The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1898-04-15
ARMY is MOI READY
ONLY 10000 OR 10000 MEN COULD
he LANDED IN CuBA.
II Would Take Week 10 Get Those
Few Over There - Plans of
Organization Discussed.

New York, April 15.--If war should be
brought about within the next few day,
the United States could send to Cuba no,
Washington correspondent of the Times
Is estimated that 1t would take more than
is now about 1900 men, but ut least 1000
would have 10 man the coast fortiiicatlons
and the heavy artillery which the militia
used for this purpose could not handle 1t
Is estimated that 1t would take more than
a week to land even this small force in
Cuba.
OF course It would take very much longer
TO get together an army OF volunteers.
Militia is out OF the question, in the opin-
ion of army officers II would require
several weeks to organize, clothe, arm and
drill In the necessary army evoutions "a
body of volunteers large enough to consti-
tute an effective fighting force in the East.
I he campaign that Will probably be iol-
lowed Is therefore TO form an immediate
junction with the revoltE ionary armies.
equip them by furnishing them with arms
and ammunition and carry on Il Joint at
tack ON the Spanish forces about Havana.
In this way 1t Is thought tnat some de-
cisiye advantage could be gained over the
Spanish. foothold obtained and held until
the arrival OF reinforcements OF volunteers
would enable the American and Cuban
forces to sweep the Spanish armies out Of
the island. The regular army of 10000 to
10000 effective troops, ii is thought would
he ample for this purpose.
Ii would be perfectly safe to land them
in Cuba, as in all cases the revolutionary
forces and effectiveness would then be
doubled and ii Is quite probable that these
forces alone would be sufficient TO dislodge
the Spaniards and free the island
1t is estimated that the Spaniards have
10000 TO 100000 and the revclutionists
have somewhere between 10000 and Co.
900 soldiers under arms. a great disparity
wculd remain, even after the landing OF
the l5c00 to 1000 American troops, as
the Spaniards would still have more than
two to one. But Gomez has said he could
put 900 men in the field II he had liheS
and ammunition for them. Army officers
are of the opinion that ii TINS country
would furnish arms and ammunition IL
could at once raise in Cuba itself an ell
feciive force of $4,000 to 100000 men Ia
operate against the Spanish armies which,
together with $4,000 to 20,Do0 regular
American troops ought to be able 10 clean
the Dons out OF Cuba In very short Or
der
The most encouraging element OF the
situation Is found in the character of the
troops with which Spain has sought to sub
jugate the Island They are raw forces,
composed of boys under 20, to large eX-
tent and without discipline or experience.
OF course, any plan of campaign that the
army is considering Involves the most en-
ergetic co operation Of the fleet OF CAPTAIN
Sampson, or at least n large part OF II,
Tho coast Of the island would have to be
swept clean OF Spanish patrol gunhoats and
the importation of any Spanish troops be
made impossible.
FOX THH PAST MONTH AND A HALE
SPAIN HAS BEEN POURING IN TROOPS
FOR JUST THE EMERGENCY THAT Is
ABOUT TO CONFRONT HER.
II is said that some Of Inc last troops
sent over are raw recruits. but the number
of seasoned soldiers now In the island Is
very small.