The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1898-05-27

Washington, May 26.-In the rush of
military preparations the war depart
ment officials have not been able to
give much attention to the regulations
for the procurement of the $4,000 addi-
tional volunteers called for yesterday
by the president. 1t is still uncertain
just how far the national authorities
will go towards recruiting these forces
themselves, nor is it positively known
that independent organizations, COM
panies, battaliOns and regiments, raised
by individuals, will be accepted en- bloc,
if by so doing the department is re-
quired to accept the officers with the
men Indeed. it is now questioned
whether, under the law, the depart
ment could. if it would, accept services
OF officers under such conditions, as the
governors of the states appear to be the
only persons authorized 10 issue COM
missions below the regimental grade.
There are many other various questions
to be settled before the regulations can
be promulgated, but, fortunately, in the
judgment of the department officials.
due notice having been given to the
people of a desire for more troops by
the government, there is no occasion for
haste in deciding upon details, in view
OF the fact that the full draft of men
called for under the first proclamation
has not been secured.
MOVEMENT ON PORTO RICO.
There is reason to believe. notwith-
standing the reticence of the authori-
ties, d movement on Porto Rico is in
contemplation, and should it appear
that the Spanish fleet is hemmed in
Santiago harbor, as believed, active
operations viii begin in the near future
against Cuba, Porto Rico and the Phil
ippines. This is believed to be the pres
ident's purpose in calling for $4,000 adj
ditional volunteers, and it is said to be
not unlikely that other calls viii be
made as rapidly as the troops can be
equipped, until the force of the army
Will be sufficient to make short work
of the Spanish forces, wherever and
whenever encountered.
REGIMENTS ARE SHORT.
1t seems, however, to have been de-
termined to fill to their maximum
strength the one hundred and more reg
iments of the volunteers already called
for, most of which are organized at the
minimum number allowed by the law.
This was permitted in order that as
great a number of the National Guard
organization might come to the army
as possible, thus giving an opportunity
In the volunteers. The enlisted strength
of most of the volunteer regiments in
many cases is far below the maximum
prescribed by law, which is 1.O6O men
in the infantry. Approximately 80 900
or more men viii be required to recruit
these regiments TO their war strength,
which VIII not leave such a great num-
Der to be obtained under the second
call in new organizations.
REGULAR ARMY ENLISTAIENTS,
1T is generally understood through
out the country said an army Officia
today, that soldiers who are re-enlist.
ing in the service and recruits who en-
list for the first time may be die
charged at their own application at the
close of the war. The enlistment is for
a term Of three years, but there is
nothing in the law TO prevent soldiers
who are received into the army while
it is being organized to it's war
strength from being discharged as soon
as the war is over. This statement
should be made to correct a misappre-
henSion that exists in this regard
throughout the country. When the war
is over the officials will determine at
just what figure the army is to be
maintained and I am sure more men
will want to remain than there viii
be room for. The enlistments in the
regular branch are proceeding at the
rat Ot 1000 every ten days"