Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 19, Number 65, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 22 April 1898 — OFF FOR THE FRONT. [ARTICLE]

OFF FOR THE FRONT.

Big Detachments of Troops Are Moving Southward. TO RENDEZVOUS AT VARIOUS POINTS, Lstien with Flowers and Eneoura*ed< by Cheers, the Boys in Bine Depart—Cull for 80,000 Men to Be Issued. Washington, April 20.—The three branches of the regular army, infantry, cavalry and artillery, began their movement toward the mobilizing points in the south from all part* of the United States Tuesday. The four points to which the army moves are Chickamauga battlefield, Tampa, New Orleans and Mobile. As soon as reaching those places they will go into camp. Advance agents of the department have preceded the troops and made all necessary arrangements for their comfort and convenience. The troops carry 30 days’ rations and a number of rounds of ammunition. Off for the Front. Cincinnati, April 20. —Thousands upon thousands of deeply moved and keenly interested spectators witnessed the remarkable ovation given the Sixth United States infantry on its departure Tuesday for Tampa. It was a spontaneous outpouring of the people glad to give expression to the deep feeling in favor of punishing Spain and showing a friendly spirit to Col. Cochran and the soldiers of his command. The streets were lined with school children, with flags and the entire line of march was marked by incessant cheers. The regiment in full marching order was

escorted by the high school cadets, the chamber of commerce and by the conimandery of the state of Ohio military Order of the Loyal Legion. Col. Cochran was overloaded with flowers and received an ovation never before shown to the commander of a regiment. St. Paul, Minn., April 20.—At two o’clock Monday afternoon the Third regiment of United States infantry left Fort Snelling for Mobile in three section* on the Milwaukee & St. Paul road, passing half an hour later through the Union depot sheds, where a crowd of several thousand people enthusiastically cheered them during their short stay. It had been planned to have them march through the city, and the public schoolchildren were to join in the greetings, but almost at the last minute those plans had to be abandoned. The Union depot sheds, adjoining streets and the bridges were crowded with people. A group of girls presented a mass of cut flowers to the soldiers, but otherwise the farewell was informal. Pensacola, Fla., April 20. —Company G, Fifth infantry, is the first of the new troops ordered here to arrive. They came in Monday from Fort McPherson barracks, Atlanta, and were immediately transferred to the barracks at Fort Barracks, which had been vacated by the troops of the First artillery sent to Fort Pickens and the batteries on Santa Rosa Island. Chattanooga, Tenn., April 20. —At Chickamauga park everything Is about in readiness for the reception of the several thousand troops due to-day. Chief Quartermaster Lee, of the department of the lakes, arrived Tuesday afternoon, and will spend the time intervening before the arrival of Gen. Brooke in arranging preliminary matters. The camping places of the various detachments have not yet been selected. Gen. .Brooke’s headquarters will probably be at the Park 'hotel. , Preparation* for War. Washington, April 20.—Military and naval preparations continued Tuesday with unabated vigor. Seven fleet steam jachts for navigation in Cuban waters were procured and several bids for steam colliers were made. The important event in the war department was the decision to enlist only national

guardsmen under the first call foi troops which will be very gratifying to the militiamen. Some idea of the cost of transporting troops may be formed from the fact that it was necessary to allot $1,000,000 Tuesday to defray ths expenses of the movements already ordered. Reports from all over the country indicated that the movements were going on with the most gratifying celerity. An allotment of funds for a balloon service shows that the war department does not propose to ignore arty of the latest scientific aids to warfare. Many applications have been made to the war department for permission to volunteer, and among men of all creeds, nationalities and politics there is an expressed intention and desire to uphold the honor and the integrity of the flag of the republic. It was stated that the first call for troops would be for 80,000 men, which, it is believed, will exhaust the entire available strength of the national guard at this time, after deducting those who are sick and otherwise incapacitated for immediate service. The total strength of the guard, as reported to the war department, is 113,764 men.