The Atlanta constitution., 1898-10-03
GEN. LEE HAS TWENTY THOUSAND MEN
READY TO MARCH WITH HIN TO CUBA
General tzhgh Lee and His Splendid Command Have Been Waiting Pa
entN for Over Four Months for Real Service But Never Com
paned--What Lee Wants and Will Get

Headquarters Seventh Army Corps, Camp
Cuba Libre. Jacksonville, Fla, September
27.-When General Fitzhugh Lee left for
Washington tonight TO report in person to
the president for conference touching tho
transportation of the army of occupation
TO Cuban soil he left behind him as fine a
command as any general ever had at his
back. During the past four months he has
made regulars of the volunteers who were
turned over to him when war was declared
and the Seventh army corps today lis fit
for any service that may be required OF It.
| do not know in just what proportion
credit should be given 20 General Lee for
this condition of affairs. but 1t is safe to
take the word Of the regimental brigade
and division commanders here, WHO say
that he deserves all the credit. And | be-
lieve he does. 1t has been my good for
tune to be able to visit nearly ali the large
camps Of American troops, END ] am fee
to say that this one Is far and away the
best
Much allowance must be made. OF course.
for the length of time the camp has been
here. Perfection in military affairs, As in
everything else, comes only with practice
and experience. and it IS not to be sup
posed that the situation ten or twelve
weeks ago was anything like 1t is now.
1ut from the very ilfSt moment iiidt tdiip
Cuba IAbre was established the Seventh
corps has been ready to take the field IN
Cuba or in Porto Rico or IN Manila or
pnvWhere else and every hour of The In
terveninE time has been spent in making
that preparation more complete. The
troops knew all along that they were TO be
GENT 10 Cuba. but whether in time OF peace
or of war they had mo knowledge and so
they could only sit on the burning sands
nd
getting in shape for orders that might
como at any moment. How well they did
this the whole country will know IN a very
Short time.
It's q Big Army.
Lees command is of special interest now
because It Is certain to become the gov
ernment's maiastay in Cuoa. Lee is going
to be stationed IN Havana and Eis men are
going there WITH hiEl and Havana is going
TO be watched by all the WoTll from now
on because the prevailing political cond!
lions there are of q sort 10 invite inter-
national observation. he corps and the
camp here and even it's gallant commander
have all cropped out of the newspapers
of late through tho press of intelligence
about troops in active service but they Will
speedily come 10 the front. Therefore il Is
well to take q look at them, even on gem
eraI grounds. before they start and not be-
cause their magnificent condition calls Tor
unusual notice. 1t is modest command,
Is the Seventh. and not so much given to
exploiting itself III the newspapers as some
others that 1 know.
And il is q big command too. There are
nineteen regiments IN IT. comDri5lnG atont
20 600 men-more than went TO Santiago TO
wind up tbs war, and pretty nearly as
many as form the standing army Cf tho
United States. Thcy are from all parts OF
the country, bat the south and west are
! @,.,tt, HOY ha ,,r.t6 ara