The herald., 1898-04-16
STEP TOWARD WAR
TAKEN BY THEAUTH0RITIESAT
WASHINGTON
TROOPS CONCENTRATED
At FOUR POINTS OF STATES IN
THE SOUTE
RAILROAD FACILITIES AMPLE
For the Prompt Transportation Of Men
and Munitions-Command De-
wolves Upon Gen. Miles
Associated Press Special Wire


WASHINGTON. April 15.-Decidedly the
most wariike step taken by the department
in preparing for the possibility OF an en-
counter with Spain, was inaugurateu TO-
day when orders were issued for the con-
centration at four points in the south OF
six regiments Of cavalry, twenty-five regi-
ments of infantry and the light batteries
of five regiments Of artillery. At ChicKa-
mauga there will be six regiments of cav
airy and light batteries of five regiments Of
artillery; at New Orleans eight regiments
Of infantry; at Tampa seven regiments OF
infantry and at Mobile seven regiments
OF Infantry.
Since the civil war n such proportion OF
the army has been mobir.zedi and the move
ment Itself is the best evidence OF the grav-
ity of the situation as looked upon by the
president and his advisers. The deter
minatIou to rendezvous the troops IN the
south, where they can be acclimatized 10
the conditions Of a more tropical climate.
has been under consideration by the pres-
dent and his cabinet for some time. 1t was
not until today, however, that the presi-
dent, in view Of the enormous expense
which will be entailed, felt justified "a talk
ing this step. When Secretary Alger re-
called into conference Gen. Miles and Adj.
Gen. Corb!n and acquainted them with the
result Of the cabinets deliberations. There
were hurried consultations In which he
quartermaster general, who has charge of
the troops, the commissary general, who
looks after their subsistence. and repre-
sentativss in Washington of the various
railroads running to the south, participat-
Al Tba Rro oil oix n e. NJ a ia
the movement of troops to the places indi-
Gated as follows:
The New Posts
To Chickamauga battlefield: The FIRST,
Second, Third, Sixth. Ninth and Tenth
regiments of cavalry and the light bat
teries Of five regiments Of artillery.
To New Orleans: The First, Seventh,
Eighth, Twelfth, Sixteenth. Eighteenth.
Twenty-third and Tweuty-fourth regi-
ments of infantry.
To Mobile: The Second. Third. Tenth,
Eleventh, Nineteenth, Twentieth, Twenty
second regiments OF infantry
To Tampa: The Fourth. Fifth, Sixth.
Ninth. Thirteenth Seventeenth and Twen
ty-irst regiments of infantry.
The heavy batteries of artillery In each
of the five regiments mentioned will re
main at their posts. The two new regi-
ments of artillery recently authorized by
congress have not been recruited to their
full strength. and in addition are not we'll
equipped with horses and other necessary
requisites for service and therefore are not
Included in today's orders.
The department has so distributed the
twenty-five regiments of infantry az con-
vonient places on the gulf that they will be
accessible for transportation to Cuba Pro-
posals have been invited from steamship
companies for ohartering vessels to the
government for this work.
The Orders Issued
Instructions to the commanding officers
of the regiments ordered to move were sent
out late today. with directions that they
be put In effect as soon as possible. 1t Is
the confident expectation of the officials
that the movement in some places will
begin tomorrow. The railroad facilities.
the officials say, are more than ample
10 meet the demands OF the occasion, and
no trouble will be occasioned T mobiliziuy
this large body Of men at the places des-
mated within a reasonably short space Of
time.
Secretary Alser also selected the conf
manders of the divisions of the army that
are to assemble at the places named, all
OF whom are we'll known for their service
In the military branch of the govern
ment. For the division at New Orleans,
Brigadser General W. B. Shafter of San
Francisco. In command OF the department
of California was designated. For that al
Tampa, Brigadier General j. f. Wade, now
In command of the Department of the Da-
kotas at st. Paul, MINI. For Mobile,
Brgadier General j. ]. Coppinger, now on
duty In command Of the Department Of the
Missouri at Omaha, Neb., while for the
post at Chlckumauga, Major General j.
r. Brooke. in command of the Department
OF the Lakes WITH headquarters at Chi
cago, was chosen.
The command of the army will deyoive
upon Major General Nelson A. Miles, who
Is now at the head of the military branch
OF the government. His temporary head
quarters, 1t is said. probably will be at
Atlanta, where General Graham. who has
command of the Department of the Gulf.
Is now located. General Miles permanent
headquarters will depend entirely upon
the developments OF the campaign He will
leave the city soon for his new duties.
Three regiments of infantry and four of
cavalry are not included In the mobiliza-
tion of the orders for the reason that thew