Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1898-12-01
FOR A BIGGER ARMY.
Secretary Of War Alger Has practi-
cally Completed His Report.
HOUSE ARMY BILL TO Be RUSHED.
Chairman Hull Expects Volunteers May lie
Discharged ho0n After ChristmaA-
QuArtermaster'a Department
I -Wsrship Trust Feared.

-W1E8uIY hIurt
Washington, Nov. 49, Secretary Al.
ger has practically completed his an
nual report and will submit it to the
president this week. Great interest
attaches to what he may have to say
bearing on the controversy between
himself and Gen. Miles and also the
recommendation in regard to the adj
visibility Of an early Havana cam
paign. A new and important feature
Of Gen. Alger's report in regard to the
military force Of the United States is
10 be his advocacy Of the enlistment OF
q large number Of the natives OF Porto
Rico and the Philippines. He believes
that at least 10000 Porto Ricans and
Filipinos should be taken into our
army for the purpose Of doing garrison
duty at home American officers
would be in control Of the natives and
II IL believed that the latter could
be drilled into as good soldiers
Is those In the British service
In India. 1t is said that Alger fears
enlistments Of Americans in the army
will be checked considerably II men
run the danger Of being sent to Ma-
nila or Porto Rico for indefinite serv.
Ice. He will advise that the present
three battalion formation be continued
In force for the infantry arm OF the
service in any legislation that may be
enacted during the next session affect.
Inv the organization of the army. He
believes that the artilleryand infantry
branches of the army should be mate
rally increased and he will make rec
concentrations to this effect No
change In the size OF the cavalry will
b. asked. 1t Is understood he will
recommend the establishment OF n
new bureau the bureau OF artillery
TO have entire control Of all matters
affecting this branch OF the army
The secretary will leave TO congress
the important question OF a reorcan-
sation OF the staff system OF the army,
HOUSE ARMY BILL TO DE RUSHED
Washington. Nov. IS. Chairman
Hull, OF the house military committee,
has announced that his committee has
In preparation Il bill increasing the
army to at least 100, 900 men, Mr. Hull
stated there was disposition on the
part OF some to make the limit l.b, 900,
but hc believes that as finally pre-
sented TO the house II will not carry a
larger force than 100000. OF this num-
Der 5000 may be natives OF Cuba and
Porto Rico, who will be stationed In
those two islands for garrison duty.
II Is the expectation Of Mr. Hull that
the bill will be ready for report to the
house on the day congress convenes
and that IT will pass both houses be.
fore the Christmas holidays. When
the president afiixes his signature to
the bill the volunteers now In service
will be discharged, regiment by regi-
ment, as the regular army Is recruited.
The haste Of the committee In this
matter Is due to the objection Of the
volunteers to serving In time Of peace
THE QUARTERMAsTER's DEPARTMENT.
Washington, Nov 2S.- The Difficult.
ties met by the quartermaster's depart.
ment during the war are given at
length by Quartermaster General M.
!. Ludington in his annual report
The quartermsster general found he
had to equip an army Of more than
2s5,OOO men when there was no stand
ard flannel on the market The
flannel had TO be manufactured and
made into clothing. There was little
cotton duck for tents. He says;
With all the perpexing dificutles confront
ing the department In the matter OF clothing
end eQuipage supplies. In the short period OF
W months an army Of e1a, OOO men was equipped
with such supplies and the army In Cuba. con-
sisting Of 1900 men, leaving their tcntage be-
hind, arrived at their camp ut MontauN point
N, Y, and found u complete new outfit OF tents
and clothing ready there for them
The securing of transports was one
OF the great undertakings of the de.
partment. At the close Of the fiscal
year, June 80, the combined transport
feet OF 60 vessels had a carrying
capacity of more than ~ 900 men.
A wARsHIP TRUST FEARED.
Washington, Nov. 9s.-Naval Off.
cials are discussing seriously the re-.
ported combination among American
ship builders to divide the new con-
struc,ion of vessels for the navy which
congress Is expected to authorize In
accordance with the recommendations
OF Secretary Long. There seems to be
no doubt that u number of the leading
ship building yards of the country
have formed a tentative trust to pool
bids Tor warships in order to secure
large profits and that. in apprehension
" such combination, officials In the
navy department believe prices will
be largely raised by bidders upon bat
tleships, cruisers and torpedo boats.
In view of such a possibility 1t is be-
lieved that navy yards competent for
the construction of war vessels should
be at once equipped with machinery
and appliances to enable them to com.
pete against excessive prices charged
BY private yards.
Three Deaths Over n Trivial Matter.
Dallas. Tex, Nov. 2s-Passengers
on the ST. Louis Il Southwestern train