The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1898-12-15
The Yolnnteer Reserve.


a. volunteer reserve would not an
swer The national guard AFFORDED an
admirable body of men for ordinary
emergencies, such as the breaking out
of the riots, but were not best suited
for a regular soldiers life.
When members OF the committee re-
ferred to the superior intelligence OF the
volunteers, coming from civil life. above
that OF the regular soldier, General
Corbln said he considered the regular
the equal in Intelligence to the Volun-
teer, owing to the rigid requirements
now made. The character and intelll-
Eence of the men who went into the
Santiago campaign was second to none
that ever saw service, he declared.
Another point General Corbln said no
exact forecast could be made as TO the
Philippines. AguInaldo was reputed to
have an army OF 5000 men, but what
that army would DO no one could tell. 1t
was too large a field OF conjecture to en-
ter upon in this off-hand way.
Owing to opportunities OF congress-
men for the release Of volunteers, the
Associated Press was requested to send
General CorbIn's statement on that
polnt. BE said:
'The department IS disposed to deal
very lenientlF as to letting or men who
are needed at home. In some cases,
colonies have been instructed to reduce
companies to eighty men, 50 as toilet on
men who were urgently needed at home
And even below eighty we are making
discharges on satisfactory statements
that the presence Of the men are needed
at home"
Corbln Before House Committee.
Adtutant General corbln appeared to-
day before the house committee on mill
ltary afalrs. His statements attracted
unusuaI interest because OF their direct
reference to conditions IN Cuba, Porto
Rico and the Philippines and the mill
tary requirements on which the war
department was acting. AS to the need
Of an increased armE General Corbln
said that was most serious PROPOSE
tion. It might be found that $4,000 men
would not be absolutely requisite.
"But we are holding 10000 men ID
readiness TO so, II required" said the
general.
AS to the Philippines, be went on,
General Otis IN command there, had rec
commended that $4,000 men were re-
QulfeQ LueTe. III fQTNO ENlCO blle OlAlSSAN
In command there recommend that tho
force now on hand r. about adequate
for the requirements. The present force
there Is 6,100. That made $1,000 men,
10000 for Cuba, 25,0OO for the Philip"
pines and about 5000 for Porto Rico.
leaving with an army OF 100000, about
$4,000 for reserves at home.
'It must be borne In mind" said Gen.
erai Corbin. that an army In time Of
peace is like insurance. It IL a pre-
paratlon for an emergency, II We had
had such an army last June there would
have been no such loss OF life as occur
red"
''Do you think 10000 mon for Cuba a
conservative estimator" asked Mfr. Jett,
OF Illinois.
''I think II is." answered the general.
"And how long will that last?" asked
Mr., HaY.
~ wish could say answered Gen.
eral Corbln, but no man can sac. You
cannot view conditions IN Cuba as you
can In Ohio or Pennsylvania. For ona
hundred years the people there have
been accustomed to he ruled by force.
The officers there fear that with these
conditions and hnOits II troops arc not
there trouble may occur"
"Therc Is not man living, IN my
Judgment" he said, who can foreSee
even for thirty days, what the future
will bring forth"