New-York tribune., 1906-09-20
ORDERS GENERALS HOME
var Department Will BE Ready to
Back Up Secretary Taft.
lFrom The Tribune Bursau-I

lfrom The Tribune Rursau1
washington. Sept. 1s.-The War Department
Is assiduously needing washington's Injunction.
In time Of peace prepare for war;" and every
preparation possible. with the single exception Of
mooilizng troops is being made.
General Bell chief of staff. said to-day that
the preparations were merely tentative. but that
II would be unwise for the department TO be un-
prepared in case military action became neces-
sary.
To this end the quartermaster's department
has been buying horses and mules In the West
ern market. and will continue 10 do until a
sufficient amount OF livestock is accumulated.
General Bell to-day ordered Generals Barry
and Duvall who are abroad attending the Ger
man military manGuvres. to return TO their re-
spective stations
General Barry is chief assistant to the chief of
stan and General Duvall is in command of the
Department OF the Gulf where the troops would
rendezvous were an invasion of Cuba ordered
No mobilization of troops will be ordered unless
orders are received from the Secretary OF War.
The general staff has furthermore issued or
ders for the printing OF considerable number
of military maps OF Cuba 10 be issued 10 officers
In the event of an emergency. These maps were
prepared some time ago. but have not hitherto
been printed.
The general stan has dispatched orders TO the
transports in the Philippines and those route
TO the United States TO proceed with haste. as
they may be needed here.
General Bell deprecates the idea that the War
Department expects that there will be hostilities
or even any necessity of sending few troops
20 Cuba Nevertheless. he belives it only the
part OF wisdom for the department TO stand
ready TO back up Secretary Taft's persuasive
eloQuence with just the proper amount OF force
Young officers for command in Cuba. in case
the army is sent there. is the plan practically
decided upon by the War Department authori-
ties. General Frederick Funston probably will
be in command. and his chief Heutenants are
likely to be Brigadier Generals Thomas H. Barry
and William p. Duval-
While the State Department has been informed
unoficially Of the arrival at Havana to-day OF
Secretary Taft and Assistant Secretary OF State
Bacon. official advices had been received at
the department UP 10 the hour OF closing. In
fact. no communications of any nature from
Cuba were received during the day by Acting
Secretary OF State Adee.
II was said at the State Department TO be un-
likely that either Secretary Taft or Mr.. Bacon
would communicate with the department on
matters relating TO their mission in Cuba. What
ever they may have 20 communicate will be sent
direct TO President Roosevelt, as they constitute
a special Presidential mission. which is quite
independent OF the Department of State.
Acting Secretary of State Adee got into COM
rnunication with Assistant Secretary Bacon
while the Des Moines was en- route 10 Havana.
The dispatch was sent from Washington TO Key
West and the wireless station there succeeded
in picking up the Des Moines at sea and COM
municating the telegram TO Mr.. Bacon No
answer however. was received.
The State Department was informed to-day by
the owner of a plantation near santo Domingo.
Cuba, that the Cuban insurgents had seized
twelve OF his horses. The telegram came from
the owner. who resides at Grand Rapids. Mich.
His name was not made public. The informa-
ton was cabled by the State Department 10 Min
lister Morgan at Havana for a report.