The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1894-07-18
MORE TROOPS WANTED.
Congress Will Be Asked to Increase
the Regular ARMY.

WASHINGTON, July 17.-Daily reports
received at the War Department from
troops engaged In preventing disturbances
on the railroads in the West show that the
resistance of the strikers has generally
diminished from the formidable rioting TO
petty annoyance and obstruction.
General Merritt at st. Paul reports that
obstructions have been encountered on the
Great Northern road running north from
ST. Paul; likewise at LingstoD. Mont.
There is friction on all the Pacific roads.
From San Francisco General Ruger re-
pOrss that it will be necessary to send the
trains under guard for some time.
General Miles reported to headquarters
the frightful accident at Chicago yester-
day. General Miles will take steps to
ascertain how 1t occurred, and he may ap-
point a board for this purpose. AS soon
as, in General Miles judgment, 1t will be
advisable to do so the regular troops now
in Chicago will be withdrawn, but until
General Miles so recommends no sugges-
tion and no outside requests will have any
effect with the authorities here.
The history of the Chicago riots has
confirmed in official circles here the belief
in the sOundness of General Schofeld's
favorite policy of consolidating the troops
at great central points near the large
cities. 1t is tbs intention now 10 carry
out this idea as far as practicable. The
first manifestation of this decision will be
at Chicago, for although the troops will
be withdrawn from the city, they will go
to Fort Sheridan, fifteen miles distant
and none of the companies, batteries and
troops that have been brought to Chicago
from eastern and western points will be
sent back to their posts. They will consti-
tute the permanent garrison of Fort Sheri-
dan, which, with this powerful force so
located as to be easily and quickly marched
to Chicago or to any point of distur bance.
W i'll become one of the first units of the
new system of army posts.
Unless Congress shall provide for a sub
stantial increase of the regular army, this
may involve the practical abandonment of
manV Of the smaller posts in the West.
NEW YORK, July IA Worlds special
from Boston says: Major General j. NJ.
Schofeld, commanding the United States
Army, arrived in Boston tonight on his
way to Bar Harbor. In conversation with
a correspondent he said that the late
strike in Chicago had caused him to
modify somewhat his views expressed in
recently published article signed by him.
in which he had taken the ground that
small but well-dsciplined army. with bet
ter coast defense, would be sufficient to
protect the country from invasions. The
question Of interior disturbances had not
been raised at that time.
The general said: Il think, upon con-
sidering the events which have recently
taken place, that an increase of the
army's force is needed. Several thousand
men should be added at once. A small
army well disciplined is obviously superior
to a large one i'll trained. but a larger
army well drilled is now almost absolutely
required"
CHICAGO. July H. - Governor Altgeld
and Mayor Hopkins endeavored to-day to
have General Miles withdraw the regulars,
but the latter did not believe the time had
vet come.