Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-05-21
Over a Hundred Thousand Volunteers
Are Ready.
REPORTS TO TIE WAR DEPARTMENT
Col. MorreIl to Be Second Assist
ant Secretary.
MERRITT INSTRUCTIONS

OF the United States, according to the re-
| ports which have reached Adjt Gen. Cor
bin. Steady progress is being maintained
| in all directions in the mastering work, and
| by the end of next week the officials hope
| every man of the 125,OOO called for will
have taken the oath and sworn allegiance
| to protect the United States government in
| its war with Spain.
The mastering in for the regular army
b1 anch, with view to increasing 1t to Co.
600 men. the war strength authorized by
law. continues satisfactorily in al d;rec-
tons. Reports of the officers engaged in
the work are not yet at hand to indicate
the precise number of recruits secured.
The Immune Regiments.
Arrangements are being made for the re-
cruft1ng for the immune regiments which
| is to be done largely in the guif states. The
| officials here believe that from tnat locali-
! ty will be secured ample material for filling
| the regiments which will be organized I'M
| Ger the law. There are to pe 1a,G0o Of these
trimunes. and a circular prescribing the
mode Of recruiting and the qualifications
requisite for enlistment will be prepared
and circulated freely in the south. Owing
| to the great rush Of business, the proba-
biiity is that a week will elapse before any
| thing can be done in this direction. Six
SO.oHSlS lux iuSSe volunteer immune reEl-
ments were nominated by the President
i yesterday and 1t would rot be surprising
| il some of the remainder were given to
| cclored men, who have been pressed for
| appointment. Two of the appointees TO
| co:onecies are now detailed for duty in
| the adjutant generals off, Of the War
| Department. Capts. Petit and Sargent.
Gen. Merritt Completes Arrangements
| Maj. Gen. Wesley Merritt VINO is to COM
Ela nd the expedition to Manila, was again
at the War Department today completing
his arrangements and receiving his final
Instructions prior to his departure for San
Francisco. The general said today that he
expected to leave here for the coast as
| soon as he finished the business which
called him here, but wnesher this would he
| this evening or tomorrow he could not say.
Crowds of callers again throngct; Secre-
| terry Algers office today, among them BIZ
| iEg large contingent Of the Senate and
| House of Representatives.
| Col. Morre1l to Assist Secretary AlGer.
| Col. Edward Morrell of Philadelphia will
| be appointed second assistant secretary Of
war in case Congress provides for such
an office in accordance with the receEt
recommendation of Secretary Alger. Mr..
Morrell is a personal friend of Vice Presi-
| dent Hobart, and his selection is known to
be entirely acceptable to the Secretary of
War. In case the new office Is created its
duties will be mainly confined to questions
relating to the transportation of troops,
| matter that has been the cause of con-
| siderable trouble to the army officials ever
since the movement of troops to the front
| began several weeks age 1t is said that
| Mr.. Mcrrell is an experienced railroad man
| and fully competent to deal with questions
affectil the movements of large bodies of
! men and material. He has been notified of
| his selection for the prospective Office, and
| has signifed his Willingness to serve.
Major anu inspector General Russell b.
Harricon of the volunteer army, and As
sistant Adt Gen. James G. Blaine today
! took the oath of Office at the War Depart
| ment. 1t is said that Mr.. Blaine has been
| assigned to the staff of Gen. Merritt, in
| which case he will accompany that officer
| to the Philippines.
Ordered to Washington
,, Three organizations of the New York
volunteers have been directed to move to
| mobilizns points as follows: Two troops
of cavalry, under Capt. Howard G. Badg-
ley, tc Washington.
The 69th Infantry, in command of Col
Duffey, and the sth Infantry, in command
of Col. Chauncey, to Chekamauga.
Major knight Ordered to Tampa.
Major J. D. G. Knight, Corps of Engi-
neers, has been relieved from duty in COM
| mand OF the Engineer School of Application
at Wfllets Point. n. Y, and ordered to
important duty with the army of invasion
now at Tampa. Maj. Knight is well known
In this city through his long service in the
office Of the chief of engineers He is sue
ceeded in command At Willets Point by
Capt. S. W. Roessier, Corps of Engineers,
now on duty on that station
Condcnsers for TrOopships.
ihe war Department has ordered the
purchase OF twelve plants for condensing
SAT- water. The best plants in the market
Will be secured. each having a condensing
capacity OF ninety barrels. One of the plants
Will be installed on the new transport Yucca
tan That vessel, now at New York will
sail for Key West as soon as the plant is
set up. She will carry the other eleven con-
densers to Key West for installation on
other troopsnips in that vicinity Fresh
water Is great desideratum in Florida
waters just as present, and the new appa-
ratus will be cordially welo omed by all the |
soldiers and sailors now stationed in that |
region awaiting orders for the advance on
Cuba.
Volunteer Signal Corps
In a short time examinations for an
polntEent IN the volunteer signal corps will
be begun. The act of Congress approved |
May is, 1855. authorizes the President to
organize such a corps for the existing war.
1t Is provided that each organized division |
of troops may have two captains two first
lieutenants and two second lieutenants. who
will be appointed and commissioned by the |
President. The number Of enlisted men in |
each troop, with their monthly rate of pay,
Is as follows: Five first-class sergeants, $54; |
ten sergsants, $40.So: ten corporals. $24: |
thirty privates, s20.40.
In addition to the above pay each en- /
listed man will receive rations, clothing |
and quarters In kind and medical attend /
ance when required. Each msn must pass i
q strict physical examination. The chief /
signal officer now has about 1900 applica-
tions for these positions.
ARMY ORDERS.
Lieuts. S. D. Eturgis. 9Th Artillery, and z.