The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1898-05-26
The President Asks for 75,-
600 Additional Troops,
A STARTLING
PROCLAMATION
IT WAS UNEXPECTED EVEN TO
MANY OF THE HIGHEST
OFFICIALS.
NORTH CAROLlNA'S QUOTA ABOUT 1900

N0Nt u OhnOLNVh . NuOtn pbOOt t0SO
ToForm Reserve Of Seasoned Soldiers viii be
Some days Before Details can be Worked out
and Calls Made on States -EnIstments are
not to be Restricted to the Militia and Ma
tional Organizations They will Retain Their
identity as State Troops, Howeyer--WiII Ne
cessitaie the Appointment Ct Many More
Generals, Colonies and Staff Officers The
Situation Of the Fleets Remain Unchanged,
Washington, May 25.-The event of
the day in the war situation was the is
suance of proclamation by the presi-
dent calling for 10000 more volunteers.
1t added a new and stirring phase to the
lethargic conditions which have pre-
vailed of late and came with almost
startling unexpectedness even to many
of the highest officials in the army. The
proclamation means not only the assemb-
ling of n large force of troops, but also
the appointment of a number of major
generals, brigadier generals, colonels,
majors, staff and field officers for the
organization Of this additional force Of
$4,000 into army corps, divisions, bri-
gades and regiments
The reasons leading up to the call nat
urally were sources of much conjecture,
as it was at first felt that the possibility
of foreign complications was a factor in
bringing about this new move. 1t speedl-
ly developed, however, that the call was
not due to any latest or serious emer-
gency. but was rather in the line of ger-
ting together a large body Of men. TO be
drilled and seasoned, and to constitute
a sort of second reserve to be drawn
upon later when the compaigns were full
ly under way Secretary Alger stated
that the determination To issue the cali
had not been reached until late yester-
day. The merits of it have been can
vassed more or less for some weeks, bur
it was not until few hours before the
call itself appeared that the movement
was finally decided upon.
Coming thus expectedly, the war de-
partment had made no preparations for
the call, and it will be some days be-
fore the details are worked ont as to the
quotas from each state. the calls to the
respective governors of the 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 as
much as they were at the outbreak of the
civil war. and are not to be restricted to
the militia and national organizations of
the several states. 1t will be an en-
cOuragement to organizations of indie
pendent companies and regiments These
will retain their identity to a certain
extent as state troops. as the governors
will have the appointment of all company
and regimental officers, while only the
brigade division corps and staff officers
will be appointed by the president.
While the adjutant general has not vet
made up the quota of the several states
the following is an approximate estimate
of the quotas of the following states:
Alabama. 1900; Florida, 450; Georgia,
1905; L0uisina, 1,164; Mississippi, 1.155:
North Carolina, 1,545; South Carolina,
44S; Virginia, 1875. The organization
and division of this extensive force is
yet to be arranged by the adiutant gen
erals office Generally speaking, how
ever, the $4,000 men will suffice for
the formation of 75 regiments. With
three regiments to Il brigade. which is
the present basis of organization, this
makes twenty-five brigades. In turn.
eight divisions of three brigades each
will be formed, and ont of these divisions
the entire force will be divided into
three army corps This general division
is. of course, tentative, but it shows the
general formation of this body of troops.
The new force will require, either by
appointment or by officers already ap-
pointed. three major generals, and about
twenty-four brigadier generals. The law
authorizes the president to appoint one
major general for each army corps and
one brigadier general for each brigade.
1t was stated at the war department
that the details for the work Of or
ganizing this new force would not be
actively taken up for the present. Just
now the adjutant generals office is en-
gagged in completing the enlistment of the
125. 900 volunteers under the first call
II will take some time to complete this
work. and not until then will the real
work of organizing the volunteers under
the second call will begin.
A report was current to-day that an
army of invasion was about to start for
Cuba and Porto Rico. 1t was based on
tbe conjecture which has been current
az late. but officials in authority gave It'll
no endorsement. as it was manifestly
contrary /, public policy to give any adj