Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1898-04-22
BREAKS UP MILITARY REGI-
MENTS.

The Hull army reorganization bill
has given rise to much discussion among
military men in the State. The bill
provides for the temporary increase OF
the army. 1t makes all able-bodied
citizens and foreigners who have declar
ed their intention of becoming citizens
liable to military duty.
1t also musters the militiamen into
service just as any volunteer would be
enrolled, and this is what the guards
men are mostly complaining about.
The plan of the United States War De-
partment is to break up the regimentsl
organization of the State troops and
merge the men into the United States
army regardless of their present
standing.
Militia officers say it will do much to
make the raising of troops difficult If
the plan is carried out. They think
that the integrity of the regi-
ments should be preserved. The regi.
ments should be accepted as whole
and sworn in as volunteer regiments Of
L nited States troops, as they were at
the opening of the civil war. They say
that when the men take the oath as
United States soldiers they will then be
subject to the orders of the President
and the commanding officers, just the
same as though they had been muster
ed individually into the United States
service. The integrity of the regiments
should be preserved if they are to do
the service they are capable of. They
want their own officers, the men whom
they know, whom they have worked
under and in whom they have conf
dence.
Some of the Richmond military men
declare that the plan adopted for en-
listment was prompted by northern
diplomatists who desire to segregate
the southern regiments so as to place
northern officers in command of the
new organizations that would be form
ed of the volunteers.
The report that southern volunteers
only would be sent to Cuba, for the rea-
son that they are supposed to be more
acclimated, is responsible for some dis.
play of bitterness, and the protests are
loud and very emphatic.
A letter from Richmond says: There
is trouble brewing in military circles
here. The men and officers are by no
means satisfied with the plan mapped
out for mastering them into federal SER
vice. Ii the war departments scheme
is carried out the brigade organization
will be- broken up and Gen. Phillips and
staff will have no command unless
President Mckinley should place them
in charge of brigade. Not only this,
but on the first call for troops should
companies be taken from each of the
four regiments the regimental organiza
ton will be broken up. The military
men, as rule, favoring ordering out a
regiment intact so as to preserve its or.
ganization.
The Hull bill, which has passed Con-
gress, originally provided that the Of
ticers of volunteer forces should be ap-
pointed by the President, and this Gre
st ID ble most intense opposition among
Virginia soldiers, who did not desire to
have regular army officers appointed to
command companies, battalions and
regiments. The adoption of an amend
nent providing that the commission of
all regimental officers should be in the
hands of the governors of the States re-
moves this objection. The assurance
that the troops will retain their old Of
Gcers, and that their present organza-
ton will remain intact, has had a good
effect upon the passengers,