The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-08-07
MAY SERVE TWO FULL YEARS
(Continued from go -

quite general in Savannah. and even
among tie soldiers there is an idea that
some such understanding existed when
they signed the enlistment papers. A pri-
vate who is home from Camp
Cniekamauga when asked yesterday
when the volunteers would return to their
homes, said that it was the understand
ing that they were 10 he discharged from
the service as soon as possible offer the
termination of the war.
Was that stated in your enlistment"
he was asked
No" was the reply. But President
Mckinley certainly stated when the cali
for volunteers was made that the men.
who enlisted would be mustered out as
soon as The war was over. I certainly
think that most Of the volunteers entered
the army with the idea that their serv-
ICES were not 10 be required after the es-
taolishment of peace. If you talk 70 TIE
men you win find that quite the common
idea. We certainly cid not expect 10 be
sent or to garrison places for year or
two after the war ended"
some such view is also quite largely
taken by the general public. Inquiry
W,
Drought out the fact that no such under
standing was conveyed by the articles Of
enlistment.
The enlistment was for two years un-
less sooner discharged"
mere - nothirg under the terms of
enlistment by which a man can claim chat
he was to be d discharged as soon as lhe war
came to an end" said Capt Kolshorn.
The enlistment is absolutely for two
years, without reservation. If the war de-
partment desires to use all the volunteer
forces for the fun term of their enlistment
there IS nothing in the enlistment TO pre-
vent 1t. OF course, there are many men
who volunteered who did so 60 fight Span
! ism soldiers and not TO garrison places for
a year or more after the war is at an end,
put they cannot claim exemption and ask
Tor discharges on that account We are
IN Tor the two years, unless the war de-
partment voluntarily sees fit TO dismiss us
honorably from the service or we die or
become disabled in some way"
Lieut.. Grayson expressed the same
views. 1t Is not a question whether
man likes to serve after the war is end
ed or not" said he. Il remember the ex-
act wording of the enlistment and there
is no ground on which TO base a kick
against such service in time of peace if
the government sees fit to so use the vol
unteers. While there may be some mis-
apprehension on this point the volunteers
are willing to go and do whatever the gov
eminent calls on them to do. If peace were
declared tomorrow il is not the impression
among the officers and men a Chickamau-
ga that they will be soon mustered out of
service We rather expect that we VIII
be at least held in reserve to meet any
emergencies which may arise While il is
generally feared that we VIII not get any
opportunity to see active service in war in
Cuba, We would not be sLRprised if we
or Porto Rico until everything becomes
stable there. 1 do not see how any one
can question the right of the government
to so use the volunteers under the enlist
ment."
There is some discussion of the matter
In the North, and the opinion seems to
be entertained there that the volunteer
forces viii not be disbanded for at least
several months after Spain accepts the
ultimatum of this country as 40 peace
conditions The feeling there is that the
standing army is to be increased to 1900
men or more, and that the war depart
ment will be DESTROYS of getting all this
extra seventy odd thousand men and Off
GERS out of the present volunteers. In
Cuba, Porto Rico and the Philippines il
is believed it viii require for some months
force probably equal to half the entire
volunteer force