The Indianapolis journal., 1898-04-15
MAY CALL THE BRIGADE
GOVERNOR THINKS NOW THAT
MORE TROOPS WILL BE NEEDED.
In That Event He VIII Ask the Presi-
dent for "a Commission for
General Mckee.

The Indiana war situation has changed
slightly in the last twentyfour hours. In
stead of one regiment. being called for from
the state it looks now as if Indiana might
be called upon for at least two regiments
at the first outbreak Of hostiities and that
she may be asked to send the entire bril-
gade into the field at once. Governor Mount,
commander in chief of the Indiana National
Guard. had received no official information
from the War Department yesterday, but
unofficial reports led him to the belief that
more than one regiment would be called for
at once and he also expressed belief that
the entire brigade might be called for be-
fore many weeks elapse...
In the event it seems probable that the
brigade is to be called for, it will change
Brigadier General McKee's relations with
the troops" he said. I'm that event I
should make application at once for his
commission as a brigadier general and have
him go into the United States service in the
command he now holds over the entire bri-
gade. The Governor only has the commits
sioning of officers as high as colonel. a
commission for higher place would have
to come from the War Department at
Washington. / would recommend the ap-
pointment of General Mckee to go at the
head of the brigade if it should be called,
and | believe he would be commissioned
THE probability of more than one regi-
ment being called may effect some changes
in the plan of the organization of the first
regiment as outlined in the Journal and
which. / think, is about correct under the
proposition to form only one regiment The
plan to make the colonels of the regiments
the majors of battalions will doubtless
meet the approval of the colonels if they
are convinced that another call will not
be made soon; but if there is strong prob
ability of another call they would doubt
less prefer to remain and go as colonels of
their own regiments to going under another
officer. The report from Washington that
the first estimates of the number of troops
needed are considerably too small leads to
the belief that the States will be asked to
sead double the number of troops allotted
them in the semi official announcement of
the numbers wanted, received a few days
ago. This may mean two regiments and
two companies of artillery from Indiana"
The Governors information from Wash
ington is that. instead 9of C000O troops ON
the first call, 10000 will be asked. AS the
several States We're 10 furnish 5000 of these
and the additional $4,000 will have to come
from volunteers, it is estimated that some
of the States will be asked to send double
the number at first proposed. Indiana, being
we'll organized, and having a reputation in
military affairs, will not be sighted when
the new estimates are made. further
proposition is that these 10000 troops will
be needed at the very opening of HOSTILE
ties for coast defense work and that at the
close of the summer many more VIII be
needed TO carry on an active campaign IN
Aft,fy eff,1t flnh ca OF
forces 1t. therefore. may be necessary TO
raise 300 Coo troops, the reserves to be mo-
bilized at Chickamapga Park and put
ing and discipline preparatory for the ac-
tive work to come.
MAY TAKE FOUR REGIMENTS
If this proposition is, carried out Indiana
will probably be called upon to furnish as
many troops as compose the four regiments
OF the National Guard. IT is for the discus
sion of such affairs as this that the House
committee on military affairs has called for
a conference of National Guard men and
Governors of number of States. Governor
Mount yesterday gave to General Mckee
and Captain Curtis their credentials to rep
resent Indiana in this conference, which will
he held in the committees room at Wash
ington tomorrow. 1t is the understanding
that prospective demands for troops VIII
be talked over, and some understanding
Will be arrived at dDOut lHe quOLd edcii
State will be expected to furnish Thls VIII
enable the Governors. of the several states
to act more inteligently in the formation
of the first regiments to go. AS an instance,
Governor Mount, knowing that othef regl-
ments were to be called for within Few
weeks or months, would not send all the
colonels of the Indiana National Guard out
as majors with the first regiment
Among the letters received by the gov
ernor yesterday was one from Dr. JosePn ;il
Gardner. head Of the Red Cross Society IN
Indiana. The Red Cross Society owns IN
this State the only tract OF land IN the
world that is absolutely neutral at all times
to all the European and American nations.
1t is a tract of about eight hundred acres,
situated near Bedford where the society
maintains hospital and a home for nurses.
Tt was donated to the society by Dr. CARD
ner several years ago, and is maintained
under the personal management of the doc
tor and Mrs. Gardner, DR.. Gardner writes
that in the event of war he and MS wire
will at once go to the front under the dl-
recriCn of Clara Barton, the founder or the
American Red Cross Society In connection
with receipt of letters, it was sald at Lhe
Governors Office yesterday that the journal
did not correctly state the facts yesterday
morning when it said that more letters
were received than it was possible for the
office force to answer Secretary wilson
said that ii was a hobby OF the department.
that no letter, no matter IRON Whom II
might come was ever allowed to go over
night unanswered. He says that every letter
of the hundreds that have been received
during the week was answered the same
day it was received.
Among the Governors callers yesterday
were eX-Governor Claude Matthews and
Charles l.. Jewett, tho latter OF New Al
bany Mr. Matthews said he approved the
Governors plan of forming the tlrst regi-
ment from the Indiana National Guard. MI
JeWett rendered his services "a the Govern
or, saying he was willing to serve, III case
of war. in any capacity.