Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1898-06-09
SEVENTY THOUSAND.
That Many United States Troops
Will Be Sent into Cuba.
Secretary Alger 0GioIally Outlines the Cove
ernment's Plans-POrto Rico Also to
lie pled-ApprOprlation
of s3,1OT,OOO Asked for.

WASHINGTON, June 9.-For the first
time since the beginning of hostilities,
there appears to be something in the
nature of an official statement of the
plan of campaign of the United States
government. This is contained in a
letter of Secretary Alger to the speaker
of the house, transmitting certain rec
concentrations and statements of Gen.
Ludlow, which disclosed the purpose
of the war department to send 70, 900
men to Cuba, 10000 to start at once
and the remainder just as soon as they
can be made ready for departure. Then
there was an estimate for establishing
electrical communication in connec-
ton with the army ''in Cuba, Porto
Rico and the Philippines" showing for
the first time officially an implied In
piled intention on the part of the gov
eminent to land troops in Porto Rico.
The three are to go together-Cuba,
Porto Rico and the Philippines-and
pass into the military occupation OF
the United States troops.
Tells What the Money Is For.
The secretary's recommendations to
congress were for appropriations ag-
gregating SO, 100000. One recommen-
dalton is for So, 5G2, 900 of deficiency in
the appropriation for gun and mortar
batteries required Immediately for
the use of the war department, to re-
main available until expended" A
second one is for S195, 900 "for the es-
adjustment and maintenance of spe-
cial electrical communication in con-
nection with the army in Cuba, Porto
Rico and the Philippine islands,"
Then follows a significant recommen-
dation for $3.50, 900 for an expedition
airy force to Cuba required by the
war department for immediate
use" The items are as follows:
For machinery and equipment for
the construction and repair of roads,
$4,000; construction and equipment of
military railroads, $225, 200; additional
intrenching tools, electric appliances,
Photographic and topographic outfits,
instruments and maps, manuals and
for special and technical services, $780,
900; contingencies involving immedi-
ate expenditures of imperative urgency
that cannot be specified in advance, to
be expended under the direction of the
major generals commanding the army,
1000.
Railroads VIII Have to BE Built.
There are few regularly built roads
in Cuba, the principal ones being west
ward of Havana. 1t is not likely that
these roads have been kept in repair,
and it is quite certain that others must
be constructed and maintained. This
will require road making machinery, as
economizing the labor of troops and
leaving them free for the purely mill
tary work for which the numbers in
question will not be more than suf1i-
cient to equal the enemy. In addition,
special means of transportation will
be necessary, and portable three foot
gauge railroads must be provided for
on the established lines and along such
additional connecting lines as may be
feasible and eXpedient
For railways, there should be not
less than 80 miles of track and suita-
BILE equipment, which may be esti-
mated at So, 900 per mile for track and
$4,000 per mile for equipment. The
total of this item, therefore, is $685.
600. Three outfits of road-making ma
chimes, including rock quarrying and
crushing apparatus, road rollers, ditch
ers and graders will cost, at So, 900
each, S25, 900. In addition, there should
be an additional allowance of say
$4,000 for electric light, dynamite
and torpedo appliances, etc, including
the employment Of scouts, spies, etc,