Portland gazette and Maine advertiser., 1808-03-14

at future day OF the sc sslon.
Ifan increase of force be now APPROX
ed, submit to their consideration the
out lines OF plan proposed in the in
closed letter from the secretary ofwar.
recommend to the attention of Con-
gress the term at which the act of April
10, 1906, concerning the militia will
expire, and the effect of that expira-
ton. TIL. JEFFERSON.
Feb. 2s, 1903.
The accompanying documents con-
slst of letter from the Secretary Of
War, to the President, with two detail
ed statements.
The letter follows:
Wqr DEPARTMENT, FEB. "a, 1908.
TO THE President, sc.
SIR,
| take the liberty Of suggesting,
whether under existing circumstances,
It would not be advisable, to propose to
Congress an augmentation of our regu-
lar troops, as soon as practicable and
also the engaging x organizing of TWEEN
ty-tour thousand volunteers, on the
principles have had The honour Of pro
posing for your consideration, the gen
eral outlines of which arc contained in
the paper marked No. /.
The number irregular troops would
propose being raised Immediately, is
six thousand, to he compose d of suitable
proportions ofinfantry, artillery, caval-
ry, and rihemeB, and organized as stat
ed In the enclosed paper marked No 2.
4 may BE- presumed that previous 10
the close Of the present session, Con
greSs will be possessed fsuch farther
Information IN regard to our foreign
relations, as will b necessary for form
IHg an ulim tie opinion on the expedi-
ency or inexpedicncy of a greater aug
mentation Of our army than is propos-
I'd and in the mean Tins measures
may be taken for the recruiting service
IN different parts of the u. States.
Ia the event Of war, il will, presume,
be considered necessary to arrange our
military force into separate depart
mlnJs, and to have commander TO
each departm mt, and Of course, ID have
no such officer as a comm ander in
chief; and until larger army shall be
raised than is proposed, it may not be
advisable to have any officers above
the rank of Brigadier General ;-ofthat
grade It may be prope- to have four or
five. as soon as suitable proportion Of
the troops is raised With sentiments,
&c SC. III. DEARBORN.
In consequence of this the President,
by message, requested Congress to
raise the above troops.
Tie following is the plan, for the inn
mediate organization OF military force,
as laid before Congress.
PLAN.
Iii proposed for the consideration
OF congress, to raise as soon as practiblc,
six thousand regular troops; and to
have engaged in the several states,
twenty-four thousand volunteers, VINO
shall serve twelve months in any TWEEN
ty four months, within thc time Of Eve
years, to BE- armed and equipped by the
United States, and to be regularly en-
camped in their respective states from
TWO % three months each year, and
exercised under tine direction ofinspec-
tors 10 be appointed by the President of
the W. Atates' To receive pay and RAJ
tons, and be furnished with Camp e.
qmpagc, and TO receive one suit of uni
form clothing once in three or four
years he officers, except the inspec-
tors and pay masters, TO be appointed
Dythe respective states the pay annu-
ally 70 commence the day they march
tor their respective encampments, and
continue until their return home, allow
ing one day for each twenty miles
march 10 and from the encamDmont 4:
no corPorael punishment to be inflicted.
but all offences to be punished by close
onhnement, and short allowance, or
mes, or both; the time Of confinement
not to exceed thirty DAYS, and the fines
net 70 exceed the pay may be due !:
commissioned officers to be governed
by rules and articles ofwar, established
Tor the regular army the twenty-four
thousand to1be apporloned in the sew