The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-05-21
MAY HAVE AN ARMY OF 10000
ABOUT 5000 REGULARS MAY ACCOM-
PANY VOLUNTEERS TO MANILA.
Nominations to Positions in the Army
and Navy-Assignment of Briga-
diers-The Cabinet Meeting.

WASHINGTON May 2O.-The features OF
interest in army circles to-day were the con-
| ferences with General Merritt. prospective
military governor of the Philippines, the
| assignment of brigadier generals, the army
nominations and the work of the War De-
partment in equipping the volunteers. The
complaints of the shoeess among the volun-
teers just brought into the army win soon
be silenced as the War Department has
just placed orders for 100000 pairs Of sol
| diers shoes. A beginning was made to-day
towards the organization of the Independent
volunteer forces, under authority conferred
upon the President by special resolution.
The National Guard will have no part In
these organizations, which will be made up
of engineers, immunes and electricians. The
staff assignments are coming out rapidly
| in the general orders issued daily by the de-
partment, the appointments being made
generally upon the request of the major
generals and the brigadier generals yet TO
be provided for in this matter.
General Miles had another long consulta-
ton this morning with Secretary of the
Navy Long and these repeated meetings
are construed here to mean that point has
| been. reached in the campaign where the
army finds it necessary to call upon the
navy for conveys to take troops to Cuba.
Il is realized that this work is extra hazard-
Gus at present Conveys always are exposed
| to destruction at the hands of a determined
| enemy, and with squadron of fleet Span
! ish cruisers, and torpedo and grrhe u1
great speed lying in wait somewhere near
Cuba, nothing but the most formidable con-
| voy such as would be afforded by all OF
| Simpsons and Schley's ironclads, save the
monitors, would suffice to give reasonable
degree of protection against attack. There
are indications that the military expedition
will make it's real start from Key West,
unless the atmosphere clears through the
destruction or disappearance from Cuban
waters of the Spanish fleet IL the start Is
made from Port Tampa the ships with their
heavy loads of troops and stores will be ex-
posed to an attack almost thirty hours, not
allowing for the possibility of spending
much additional time off the Cuban coast,
waiting for an opportunity to land. On the
other hand, If the start is made from Key
West, the final stage of the journey will be
reduced to the daylight hours of one day.
Paymaster General Stanton has recon-
| mended to Secretary Aiger the appointments
of eighteen additional paymasters for the
regular army in addition to the twenty now
| in the service. This increase, General
Stanton thinks, is necessary in view of the
recruiting of the regular branch to the full
war strength of $4,000 men. He suggested
| that the appointments be classified as fol-
lows: Two colonels as assistant paymasters
| general, six lieutenant colonels as deputy
paymasters general and ten majors as pay
masters Secretary Alger is expected to
| communicate with Congress on the subject,
| as legislation Is necessary before the in
| crease can be authorized. Twenty-three OK
| the paymasters of the volunteer army out
| of fifty authorized by law, have been APP
pointed General Stanton has also sub
mitted estimates aggregating $SO,OOO,OOO for
| the payment of the regular and volunteer
| army for the six months beginning July
| and ending Der. -, on the basis of the
number of volunteers already called for and
the regular army a its war strength
Walter S. Barker. who was the American
consul at Eagua la Grande. Cuba, 1t Is un-
| derstood, is to- be commissioned as colonel
| of an immune regiment to be sent to Cuba
with the first invading party. Consul Bar
| ker had a long service in Cuba and is en-
| tirely far1idar with the topography OF the
island In addition to commanding regl-
ment, Mr.. Barker is to be placed in charge
| of all the supplies to be distributed amcng
the reconcentrados. Consequently he will
be with the first of the American forces to
be landed in Cuba.
At the direction of Secretary Alger the
War Department has issued general or
der giving extracts from the treaty articles
| of the Geneva convention bearing on the
neutrality to be accorded equipments and
individuals engaged in the treatment of the
sick and wounded. In the same connection
the department published tho regulations
which have been adopted for the observance
OF the treaty and the requirements that on
persons and equipment engaged in caring
for the sick and wounded shall be dis
played the red cross. Article vi of the con-
vention says specifically that wounded or
sick soldiers shall be entertained and taken
care Of to whatever nation they may be-
long. Those who are recognized after their
wounds are healed as incapable of serving
shall be sent back to their country. Others
may be sent back on promise of not again
bearing arms during the continuance oe
war. Commanders-in-ehef are given orders
to deliver Immediately to the outposts OF
the enemy soldiers who have been wounded
in an engagement when circumstances per-
NIT this to be done.
Secretary Alger has sent to the secretary
of the treasury for transmission to Con-
gress supplemental estimates OF appropria-
tons aggregating $Ss $40 required by the
War Department for the support OF the
regular and volunteer armies of the United
States for the first six months Of the fiscal
year ending June 80 1S9s in addition to tia
amounts appropriated in the acts OF March
Is and May 4. 1895. The particular items