The Portland daily press., 1899-03-09
FORCES TO Be REDUCED.
Volunteers In Cuba TO BE Mustered
Ont.
WITHDRAWAL WILL LEAVE ABOUT
5000 REGULARS.

| This Force Deemed sumctent TO mntn-
tain Order-OmcisIs Express satis-
faction at Present Condition Of
Affairs on the Island.
Washington, March S.-Orders were Is
sued at the war department today for the
tl2th New York infantry, now at Matan-
zas Cuba, to take passage on the trans.
port Berlin for New York city, where It
will be mustered out This Is the bsgin
ming of the movement for the muster out
of the volunteer troops stationed In
Cuba and indicates that the administra
tion believes that the time has como when
II can safely reduce it's military forces
In Cuba. The homeward movement will
have to be gradual because Of the limited
transportation facilities now at the dis
posal of the war department.
There are now about %, 600 volunteers
in Cuba and their withdrawal will leave
about 5000 regular troops there for the
tration for the establishment OF stable
government on the island. The volunteer
troops now on garrison duty In Cuba and
under muster out orders, include the
following organizations: Second Illinois,
i60th Indiana. Fourth Illinois. l6lst In
diana, Ninth Illinois, 49th Iowa, Third
Kentucky, 3lst Michigan Second Louisi-
ana, Sixth Missouri, Eighth Massachu-
sets, 18th New York. second South Caro-
lima, Fourth Tennessee. Fourth Virginia.
First Iexas sixth Ohio, the second and
VTnitad Stuf.s ynlu m fha SQr-
ond and Filth United States volunteer
infantry. and the Third. 1ith, 18th, 18Th.
10th ani 10th and l7th companies 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
1t is expected that formal orders will be
issued in the case Of all the organ cations
named within the next few days.
Under the present plans Of the depart
ment 1t is expected that all OF the volun
teer troops will be withdrawn from Cuba
by or before the first of May and so
escape the dangers of the fevers which
make that country such an undesirable
place of residence during the summer.
he officials of the administration sx-
press satisfaction at the present state OF
political affairs n Cuba and are confident
of continuance of the prevailing peace
ami good order i he troops are to be
Withdrawn On bDb lDbuTl tuhb tHclC ir
no longer need of their services In
that country and that the question of
government will work out themselves
without the presence of a large military
force. Consequently there is no present
purpose of replacing the volunteers with
regular troops. but such course OF
action will be taken only in case / t be-
comes necessary for the executive OF the
administrations policy. The Second
United St3tes regular infantry has been
at Admission, Ala, for several weeks, un-
der orders to proceed to Cuba, and 1t is
expected that the regiment will make
the "trip i'll a short time. 80 far as known
no other troops are intended for service
on tne island during the coming summer
But one or two arti ,lery regiments will
be held 10 reserve at points nD the ATTAIN
tic coast for such service in case some
OF the regulars in Cuba have to be
brought home Tor a change of climate or
r. Inducements should become necessary.