Evening star., 1898-08-16
FUTURE OF DISTRICT TROOPS
They May Be Mustered Out Within Thirty
Days.
VIII Remain Some Time at MOntaul<-
Preparing to Cut Down
the Army.

According to the present plans. the 19t
Regiment, District of Columbia Volunteer
Infantry which is now about to embark at
Santiago, will be detained in the camp at
Montauk Point L. l., just long enough to
enable them to get a complete new outfit
of clothing and to recuperate from the
hard campaign near Santiago.
1t is therefore probable that after the
District soldiers have been at Montauk
Point few weeks they will be ordered to
Washington, d. c., and remain in service
here until they are regularly mustered out
of the military service of the gov ernmant.
When that will take place has not yet bsen
definitely determined
1t is known, however, that the District
regiment is not included in the list of the
regiments prepared at the War Depart
ment today for mastering out. That they
will soon be free from further military
service is clearly established. however, by
the known policy of the government to ma
terlally decrease the military establishment
as rapidly as possible.
Unless there is a decided change in the
present plans of the War Department
about 100000 volunteers will be mustered
out within the next thirty days, and it is
not at all improbable that the District
L.
Musterins Out Practically Begun.
The mastering out of the volunteer army
practically began at the War Department
today, and will be continued until the army
has been placed On a basis consistent with
our present peaceful relations to the ne
tions of the earth Orders were prepared
today for the mastering out of 5000 vol
unteers. including nearly twenty-five regi-
r~n ntl Of ipfa oho,, aierbt
of cavalry and five or six batteries of ar
ti!ery.
The details of the order bearing on this
subject have not been fully perfected, and
the officials confine themselves to general
statements in regard thereto.
1t was admitted that the 1st Regiment of
Vermont Volunteers attached to the Sd
Army Corps, encamped at Chickamauga
Ga, had been ordered to proceed to Fort
Ethan Allen, VT.
That post is the nearest one to the homes
of the members of the regiment and was
selected with a view to their mastering
out soon after they arrive there.
Adjutant General Corbin said that a SIM
liar course would be followed in the case
of the other volunteer regiments selected
for mastering out.
They would, he said. be ordered to their
state capitals as soon as it could be done
without danger to the interests of the gov
ernment and mustered out of the military
service as rapidly as possible.
waiting Information From Gen.
Merritt.
Formal announcement of the plans of the
department on this subject has been defer
red pending the receipt of certain desired
Information from Maj. Gen. Merritt. COM
manding the military forces in the Philip
pines AdVices are hourly expected from
him as to his wishes in the matter.
Thers are large number of volunteers in
the Philippines. and it is possible that it
may be deemed advisable to bring them
home, and. if necessary, replace them with
regulars. The proposed reduction of the
army to the extent of 100000 men will still
leave military force of about 116,00D man,
regulars and volunteers, available for all
| military purposes, including the occupation
of Cuba, Porto Rico, the Philippines and
Hawaii.
1t is believed to be the purpose of the ad-
ministration to maintain an army of al
| least 100000 men until all the pending com.
| plications with Spain are finally disposed
| of.