Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1898-12-01
nrnIhnsIlrknouRAeEp.
iseiief That tho REORGANIZATION Plan VIII
he Favored BY the Goysrnment.


The members OF the First Delaware
Regiment who desire to remain in the
service Of the,United States as long as
volunteers are s,laeeded feel confident
that their effortsNsill be crowned with
success, as tho reorganization plan
meets with gfnernI favor. They feel
sure that it Ais3seot the desire OF tho
government to- have Delaware entirely
unrepresented4ip tho army of the coun.
try and that anything within reason will
be agreeable tosthe President and War
Department officials, who undoubtedly
desire to accord to the State the justice
to which she Is entitled.
The reorganizationplan is considered
much better than tho suggestion made
soon after the Third battnlion was re-
turned to the city to have it retained
in the service. 1t. was apparent then,
as now, that within its ranks were men
who desired, in view of the fact that
the war with Spain had practically
ended, to leave the military service,
for various good reasons, and to retain
the battalion In Its present shape
would necessitate going through the
formality of mastering in Substitutes
to take their places or return them to
service against their wishes. The re-
organization plan will obviGte all OF
this and will adjust matters to the sat
| isfaction of all, as, if.a new battalion
| is formed, it will include only men
who desire to, enter the service and
know Just what they are doing and
what to expect when they re-enlist.
The idea is to have the Third bat
| TALON mustered out,on December 10Th,
according to the present arrangement,
| and Immediately thereafter organize a
| new battalion to take its place in the
| volunteer army of the country and go
wherever it is needed. Many of the
men in the Third battalion, having en-
listed for two years, are ayerse to being
| mustered out at this time, and it has
been learned that there are quite a
| number in the other two battalions
who would re-enlist if an opportunity
was afforded. In addition to these men
who are well drilled and know all about
the hardships 81 camp life, there are a
number of men who did not serve III
the army but are now anxious to enter.
One of the officers stated Monday thai
- such persons had applied to him anc
if the reorganization plan meets witt
favor in the eyes of tho government
they will probably be accepted, thai
is, so many of them as are PHYSICAL,
qualified.
| There is every reason to believe tina
Gov. Tunnel will favor the PROPOSE
ton and use his influence with Presi
dent Mckinley and the War Depart
ment officials to have the new battal
ion retained, for, SO far as is known
the order to have the Third battalion
mustered out was issued without con
! sulting his wishes or the wishes of tn
men or officers therein,
} A precedent has been established
} which encourages the Delaware sol
diers. A similar condition existe,
with respect to a portion Of Q Virgini
regiment, but about a week ago tn
governor interested himself and sue
; ceeded in inducing the War Depart
/ ment to issue an order allowing tn
J men to remain in the service.
IL new battalion is organized it
: likely that 1t will consist of four com
panies of LOG men each, in command {
: a major