The herald., 1898-04-21
THE VOLUNTffRfORCfS
RENDERED UNAVAILABLE By
LEGAL PATCHWORK
REGULARS GOING FORWARD
The Militia Laws Will Be Amended
or Ignored When Men Are
Needed

or Ignored When Men Are
.f Needed
Associated Press Special Wire
WASHINGTON, April 2O.-The object
of most concern at the War Department
this morning was the calling out of volun-
teers. This turns out to be a more COM
plicated question than was at frst sup
posed. and the officials are looking to Con-
gress for immediate relief in their ex-
trenity. There are all sorts of conflicts
in the existing army laws which 1t Is said
consist Of nothing more than lot Of
patchwork dating from the beginning Of
the republic. 1t is recalled that even
President Lincoln was obliged to call upon
Congress to validate the calls he had been
forced to issue for troops and no successful
effort has been made since that day to pro-
vide adequate machinery whereby the
government might avail itself in an
emergency of the vast resources of the
United States in the way Of troops. One
Of the difficulties that confronted officials
this morning when 1t was supposed that
the way had been cleared in certain
measure for the use of the National
Guard as United States volunteer troops
was a conflict between sections HOG and
1645 of the revised statutes. 1t was the
purpose of the department in Difference to
the wishes of the National Guardsmen to
allow them to preserve their own organiza-
tions in the event that they be called to
the service of the United States, but the
National Guards regiments are all organ
ized on the three battalion basis, and
each infantry regiment consists Of twelve
companies with three majors, battalion
adjutants, etc. The regular army organ
ization provides for one major and very
much reduced staff of officers and ten
companies. 1t is manifestly impossible,
therefore. to muster the National Guards
men into arms with their present organiza-
ton, and it Is thought to be inexpedient
to attempt to reorganize the guard on so
short notice. Secretary Alger. with Gen.
eral Miles, went over to the White House
about noon and spent some time with the
President in an attempt to find some way
to remedy this condition Of affairs.
A communication received at the War
Department from the President Of the
Lone Star Steamship Company containing
statistics OF imports Of meat and cattle
into Cuba, gave a good deal Of solace to
the War Department officials. It showed
that Al, $50 head of cattle were so imported
last year and that at the present time the
supply of meat on hand is very short.
This would greatly aid the task of re-
ducing the island by blockade and starva-
tion. Orders were sent this morning to
the Twenty-fifth Infantry. under Colonel
Burt at Chickamauga, to proceed to Mo-
bile, Ala. at once.
Regulars En- Route
NEW YORK, April 2o.-The first of the
trains bearing troops from Sackett's Har-
Dor to the South arrived in Jersey City over
the West Shore road shortly after mid
night. The train consisted of gondolas and
freight cars bearing ammunition, nmbu-
lances, provisions and luggage OF the
troops. The other two sections Of the train
followed at short intervals.
The West Shore road turned over tho
trains complete to the Pennsylvania road
depot at Jersey City.
The fastest engines Of the Pennsylvania
company were assigned to duty on the
troop trains. The two sections of the train
bearing the troops were sent away with
in but few minutes headway. The trains
are to make their own schedules to Wash
ington. They will run on express time
and all tower operators have been instruct
ed to give them right Of way over every
thing. The Pennsylvania Railroad is pre-
pared to handle the trains Of the Twenty
first Regiment from Plattsburg as soon az
they arrive.
Fort Logan Force
DENVER, COL. April 2O.-No greater
~
messed in Denver than that which ended in
the departure OF the famous Seventh Reg
iment OF infantry this afternoon. They
arrived from Fort Logan at 2 o'clock All
the companies of the Colorado Guard in
Denver were drawn up at the depot to re-
ceive them The Chaffee Light Artillery
fred salute.
The regiment. numbering 500 men, Colo
mel D. w. Benham commanding. marched
through the principal business streets be-
fore boarding the trains which will carry
them to New Orleans. No less than 1OO-
600 people witnessed the parade and cheer
ed the departing soldiers. Many buildings
along the line of march were handsomely
decorated. The soldiers left ON the Santa
Fe Railroad at o'clock.
Headed Eastward
SAN FRANCISCO, April 2O.-Early this
morning the baggage of the First Regi-
ment, United States Infantry, was trans
ferred from the Preside to the Southern
Pacific Depot and shipped on board the
special train which will convey the troops
to New Orleans today.
Market street from Golden Gate avenue
to the ferry is gaily decorated with bunt-
ing and flags in honor Of the departing
soldiers. and the city is prepared to give
the nations defenders farewell that will
live In the memories of those who are going
to the front, for many a day.
The public school children were again
granted a half-holiday and assembled
along Van Ness avenue to wave flags and
cheer the troops with their parting shouts.
Wyoming Garrisons
CHEYENNE, Wyo., April 2O-Eight
companies Of the Eighth Infantry, with
band and Hospital Corps. numbering in all
80 men. left this city for New Orleans at
u o'clock today on the Burlington road,
Lieutenant Gerhardt and sixteen men were
detailed to remain at Fort Russell and
Lieutenant Merchant and twenty-five men
at Camp Pilot Butte, Wyo., until further
orders. The train left in three sections.
Never was the city SO profusely and pa
triotically decorated. The schools ad-
journed, business houses closed and the
people turned out en- masse. The SOL
diers, commanded by Col. Van Horne, werc
met by procession of civic and military
organizations and were escorted to the de-