Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1899-08-24
A MILITARY ORDER.
War Department Inaugurates a New
System Of Depot Battalions.
The CONDITIONS in PORTO RICO,
Ten. Davis Gives Additional Detalls About
the Work Of the Recent Hurri-
cane-Number Of Home
less People.

Washington, Aug. 23.-The order fol
bringing to the United States five bat
talions of soldiers serving in Cuba
published at the war department yes
terday establishes depot battalions, Q
system that has not been known in the
United States army heretofore. The
order also provides that troops, batter.
les and companies will hereafter be
formed into battalions in alphabetical
order, except that the light and siege
batteries, being mounted, will not be
placed in any battalion. The troops
ordered from Cuba are known as depot
battalions and are to be stationed as
1ollows' Battalion +, First infantry,
AZ Fort Leavenworth, KAN; Second in
1antry at Fort Thomas, KY. Fifth in
iantry' at Fort Sheridan, Ill.,; Eighth
infantry, at Fort Smelling, Mimi;
Tenth infantry, at Fort Crook, Neb
while these are known as depot bat
talions, those remaining in Cuba will
be known as active batalions. The
order continues:
ollcers and enlisted men who are unfit for
outy with the active battalons will be trans
ierreu 10 the depot battalion and sufficient
NUMBER OF officers and enlis ted men will, II pos
Side De transferred to the active battalions To
Dflhg them up to maximum strength prior tn
ene departure OF the depot battalions and there
hiter when regiment has depot battalion
ohioers ana enlisted men, grade for grade as
nearly us possible will be transferred between
the active and depot battalions upon the recon. |
mendation Of reglmental commanders and to |
.he station OF the headquarters Of the depot
oa'tai'oh VIII he sent all recruits, invalds, and
other transients pertaining to the respective
regiments.
THE CONDITIONS IN PORTO RICO.
washington, Aug. GA cable dis.
patch has been received at the war de-
partment from Gen. Davis giving addi-
lional details Of the conditions in Porto
Rico. He SAYS:
hatlons from Nuevitas may be unloaded In
Quarantine but 1t seems to me supply can easier
'ome from states, the fear OF yellow fever from
.uoa making extra precautions necessary,
,ress reports that Porto Ricans refused TO dis.
harge relief supplies without double nav are
'htrue' MACPHERSON arrived Saturday after
ooh una unloading proceeded Sunday morning
JOCK hands refused work without customary
sunday pay. Soldiers of Porto Rican battalion
olunteered to take their places, but lonpshore.
leh returned to work when they learned the
azure OF supplies on board and unloading was
onpie'ed BY them, Some refused any nav
'hatever Their original strike was
ue to Misrepresentation. Stories that
loorers In the interior refused to work be.
iuse they are to be fed by the government is
rincipally sensational talk and Mysteries,
IN resolve this matter easily, as no issues will
made to those able to work unless they do 40
argo OF MACPHERSON has been forwarded to ,
stributng centers and part was issued yester.
" evening, In u few limited areas the coffee
half safe remaining areas the crop is almost
tally ruined and the trees so injured that next I,
'ar's crop will not exceed 30 per cent. average.
lnanas furnished one-half the food and sweet 1
'tatoes, beans, rice corn and vans all of which /
green here supplied the other half to 80 per /
nt Oh the Inhabitants. All the bananas beans. |,
% ana corn IRE destroyed and half the pota.
es. now estimate over 1000 dead and 100 OOO I
ngry, one-half this number being homeless a
niger will Increase rather than diminish for
my weeks :.
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