Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1898-09-22
HINTS TO SOLDIERS.
The War Department Tells the Way
to Ask for a Discharge.
WANT TO STAY IN The SERVICE.
Many Volunteer Omcers Bringing Influence
TO bear to Keep Their Namea ON the
Rolls Of the War Depart

Washington, Sept 2O.-The follow
ing statement is given out at the war
department.
The war department is Just at present un-
dergoing an experience which illustrates the
alacrity with which the average American citi.
zen hastens to his senator or representative In
congress for aid In emergencies The cessation
Of hostilites and the improbability Of their re-
newal with the dullness OF camp life, have ap-
parently created o feeling Of restlessness among
the men Of the volunteer army, who In the ma
jority OF cases. have given up positions OF
larger compensation. and many OF them are
mploring their political representatives to OBJ
tain their discharge. and the latter, in turn are
flooding the war department with requests for
prompt and immediate action. To such an
abuse Of privilege has this grown that the war
department has been obliged to Call attention
to that paragraph Of the army regulations
which requires that all communications from
subordinates to superiors must pass through
military channels and TO decline, as o rule, to
entertain applications for discharge Of enlisted
men unless they come to 1t In the proper man
ner.
soldier who Is DESTROYS Of securing his
discharge and has good and sufficient reasons
upon which to base 1t, will save himself q
great amount Of time and trouble II he will set
forth the reasons for his discharge in letter
addressed to the adjutant general Of the army
and hand 1t to the captain OF his company who
In turn, Is required to forward 1t to the colonel
Of the regiment and the latter to pass 1t
along through brigade, division and corps
headquarters with their recommendation.
Unless this Is done, the department
will send the papers back to the COM
pany commander for his recommendation,
and that takes time which may be saved by
following the proper rule. The department
has also promulgated another ruling in this
connection which Is TO the effect that public
policy will not permit at this time, the consid-
GRAFTON OF applications for discharges Of men
serving in the Philippine islands, Honolulu
Cuba or Porto Rico The reasons for this are
obvious Aside from the question Of transport
tation involved by the necessity Of supplying
the places Of men who are to be discharged
with others from the states, 1t Is to be remem-
bered that the war Is not over, and that much
depends upon the results and deliberations Of
the peace commissioners who have sailed for
Paris
WANT TO STAY IN THE SERVICE.
Washington, Sept 2O.-Maj. Gems
Bates and Sumner, who we're promi-
nent in the Santiago campaign, re.
ported at the war department yester-
day. They are expecting a new as
signment under the plan which is con-
templated for the redistribution Of
troops. They have been at Moptauk,
but the breaking up of the camp there
leaves many officers unassigned and
without duty. Gen. Miles, with
whom they have conferred, has
been very busy with his scheme
Of reorganization, but it has not
yet reached point which makes
obtainable any definite information as
to where troops or commanding off,
GERS will 90. 1t is almost settled that
Gen. Shafter will return to San Fran
cisco and resume command Of the de-
partment OF the Pacific. Such is his
desire, and no doubt it will be COM
piled with. The probability that a
number Of general and staff volunteer
officers will be dispensed with has
caused considerable discussion among
those who may be among the number
to be dropped. Most officers desire to
remain in the service, and influence is
already being brought to bear to keep
them on the rolls OF the war depart
ment.