The Portland daily press., 1898-05-26
Came With Startlin, Unexpected.
ness to Army Officers.
WAS MADE TO GET A RESERVE
FORCE INTO SHAPE.


New Generals To BE Appointed.
Z Washington, May 25.-The event of the
day in the war situation was the issuance
OF proclamation by the President calling
for $4,000 Irore volunteers. 1t added a
new and stirring phase to the lethargic
conditions which have prevailed of late
and came with almost startling unex-
pectedness even to many of the high
officers OF the army. The proclamation
means not only the assem- bling of a large
force of troops but also the appointment
of number of major generals, brigadier
generalsrAeolonels, majors and staff and
field officers for the organization of this
additional force of $4,000 men intoSarmy
corps, divisions, brigades and regiments.
The reasons leading up to the call
naturally were subjects of much conjec-
ture. as it was at first felt that the posi-.
bility of foreign complications was fac
tor in bringing about this new move.
1t speedily developed, however, that the
call was not due to any latent or serious
emergency, but was rather in the line of
getting together large body of men to
be drilled aud seasoned, and to constitute
a sort of second reserve to be drawn upon
later when the campaigns are fully under
way.
Secretary Alger stated that the deter
mination to issue the call had not bsen
reached until late yesterday. The merits
of it have been canvassed more or less for
some weeks, but it was not until few
hours before the call itself appeared that
the move was finally decided upon.
Coming thus Unexpectedly, the war de
partment had made no preparations for
executing the call and it will be soms
days before the details are worked out as
to the quotas from each state, the calls
to the respective governors of states, the
mastering points and the general points
OF concentration.
All that is settled thus far is that the
enlistments are to be thrown open, much
as they were at the outbreak of the civil
war, and are not to be restricted to the
militia and national guard organizations
of the several states.
This will be an en- couragement to the
organization of independents volunteer
compan MES and regiments. These will re-
tain their Identity to certain extent as
state troops, as the governors will have the
appointment OF all company and regi-
mental officers, while only the brigade,
division, corps and staff officers will be
appointed by the President. While the
adjutant generals Office has not vet
undertaken to make up the quotas of the
several states, the following gives an ap.
proximate estimate of the state quotas:
A labama, 1900; Arkansas, 1890; Cali
fornia, 1880; Colorado, 1914, Connecticut,
965; Delaware, 2l0; Florida. $50; Georgia,
1905; Idaho, 1879; Illinois, 4S-9; Indiana,
25Sl; Iowa, 1864; Kansas, 1868; Kentucky,
sgl5; Louisiana, 1854 Maine, f59; Mary
land, II j6; Massachusetts. 2832; Michigan,
2622; Minnesota, 1928; Mississippi, 1895;
Missouri, 1916; Montana, 314; Nebraska,
1916; Nevada, l4s; New Hampshire, 45l;
Carolina, 1545: North Dakota, 246; Ohio.
4s49; Oregon, 377; Pennsylvania, 645O;
Rhode Island, 4z6; South Dakota, l110;
South Carolina AS; Tennessee, 1886;
Texas, 1454; Utah, 255; Vermont, S97:
Virginia, l673 Washington. 704; West
Virginia, s3S; Wisconsin, 1865; Wyoming,
1888; Arizona, 10p; District of Columbia,
1888; New Mexico, S69i Oklahoma, Sc.
Tne organization and division of this
the adjutant generals office. Generally
speaking however, the 75, 600 men will
suffice for the forma tion of seventy-five
regiments. With three regiments to q
which is the present basis of Or
ganizatioh, this will make twenty-five
brigades In turn, eight divisions of
three brigaaes each will be formed and
out of the eight divisions the entire force
will be divided into three army corps.
This general division of course is tenta>
tive.
The new force will require three major
generals and about twenty-four briRadier
generals. The law authorizes the Presi-
dent to appoint one major general for
each army corps, and one brigadier gen
eral for each brigade
Brlgadier generals are also assigned to
command divisions when the organization
advances to that stage. The colonels.
lleutenants. colonels, majors, captains
and lieutenants are appointed by the
governors of the various states.
just now the adjutant generals Office
IS completing the enlistment of the 1875 ,00C
volunteers under the first call.
1t will take some time to complete this
OF organizing the volunteers under the
second call begin. A report was current
today that an army of invasion was about
to start for Cuba and Porto Rico. This
was based on the conjecture current of
late, but officials in authority give no
The report that General Miles and his
staH would leave tonight was denied, al
though 1t is probable the commanding
general will leave for the south at an
early day.