Abilene weekly reflector., 1898-07-07
ABOUT DISCHARGES.
A Ruling Concerning Enlisted Men
Who Want 10 Quit the Service.
SCORES OF APPLICATIONS RECEIVED.
The War Department Beaieged-The Ques.
tion Of What to Do with the Spanish
Prisoners Causing some Perplexity
to Washington AuthOrltieA.

VAbhlNdION, JuIy V-ocorcs VI uP
plications for the discharge Of enlisted
men in the army have been received at
the war department They comefrom
fathers and mothers, from wives and
friends, all OF whom are bringing every
possible element Of influence to bear
to have their requests granted. Sena-
tors and representatives have urged
the requests upon the department, and
the war officials have expended q lot
Of time and patience in investigating
the cases brought to their attention.
In order that q clear understanding
may be had by the public con-
cerning the matter Of discharges
from the army. Assistant Secre-
tary Of War Meiklejohn yesterday
rendered decision which will be the
guide in the future for action by the
department on applications for dis
charge from the service. The secre-
tary desires 1t to be understood dis.
tinctly that all such applications must
be made to the war department
through the regular military channels.
Satisfactory evidence that an enlisted
man is under IS years Of age will en-.
title him to be discharged upon ap-
but enlisted men between
the ages Of IS and As will be required
to present perfectly satisfactory rea-
sons for the discharges for which they
may apply. The decision OF Assistant
Secretary Meiklejohn is embodied in
the following, which will be published
In general orders to the army:
Under the act to provide for temporarily in
creasing the military establishment in states
in time Of war, approved April 70, 1898, the age
limits for soldiers Of the national forces are
fixed at IS and 45 years Persons not less than
IS nor more than 40 years Of age enlisting In
the volunteer army and possessing the other
qualifications mentioned in the act are legally
enlisted Upon application to the secretary Of
war and satisfactory proof that any volunteer
soldier Is under the age Of 49, he will be dis
charged Minors over Is years Of age are not
entitled to discharges, but meritorious cases
will be considered The applications for dis
charge must be made through military chan
nels to the secretary Of war. Attention Is
called to paragraphs 970 and vi, army regula-
tiOns
OUR SPANISH PRISONERS.
WASHINGTON, July 6.-The question
OF what disposition to make Of the
Spanish prisoners taken by the United
States forces is causing the war de-
partment some perplexity. The mat
ter was under discussion yesterday,
but Secretary Alger said no conclusion
had been reached as to the steps to be
taken. 1t is realized that the naval
prisoners cannot be kept long aboard
ship. They must be gotten off before
active operations are taken by Samp-
sons feet against the shore batteries.
1t has been suggested that the prison.
ers be loaded on the transports avail
able, and that the vessels be anchored
we'll out in the water pending their
final disposition. One suggestion
which the army officials have under
consideration is the establishment
near Skaters army Of camp
where both the army and navy prison.
ers may be located. A suggestion that
1t might be In good taste to bring Ad-
miral Cervera and his staff to Wash
ington, where they could be placed on
parole, meets with some favor in army
circles, though it is very questionable
whether such action will be taken.
The suggestion that the Spanish pris.
oners be brought to the United States
is sure to meet with objection from
those who are fearful that this will in
crease the danger Of the Importation
of yellow fever.