Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-09-26

All hope of a peaceful settlement of the
Cuban disturbance seems to have dlsap-
peared and Washington officials are act
ing on the supposition that the United
States must inevitably take 4 hand. 1t Is
assumed that the marine forces now on
their way to Cuba and those preparing
to embark for Havana will make the ini-
tial moves on Cuban soil and prepare for
the reception OF troops Which it is gen.
orally conceded the War Department must
send within Il short time unless there be an
unexpected change in the Cuban situation.
Both the War and Navy Departments
are making every preparation today for
any emergency which may arise in Cuba.
Assistant Secretary Newberry OF the Navy
Depa rtmcnt and Rear Admiral Converse
chief of the bureau of navigation, have
been in conference repeatedly, and in the
War Department the acting secretary
General Oliver, and the chief of staff,
Brigadier General Bell, have been confer
ring with officers Of the general staff and
completing prepare tons necessary in ease
the United States interyenes in Cuba.
The Army Ready to Move.
The army is in complete state of readt-
ness to move as soon as the President gives
the word. The officers and the troops which
will form the first expedition have been
selected and tl.ey have been fully prepared
to move at once Owing to the lack of
transports there was some difficulty in the
matter of water transportation, but that
has now been overcome by the charter of
several merchant steamers ard there is no
longer any trouble on that score. AS one
high official put it this morning: The army
is completely ready to go to Cuba and Will
jaoS
Bids were opened yesterday at a number
of western points for several thousand
horses and mules to be supplied to the army
within fifteen days, and the War Depart
mcnt is overlooking no detail which would
assist the troops in case they be called upon
for service in Cuba. Unlimited supplies are
available at number of eastern depots.
At Philadelphia the army has Sufficient uni
forms TO meet the demand Of an expedition
to Cuba. and other supplies are stored at
eastern depots where they can be had with
little delay.
Fifteen Hundred Marines to Go.
Fifteen hundred more American marines
have been ordered TO Cuba by the Navy
Department. Five hundred marines from
the Atlantic fee. sailed today on the bat
tleships Indiana ard Kentucky from
will sail tomorrow from Boston, Norfolk
and Philadelphia, and the remainder will
probably leave southern ports for Havana
in a day or two.
Orders were first issued Cor 1000 marines
from the various stations along the At
lantic coast to proceed to Cuba but fol-
lowing dispatches from Secretary Taft in
dicating that he had little hope OF an
smicable settlement of the troubles in
Cuba, 500 additional marines from the
North Atlantic fleet were ordered 20 Cuba.
In addition TO the marines there will be
nearly 1900 more bluejackcts sent 10 Cuba.
AS there are now ,20o marines in Cuba
and over 1850 bluejacllets when the ves-
sells sailing this week arrive i'll Havana
the United States will be ready to land
a force OF more than 1000 on Cuban soil.
The warships which will sail tomorrow
are the cruiser Brooklyn. at League Island
navy yard, Philadelphia, and the converted
| cruiser Prairie, which is at Boston. The
| Prairie will carry marines from Ports
mouth y. H.; Boston and Newport, r. l.
On the Brooklyn will be marines from
! the New York navy yard, from League Is
| land, Port Royal, S. c.; Annapolis Wash
iugton Norfolk and Charleston. The
| cruiser Columbia. on which Secretary Root
! is returning to this country from Colom-
/ bia, will be available for the transportation
| of troops Immediately after his transfer
| to smaller ship al the mouth of the PO-
| tomac. 1t is expected that the Columbia
will be available for the use OF troops not
later than Tuesday next.
Col. Waller to Command.
Col. Lttleton W. T. Waller of the -na-
! rine Corps, commanding the marine bar
racks at Norfolk, who is TO direct the
movement OF ali marines in Cuba, was Or
dered today TO proceed at once from Nor
| folk 20 Havana and make preparations
| for the direction of the movements of ma
| rines ordered to Cuba. Col. Waller is ex-
| pected to leave Norfolk today for Key
| West or any other Florida port where he
| can make the quickest connection with a
| Havana steamer. He was directed by
| Brig General G. F. Elliott, conma3dant Of
| the Marine Corps, to assume immediate
| command of all the marines in Cuba upon
| his arrival there. and to prepare for the or
| ganzatlon Of the additional marines who
| will arrive next week.
| Several changes have been made in the
| plans for moving the marines who are In
| tho south. Orders have been issued for the
| marines at Pensacola 10 proceed to Mobile
ard take the first available merchant
! steamer for Havana. 1t is not expected
! that these marines will sail before Satur-
| day. The Key West marines also have
| been directed to take the first steamer SAIL
| ing from that port ior Havana, and the