Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1898-05-19
WORK OF MASTERING.
The Adjutant General Thinks It
viii Be Completed This Week.
The EQUIpIEy1o The VOLUNTEERS
The Necessities Lacking win Be Supplied
u the Permanent Camps-Afraugs.
ments for the Expedition to
the Philippines

| 'AoHANvAVNt DAoy AZ V0A uOPu4V
ment officials are gratified at the prog.
ress being made In the mastering Of
the force Of $4,000 volunteers called
by the president Reports received
up to this morning indicate that $4,000
volunteers have been mustered into
the United States army and, in the
opinion Of Adjt Gen. Corbin, the work
Of mastering will be completed by the
end Of the present week. Before the
call for volunteers was issued the I'D.
jutant generals Of the various states
were requested to inform the war de.
partment how long it would take
them to put their force into the field
ready for duty. Some Of the replies
put the time as low as "a hours, but it
has developed that much longer time
than was generally fixed has been re-
quired. While some Of the volunteers
are well equipped, the majority are
not.
kilograms that have been pouring
into the adjutant generals Office in re.
Spouse to orders directing volunteers
that have already been mustered in 10
proceed to one or another Of the points
of mobilization. indicate clearly that
the troops are by no means ready for
the field. One battery commander
wired the department that his com
mand was in complete readiness
for service except that he lacked
guns gun carriages, horses, har-
ness, ammunition and uniforms.
Many Of the volunteers have
gone into the state camps without
sufficient or proper clothing. The
kilograms received from almost every
state show something material is
needed to complete the equipment Of
every regiment. 1t was for the reason
that the necessities lacking could be
better supplied at the permanent
camps than at the state camps that
urgent orders were issued that volun.
teer forces should be modified at
Washington. Chickamauga, Tampa or
San Francisco as soon as possible. Re.
yardless, therefore, Of equipment or
drill, the volunteers will be hurried to
he permanent camps as rapidly as II
S possible to muster them into the
ocular service.
Arrangements for the expedition to
he Philippines are being rapidly con.
'luded by the war department. Re-
,orts received up to late hour last
light indicate that 1900 men selected
or the expedition from the volunteer
orces in the country west Of the Mis-
issippi river will be prepared to move
n few days. Adjt. Gen. Corbin is Of
'pinion that in the neighborhood Of
1000 Of these will finally qualify
or the expedition. 1t is the purpose
low to send force Of $4,000 to the
sland. In order to make up the requi-
lite number, 1t is the intention of the
rmy officials to send, as a part Of the
Expedition, at least three regiments Of
easoned regular troops. Gen. Corbin
aid last night that the regular troops
robably would be sent from the forces
ncamped at Tampa, Fla, as they are
lost available at the disposal of the
apartment
1t is not regarded as desirable to re-
love such regular troops as have been
1T in the Indian country. The fear
entertained If these troops should
e sent away from their present posts
,me Of the unruly Indians might take
Vantage Of their absence to commit
ntrages and depredations upon the
hite settlements. For that reason
lie regular troops selected for the {
hilippines expedition will be +,
ken from the forces modified
n the Atlantic coast 1t was an.
ounced definitely last night that the
ship City Of Pekin, now at
IN Francisco, would sail for Manila
'-day with about regiment and a
alf Of volunteers already selected for
lie expedition. Other forces destined
n Manila will be hurried to San
rancisco as rapidly as possible and
i'll be sent to the support Of Adm. ,
ewey as soon as they can be thor.
lghly equipped.