasten the work of getting the
men together and equippng them, while
avoiding a congestion of the railroad traffic
such as is always to be apprehended in
cases of war; Instead of allowing all the
troops called for from particular State to
be assembled and broken in at the rendez-
vous, the department is instructing its mus
tering officers to complete the organization
of regiments as rapidly as possible and as
soon as one is organized to report the fact
to the department, when that regiment will
be ordered at once to the point selected for
concentration. In this way the government
will be relieved greatly in the distribution
of stores, which will be called for only as
fast as they are needed. The men also will
be more amenable to discipline when quick
ly transferred to the concentration points
outside their own States. 1t is the expec-
tation that the first regiments organized and
reported from the States will be sent to
Chattanooga, thence going to Cuba via Mo-
bile, Tampa, New Orleans and Galveston,
for expeditions will be dispatched from each
of these ports. The Governor of State will
have no hand in the designation of the regi-
ments to go to particular concentration
camps; the destination will depend upon the
promptness with which the volunteers are
organized and are ready for transportation.
Probably about one-third of the entire levy
called for by the President. or about 49, 900
troops, will constitute the force to be sent
South to take part in the first Cuban serv-
ice following the regular army forces The
first troops ready will be the first to receive
their equipment, just as was defined in Gen.
Miles's circular issued to-day. When they
are organized, equipped and concentrated
the government will be ready to equip the
second contingent; namely, the forces about
equal to another third of the total CALL
which will be assigned to the defenses of
the coast and harbors, replacing the regular
United States troops withdrawn from those
posts. Thus, it will be noted from study
of the concentration order that six regi-
ments and two troops of New York volun-
teers are assigned to duty under command
of the Department of the East, command
ing coast defenses and reserves which prob
ably will result in their employment in New
York harbor and along the shores of Long
Island sound. Likewise, in the case of Penn
sylvania, five regiments, two battalions. and
two troops are assigned to duty in the De
partment of the East, which will place them
along the shores of the Delaware bay and
river as coast guard to protect the impor-
tant shipping interests of that section.
When these are equipped the government
will turn it's attention to the third class
comprising the last third of the 1250O0 vol
unteers called for. 1t is the sincere hope of
the War Department that it will not be
called upon to fully equip these troops be-
fore hostilitieS at an end, but the work
of preparation is proceeding on the con-
trary assumption. This third division will
constitute the second reserve to be drawn
OH for reinforcements whenever needed, and
it is possible that the men never will be
called on 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 Philippine islands Gen.
Miles has prepared a scheme changing the
boundaries of the present departments to
facilitate the working out of this plan, and
il is now before Secretary Alger for i'm
provement.
The responses so far received from the
mastering officers continue to be very en-
couraging. The following telegram to-day
from Governor Clough, of Minnesota. to Adj
iutant General Corhin shows the state of
feeling in the West:
Troops all mustered in. and l believe we
have three regiments that are second to
none-the Twelfth, Thirteenth and Four
teenth Regiments-all anXiously waiting to
go to the front. Please do not overlook
Minnesota, the star State"
--
WHERE THEY WILL. GO.