Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1906-09-26


thorough preparation has been made to
gel under way forthwith upon receipt OF
the departments clash" to move.
The points Of embarkation have not
vet been announced by the department,
but it is regarded as practically certain
that the bulk of the troops will sail from
New York and Norfolk. Some will 60
from southern ports The movement
from the various points will be so timed
as 10 land the first corps 10 Havana 81
simultaneously, or nearly so.
Coincidentsl with the embarkation OF
troops, supplies OF all kinds. clothing,
rations, ammunition, horses and mules,
will be taken aboard the vessels from the
army depots where they have been sc-
cumulated in large quantities in the
past two weeks.
No hint has yet been given as to the
particular regiments assigned for Cuban
duty. 1t is the intention of the depart
ment to keep this feature secret until
the positive orders 20 move shall have
been issued. From the fact that the
transport Sumner, now in New York,
was placed in commission last night, it
is assumed that her quota of troops will
De drawn from the forts in the neighbor-
hood of that city.
This being the only available trans.
port on the Atlantic coast, the remainder
of the Cuban army of occupation will
have TO be sent on merchant vessels.
These vessels have been selected and
are being held in readiness for charter
by the department. 1t is understood
that the plan TO use the small harbor
vessels owned by The army has been
abandoned and that only large ships will
be employed
Following the departure Of the first
expedition, preparations will be set on
foot Immediately for the dispatch OF a
second should conditions seem to war
rant it.
Although Brigadier General Funston,
who has now reached the Cuban capt.
tai. has been chosen for immediate COM
mand ofthe troops in Cuba, it is possible
that in the event Of sending second
expedition Brigadier General j. Frank
lin Bell, Chief OF staff, will supersede
| him.
10 accordance with the Navy Depart
ment's orders of yesterday Gas exclusive
" detailed in these dispsIches), |, 800
marines and 5000 sailors will be
on their way by tomorrow morning on
battleships and cruisers of the North
Atlantic feet, to re-enforce those already
at Havana, so that by Sunday there will
be in the harbor six battleships and six
cruisers, capable of landing force OF
10, 900 men.
Orders were received by the War De-
partment today from the President at
Oyster Bay to have the army ready
to go to Cuba on the shortest notice.
1t will take seven days from the time
actual orders are received by the War
Department to send an army to Cuba
before the troops, vino are now in readi-
ness for active duty, can be embarked
! from this country for the soil OF Cuba.
| This delay, which is causing the officials
of the War Department much concern,
is entirely due to lack of adequate trans
| portation facilities.
The positive statement was made by
authority at the War Department this
morning that armed intervention in
Cuba would mean that every soldier OF
the regular army nov stationed in The
United States would have to be used.
10 other words, the War Department is
proposing to send an army OF not less
than 40, 900 men TO Cuba.
Brigadier General Frederick Funston
will not, as has been generally under
stood, be in supreme command of the
army of occupation in Cuba. He will be
one of the general officers sent there, but
an officer OF higher rank,--a major gen.
eral- would certainly be in chief com
mand.
Col. Littleton w. T. Waller, who is
to command the entire force of marines
detailed for duty in Cuba, will leave
Norfolk, Va, this afternoon for Havana.
He is under hurry orders.
Colonel Isanc r. Hill, for thirty FIVE
years connected with the House of Re-
representatives. ia some official capacity,
died at his apartmentsin this city yester-
day. from complication of kidney and
heart trouble. Colonel Hill has been
known TO every member of Congress for
generation as 'Ike Hill, of Ohio. "
Away back in The 70's he came 10 Wash
ington as doorkeeper in the House.
Each succeeding congressman from the
old Newark district found it the part OF
wisdom TO keep in touch with Hill, and
to heed his homely admouitious as COM
ing from a father. Gradually Hill be-
came fixture in the House. No mat
ter which party was in power he remain
ed on the pay roll Perhaps no man
With lifelong connection with the
democratic leaders Of the country enjoy
ed a greater popularity. He served many
times az sergeant-at-arms at national
democratic conventions, in which position
he gas regarded as invaluable because of
his wide acquaintance with public men
and newspaper correspondents. He
knew practically every man who had
had public career or who had been a
ire9uenter of political gatherings. Col.
Hill was G picturesque character among
democrats for generation aud enjoyed
a rare reputation as narrator OF good
stories. As political prognOsiiestor he
had an enVisble reputation. He always
spoke of the republicans as the "aboli-
tionists," but bis quaint humor that
caused him to delight ia remarks about
the proceedings Of Congress asd menbers
was never employed 10 any offensive man