The age-herald., 1898-08-20
Kno,U thou this: thdt men Are as the time IS.
 KING LEAR.
Mastering Out Troops.

The war department will certainly muster out within thirty days, not less than 5OOOO volunteers, and 1t may muster out 100000 The lines upon which the disbandment will proceed have not been made known. It has, however, been stated that the regiments recruited under the second call will be apt to be mustered out at the start, because the government desires to keep the best trained troops. Many of the men rcruited under the second call are still without arms and equipments, and the government will naturally desire to save the expense of equping troops that are not now needed But the plan of the war department in the matter of disbandment has not become known, and until it is no one knows who will be mustered out or who will be retained as long as any volunteers are needed.
 The mastering out of 100000 volunteers would leave in the service force well nigh 125,OOO strong, regulars and volunteers, and it is believed such force would be equal to any probable or even possible emergency Until the final treaty of peace is ratified. it is thought that this number of men will be retained. In other words, it is not probable that the military force will be reduced more than 100000 men before next spring. But resgnatons of officers are freely accepted, and any regiment that desires to be mus tered out can undoubtedly secure release on short notice.
 While the Alabama troops,' says the Fort Payne Journal, have had no chance to display their valor on the battlefield in the war; they showed their willingness, and they would have proven themselves the peers Of the bravest had they been called into action. No troops in Lees army stood higher in all the attributes of good soldiership than those from Alabama. and the volunteers from this state in the pres ent war are worthy sons of worthy sires." They are, indeed. and if the government desires in Cuba or Porto Rico well-discip- lined and wel-seasoned troops, the First and the Second Alabama may be called upon to remain in the service until next spring. In that case they will be sent to Cuba and Porto Rico as soon as weather conditions become better.
 The fate of the Third Alabama will turn upon the nature of the decision, doubtless, as to the use of negro troops. If they are considered desirable for garrison duty in the tropics, the Third regiment may be retained a long time; if not, the regiment may be mustered out very soon on account of Its newness and want of equipment. In relation to the latter contingency the Mo- bile Register very justly says: ''The blow will be especially hard on the officers who have worked so untiringly to build up the regiment, and who have spent large sums of money in getting recruits, so that their companies could be full in time for early mastering fin of the regiment. If the regi- ment is mustered out now this expenditure will be an absolute loss. But aside from this ths colored troops are emnently quail flied to do service in the hot climate of the West Indies, and they are eager to perform that service. The Register hopes therefore that the report is not true. or. if true. that some means may be found to keep the regiment in the service"