Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-05-10
MOVEMENT OF TROOPS.


our government is showing tremendous
energy in mobiizng its military forces
First. there is going on a concentration
Of regulars and volunteers on the Pacific
Coast for transportation to- and service
I'm the philippine Islands. And some OF
the newspapers venture the opinion that
about 25 OOO will be needed for that SER
vice. So they may be, but the moving or
that number from San Francisco 10
Manila would be an immense under
taking We cannot believe we are pre-
pared for IT, If we succeed in getting
1900 off in the next thirty days we shall
be doing very well indeed.
There is no lack Of men or OF material
of war. but there is lack of ships. and
inasmuch as Manila is about $500 miles
from San Francisco. a great number OF
transports viii be required. Between
Florida and Cuba our vessels may 90 or
come i'm less than a day. but it is
twenty days journey from California to
the Philippines However, we may rest
assured that the President will do the
bsst he can to reinforce Admiral Dewey,
and though the work will be necessarily
slow. we may depend upon it it will be
sure.
The other point OF concentration is
Chickamauga. which is near Chatts-
nooga. Not until Sunday was it deter
mined to assemble very great body of
troops at Chickamauga. but numbers Of
Governors have now been directed to
have their States regiments prepared
10 go there at once.
Without a doubt the President expects
Commodore SIMPSONS fleet TO crush or
hold off the Spanish fleet. and that done
Cuba will be open for us to invade. And
this Invasion, il now seems is not to be
made by "A small force but by one so
large that it will be-.overwhelming. We
think we see something of Fitz Lees
hand--Or advice. rather-in the energetic
and resolute purpose that the administra-
ton now manifests with respect to the
invasion of Cuba.
The mobilization Of fifty or sixty thou
sand men at Chickamauga cannot be
effected in a few weeks. Mighty as our
government is and much money as it has
a
great army. Until yesterday 1t had not
been able to furnish all the camp equi-
page needed for the camp of rem
devious here! Judging from this fact
we should say we will not be able to
pour our whole army into Cuba for a
month or two TO come. There are. how
ever. about ten or twelve thousand regu-
lars ready to start, and so soon as they
are landed there the work of taking the
volunteer regiments over may begin
Those regiments that are ready to 70
first will, we suppose be brigaded to-
gether and hurried over. That this sys
TEN of brigadng will cause discomfort
we know full Well; but in the army. Off
GERS and soldiers are expected To obey
orders. nor ask the reason why.
The Dispatch, OF course, wishes TO see
our three regiments of infantry brigaded
together, but If we are disappointed IN
this desire we shall be no worse off than
other States will be. Virginia is not The
only state that wishes its troops 10 he
kept together in one body our best plan
10 have our regiments brigaded together
ganization and TO drill so necessarily
that we may show the authorities that
We are ready TO so to the front together
Besides. General Lee will be pretty COR
tain To command one of the army corn.
and We may depend upon il that ne Yin
do us any Kindness in his power mn, a.
consistent with his duty.
So we may Nay the outlook il for
good deal OF active service for the ,ol,,,,
teers. Yet thousands Of them NAV No..
go farther from home than chto,.,
manga, but chickamauga will be- an -,
mense camp where there will be much -
see aud much 10 learn. There are ~.
sands Of acres IN the national park thero
ana the place is beautifully sitpatod
Tor summer encampment. Some =,
we southern papers have. however in
ouiged IN much criticism OF the folly .,
mooiiizing our army there. They boo,
81 the idea Of sending regiments to Chick,