Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-04-19
Three Branches on Their Way to
Points of Mobilization.
WILL 60 INTO CAMP ON ARRIVAL
Arranging to Call for 10000 Vol
unteer National Guardsmen.
AIM OF THE MOSQUITO FLEET

move today toward the mODli.Zl: & PORTS IN
the south from all parts of the United
States. This action was In response 10 the
orders issued last week by Gen. Miles. ON
manding the army. and is for the purpose
of getting the army prepared for any steps
that may be intended for the occupation Of
Cuba. The four points to which the army
today began its movements are Chcka-
mauga battlefield. Tampa, New Orleans and
Mobile, where they will go into camp. Ad-
vance agents of the department have pre-
ceded the troops and made all necessary
arrangements fer their comfort AMI con-
veniehce. The troops carry thirty days ra-
tiers and number of rounds of amnuni-
tion with them. The kilograms received at
the War Department today indicate that a
large proportion CT the army will be on its
way south before nishtfall. In few cases
where detachments of troops were teTnpor-
ariiy located a considerable distance from
their posts, in order to reach which several
days marching vii! be required, there will
be some delay in getting started south.
To Call for SO,OGO Gua rdsmen.
Awaiting himself CT the recess taken by
the cabinet Secretary Alger repaired to the
War Department and sent for Maj Gen.
Miles and Adjt. Gen. Corbn. coEfcr-
ence lasting nearly an hour was had as to
the means to he emp,oyed to give effect to
the decision CT the President and the cab
met to cal for SO,GU National GuardsElen
as volunteers. Considerable progress was
made in outlining the plan TO be follow I'd,
but owing to the compiexity of the subject
all of the details were not arranged. ii is
now the purpose to utilize this additional
force in conformity with the terms of the
bill submitted today 20 CoSgr by s;ccre-
tary Alger.
According to the decision therein laid
down. presuming the bill to he enacted into
a law, the President would first apply to
Congress for the special permission requir-
ed III this case to call for volunteers. The
men thus secured whether attached to the
organized militia or not, would technically
pass into the service of the United States.
This would be necessary probably in or
der to escape the consequences of viola
ton of the constitutional prohibition
against sending the state militia out of the
country. The additional men would STILL
however. be actually volunteers and only
in namc part of the regular establish
ment.
The law requires that in call for troops
the number required must be distributed
according to population among the several
stated. In anticipation Of this call the de-
partment officials have prepared a table
showing the number of men that would be
required from each state and territory ac-
cording to the apportionment of the last
census.
Under this apportionment the District of
Columbia will be called on for about 800
men.
1t was said by Secretary Alger after the
conference, that the subject had not ad-
vanced so far into consideration as to make
1t possible to send to Congress today mes
sage from the President asking for the au-
thori;y to issue call for volunteers.
Providing for 100000 Soldiers.
Plans now being formulated in Congress
involve the placing of about 100000 SOL
diers, in round numbers, at the disposal of
the government within very short time.
This calculation is based on the following
figures covered in plans already in effect or
in contemplation, viz: Standing army, 27,-
600; by call for volunteers, 10000; by call
ing out state militia, 1900 or 100000; by
army reorga MIA ton BILL 5000.
Leaving aside the present regular army
force, the second and fourth items are prac-
tcally settled on in committee. while the
third as to state militia, is being actively
canvassed, and while thsre are many differ
ing views, they are expected to crystalline
into an authorization to call out the num-
ber stated.
The bill drawn up by the War Depart
ment for Introduction by Representative
Hull, chairman Of the House military COM
mittse. authorizes the President to call for
something like 10000 volunteers to be
drawn through the various states. Whils
this method obviates the legal technicali-
ties involved in the services of state mill
tia organizations per ee, 1t is likely the vol
Inteers thus obtained through quotas fur
n;shed by the respective state and terrific
rial governors will come from within state
militia ranks.
In the House committee on militia a
plan to effectually put a large number of
the militia at the disposal of the President
is being formulated. Some think 1OO, 600 ex-
cessive, but Chairman Marsh and others
regard the figure as conservative in the
view that the resolution evidently means
war. The President, as now suggested by
Representative Marsh, can call out the
militia at any time, and Congress can fol-
low up the executive action by legislative
enactment providing for their mastering
into the United States service. At the
same time the army reorganization bill re-
Gently recommitted by the House is being
carefully pruned in the military affairs
committee to meet objections. 1t IL pro-
posed to extend the army organization to
the three battalion war formation and to
increase the batteries of artillery to 200
men each. This measure, 1t is claimed,
may bring about 5000 more men into the
regular service to be added to the present
$1,000 regular troops.
Feeling Toward the Militia.
The attention Of Adjutant General Corbin
of the army having been called to certain
publications stating that ill-feeling existed
between the regular army and the Nation
al Guard Of the several states. he stated
that, 10 far as he was informed, the re-
port had no foundation in fact: that 10 Tar
as he could ascertain, or was advised, only
the most cordial relations existed, ana
every effort to retain these relations was
being fostered and put forth by officers In
authority In the War Department
In answer to numerous Inquiries N to
the manner and the number Of troops that
may. In the near future. be called into act
i've service. the general stated that Il Was