Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1899-03-09
CUBAN AFFAIRS.
Troops on Island to Be Reduced
to About 5000 Men.
That Means that About 10000 voIun-
teers are Coming Home.
Perculiar Rates Of Exchange Spanish Ru
mors Of Ouirases by cubans.

Washington, March S.-Orders were
issued at the war department. today
for the 18th New York Infantry, now
at Matanzas, Cuba, to take passage on
the transport Berlin for New York
City, where it win be mustered out
This is the beginning of a general
movement for the muster out of all the
volunteer troops stationed in Cuba and
indicates that the administration be
Iieves that the time has come when
1t can safely reduce it's military forces
in Cuba. The homeward movement
will have to be graded as the transpor-
tation facilities at the. demand of the
war department.
There are now about $4,000 volunteers
In Cuba. and their withdrawal will leave
about 5000 regular troops there for
the enforcement of the policy of the
administration for the establishment
of a stable government on the island.
The volunteer troops now on garri-
son duty in Cuba and under muster
out orders includes the following Or
ganiSa lions;
End Illinois, lGOth Indiana. 4th
Illinois, 1Glst Indiana. 9Th Illinois. 49th
Iowa, 3rl Kentucky, 31st Michigan.
End Louisiana, 9th Missouri, Sth Mass
achusetts, 18th New York, LIST North
Carolina, 3rd Nebraska. End South Car
olina,, 4th Tennessee. 4th Virginia.
list Texas, 9Th Ohio, the End and 3rd
United States Volunteer Engineers,
the end and 5th United States Volun-
teer Infantry and the End, 3rd, 18th,
l2th,, 13th, 18th. 10th and nth COM
pAnies Of the Signal Corps.
AS yet no orders have been issued
for the muster out Of these regiments
with the exception Of the 18th New
York. but it is expected that formal
orders will be issued in the case Of all
the organizations named within the
next few days. Under the present
plans of the department it is expected
that all of the volunteer troops will be
withdrawn from Cuba. before the first
Of May, and so escape the dangers of
the fevers which make the country
such an undesirable place Of residence
during the summer.
The officials of the administration
express satisfaction at the present po-
lltical state of affairs in Cuba and are
confident of continuance of the pre-
vailing peace and good order. The
lTOOpS are 10 Ue W1tItuI dWH VII thC
theory that there is no longer need of
their services in that country and that
the question of government will work
out themselves without the presence of
large military force. Consequently
there is no present purpose of replacing
the volunteers with regular troops but
such a course of action will be taken
only in case it becomes necessary for
the execution of the administration S
policy.
The I'd United States Regular In
fantry has been at Admission, La, for
several weeks under orders to proceed
to Cuba and it is expected that the regi-
ment will make the trip in a short time.
So far as known no other troops are
intended for service on the island dur
ing the coming summer. But one or
two artillery regiments will be held in
reserve at points on the Atlantic coast
for such service, in case some of the
regulars i'm Cuba have to be brought
home for change Of climate or rein
forcements should become necessary.