The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-04-27
GREEDY GETS MORE TROOPS.
WAR DEPARTMENT ALSO SENDS
TELEGRAM or CONFIDENCE.
Two Thousand More soldiers Ordered 10
San Francisco After Gen. Greedy FIX.
plains Why They Are Needed Message
Also Sent Approving His Action.

been an unpleasant misunderstanding be-
tween Gen. Greedy, commanding the Regular
military forces at San Francisco, n the
War Department. was headed on to-day
when Assistant Secretary of War Oliver
sent a despatch to Gen. Greedy saying that
the Department had every confidence in
Gen. Greely's judgment and discretion.
1t all came about over Gen. Greely's
request on April 90 that $500 additional
troops be sent to him Immediately. Secre-
tary of War Taft was Gu. of town then.
The Department sent a despatch to Gen.
Greedy, asking him to reconsider his recon-
mendation. pointing out What Gen. Greedy
must have ~known-that there is no law for
such Use of troops and that there were no
tents for the additional soldiers after they
got to San Francisco, In two dispatches
sent yesterday Gen. Greedy reiterated his
recommendations. The tenor Of his mes
sages was a bit harsh possibly, and to-day
Assistant Secretary Oliver, following an
order by Secretary Taft, directing 1900
troops to proceed at once to San Fran
CISCO sent the following to Gen. Greedy:
Reference your telegram April 20, desire
to say no lack of confidence in your iudg-
ment as to necessity for additional troops.
Everybody here DESTROYS of extending all
support possible to you, but Secretary of
Wal has been absent several days and |
naturally wished convincing proof of
necessity before assuming responsibility
for action involving legal questions and
about two hundred thousand dollars eX-
pense. Secretary is now back, has ordered
troops and directs me to assure you of his
confidence in your discretion and ability
to handle situation.
OLIVER,
Assistant Secretary of War"
Orders we're issued at the War Depart
ment to-day directing the movement OF
additional troops asked for by Gen. Greedy.
The following organizations were selected:
Eleventh Infantry, from Fort d. A.. Rus
sell, Wyo,: T~wenty-first Infantry, from
Fort Sheridan, ILL.,: Twenty-eighth Infantry.
headquarters band and ten compa nies),
from Fort Smelling, Mimi; First Cavalry,
from Fort Clark and Fort Sam Houston,
Tex; two squadrons Of the Eleventh
Cavalry. from Fort Dies Moines, Ia.
At hone of the posts from which these
troops will be taken has the Government
reservation been left without soldiers.
Men might have been ordered out from
JIHt SllldllSI pOSlS Vi Vic COllilliN bil IL a
deemed more advisa bic and expeditions
to send the troops in large bodies. Probably
by tomorrow night most of the regiments
TO whom orders were sent to-day will be
on the a
The dispatches from Gen, Greedy con-
corning his need of more troops came to
the Department yesterday, but were not
made public until to-day.
The first was:
Desire especially call attention OF Score
tary OF War and Chief of STAFF to necessity for
additional troops. Not only is the present
force inadequate 10 fully guard the interests
of the city. but they have been necessarily
overworked in the past and are over
taxed to-day. Distances are simply cnor-
nous and conditions demanding military
action can best be subservcd by sending
as large n force Of mounted mon as is prac-
ticable. The spirit and conduct of the troops,
officers and men has maintained the high
standing of the American army. and a con
tinuance Of physical stress and mental re-
sponsibility is not advisable in the present
high tension of affairs.
The second despatch was:
Ny request Of April % for $500 additional
troops was made after the most careful con
sheraton and is a minimum number of
ouI ~ Nii' NV 'r'Oh ~ ~
solutely essential TO comply with reasonable
requirements of civil authorities of State
and city. As before stated, tho humble Is.
only one-half that | was strongly urged to
request for.
1t is recognized that the present Use, OF
the army in the Unprecedented disaster In
California is beyond the strict letter Of the
law. and extreme caution has been ami will
be exercised 70 avoid any complications,
~. It,.t1tAn ,nt,an,anInr raalizinn tho 70
sponsibility dcvolvinS upon, him. The in
terests of the War Department have been
scrupulously guarded by insisting on re-
quests b ing reduced TO writing.
The municipal authorities are practically
helpless. their conditions having been set
forth in kilograms this morning. 1t is not
understood what are the recent develop
ments which caused the Department to con
slider the prospective conditions as favorable
to a reduced military force.
Every effort is made 10 keep in touch with
affairs everywhere through trained inspec-
tors. They report to-day conditions in the
poorest dist riot which are portentous of
difficulty unless carefully handled by conf
petent and experienced officers. Supplies
and shelter are available for additional troops.
who will be ousrtered largely in small de-
tachments at well selected points. Should
conditions render IL impracticable to furnish
entire nunber of additional troops requested
every effort will be made on the part of my
self and the rest Of the army to faithfully
and efficiently handle the situation. The
utmost conservatism consistent with efficient
aid Of the municipal authorities and the
people has been the rule.
Estimates from various sources place the
destitute between zoo. 900 and a quarter of a
million. which leaves me but one soldier
to every hundred destitute people, and the
additional force would only give two to the
hundred. While inclined myself 10 place
number somewhat below o 5000. yet the
Judgment Of others cannot be safely ignored.
hope within two or three days to have
matters so in hand as 10 state quite clearly
the situation as regards numbers. condi-
tlons, approximate expenses a day and other
factors Of vital importance. 90,
.GBEELY, Major-General Commanding
The War Department is advised that Com
panies E and F, Tenth Infantry, four officers
and 100 men, with ffty-four enlisted men of
the Fourteenth Cavalry, one hospital corps,
one contract surgeon, OF chaplain, Lieut..
Schultz and Capt Gray, Fourteenth Cavalry,
commanding, left Portland. Ore, at 240
p. NJ. April rs with ffty-seven horses for
Oakland. They will arrive at Oakland
early tomorrow.
HIT By BOTH CALAMITTES.
Back Fro IA Naples, San Francisco Woman
Hears OF Earthquake.