The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1898-12-15
GEN. ALGER OPPOSES
WAR SECRETARY OBJECTS TO
THE MUSTERING OUT OF 5O,-
900 VOLUNTEERS
BACKED BY HIS LlEUTENANTS

|
Assistant Secretary MeikIejOhn and
Adjt. Gen. COrbin Side With Sec
| retary AIger-Gen. Miles Thinks
$4,000 Men Should Suffice for
Cuba--Some Tart Talk Before
the Senate Committee.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 14-The senate
committee on appropriations continued
its hearing on the army deficiency bill
today Gen. Miles being before the COM
mittee for more than All hour.
The pending proposition is an amend
ment, supported by several members,
providing for the immediate muster out
of $4,000 volunteers. It Is understood
that Secretary Alger and Assistant
Secretary Meiklejohn opposed such a
provision, and Adjt. Gen. Corbin said,
ir view of this recommendation of the
Cuban military commission, it would
not be advisable.
Gen. Miles said today that he thought
25, 900 men would be enough for Cuba.
He said that the island must in time,
and at an early day, be policed by ma
tives, which should be recruited into
the army under American officers.
Americans could not stand the climate
unless they were immunes He thought
the standing army should be increased
to $1,000 men, and said at least some of
the volunteers should be continued in
service until the increase was made
The large increase Of staff officers,
I1yac essential IN h a
peculiar new duties devolving upon
army officers. In the philippines. for
instance, they were collectors of Gus
toms, and would remain so until con-
gress provided otherwise.
When Mr. Hay suggested that Gen.
Miles estimated 1000 for Porto Rico,
while Gen. Corbin proposed 5000, the
latter replied:
81 would defer entirely to the views
I Of the major general in commend Of
the army on that point. If he says
| 1000, then that is undoubtedly ade-
! quate, as he has been on the ground
and knows the situation there"
What is your person opinion, with
! out reference to the recommendation
! Of the Cuban commission as to the
number of men needed in Cuba 2" asked
Mr.. Hay.
what is your personal opinion, with
such a commission" responded the
general. The riotous events of the last
| few days he feared might be the cast
ing Of the shadow of future events -
| No one could see ahead as to Cuba,
| end it was a most serious question as
to how long it would take to establish
order on stable and permanent basis
on the islands. volunteer reserve
would not answer. The national guard
| afforded an admirable array Of men for
ordinary emergencies, such as the
breaking out Of the riots, but were not
best suited for a regular soldiers life.
VOLUNTEERS AND REGULARS.
When members of the committee re-
| ferred to the superior intelligence of
volunteers coming from civil life above
that of the regular soldier, Gen. Cor
bin said he considered the regular the
equal in intelligence to the volunteer,
owing to the rigid requirements now
made. The character and intelligence
of the men who went into the Santiago
campaign was second to none that ever
saw service, he declared.
| The general was asked If he had re-
| ceived any complaints from the volun-
teers as to their treatment during the
| recent war. He said he was yet to hear
a complaint from volunteer soldier.
Such complaints as came were from
outside sources, knowing nothing
about the facts and conditions.
Would it be proper, under military
usage" for subordinate to submit a
complaint?" asked Mr.. Hay.
mot only proper, but is the very
thing he should do.". answered Gen.
Corbin.
Mr.. Mahany and Mr.. Fenton speci-
flying complaints reaching them, Gen.
Corbin reiterated that he had never
received complaint adding that he
| had asked volunteers with whom he
| had come in contact as to their views.
Chairman Hull added the statement
that the army Jared as we'll or better
than any army that had ever taken
| the field.
At another point Gen. Corbin said no
exact forecast could be made as to the
Philippines, the possibility Of trouble,
etc. Aguinaldo was reputed to have
an army of $4,000 men, but what that
army would do no one could tell. 1t
It was too large field of conjecture to
enter upon in this off-hand way.
Owing to opportunities of congress-
men for the release Of volunteers, the
Associated Press was requested to send
Gen. Corbin's statement on that point.
He said:
| THE department is disposed to deal
| very lenientIy as to letting off men who
are needed at home. In some cases
colonels have been instructed to reduce
companies to eighty men, so as to let
l off men who We're urgently needed at