The San Francisco call., 1898-04-25
ORGANIZING
 WAR FORCES Bureau. Chiefs at Work Forming the Army of
 Volunteers. Secretary Alger Will To- Day Issue Rules Governing
 Enlistments. Status of the National Guards of the Several States Clearly
 Defined.
Special Dispatch to The Call.

NEW YORK. April PA Washing ton special to the Herald says: Secre- tary Alger al.d Major General Miles, commanding the army were at the War Department for several hours to- day. attending t. the details of army organization. All chiefs of bureaus, with most of their assistants, were in their offices the entire day, many of them working late into the evening to facilitate the work of increasing and equipping the military force.
 Assistant Secretary of War Meikle- John Adjutant General Corbin and off, cials of the adjutant generals and judge adovcate generals offices, were engaged all day in perfecting regula- tions of the department regarding en- listments in the volunteer army, necessi- tated by President McKinley's procla- nation calling for 125,OO0 troops. The officials have been besieged with tele- grams from State officers and mem bers of the National Guards, requesting further enlightenment on the interpre- tation of the new volunteer army law. Many of these telegrams give evidence of a general objection on the part of the National Guards to becoming part of the army for the occupation of Cuba, II they cannot retain their pres ent identity in the organization.
 Secretary Alger is expected to issue tomorrow rules and regulations of the department, which will govern the en- nstment of volunteers. The Governors of States will each be addressed in a letter from the Secretary of War stat ing the authority and the object of raising volunteers finally, and leaving to the Governors the selection of com pany and regimental officers for troops to be raised in their States. Recruiting rendezvous in charge of officers de- tailed by the department will be se- lected at convenient points. Some of the regular army posts will be used as recruiting stations.
 All volunteers who present them selves at recruiting stations will be subject to the regular medical examin- ation by the medical officer detached by the department prescribed for re- cruits in the United States army. Those who pass this examination will be furnished transportation to camps of concentration, where they will be formed into mpanieS and regiments National guar -smen who volunteer will necessarily sever their connection with their State organizations. This will not prevent entire companies and regi- ments of National Guards from enlist y, provided each member or the organi- zations can pass the necessary examin- ation for entrance into the United States service. Enlistments, however will all be individual and the muster ing in of whole companies or regiments will be done by United States officers only as a concession to the wishes of men who may desire to serve with those with whom they have been iden- tiied in the State militia.
 In cases where only part of a regi- ment of Nationa- Guardsmen is found qualified to enter the United States service only eligible men will be en- listed and the regiments filled up with other recruits, who may themselves be other National Guardsmen
 As a result of the conference of Gen. eral Ludington and Lieutenant Colonel Furey, rush orders will be issued to manufacturers through ut the country for the quick delivery of about 5O,00O uniforms, several thousand tents and large quantities of miscellaneous camp utensils, wagons etc.
 Reports received by Brigadier Gen. eral John M. Wilson to-day show very rapid progress in the planting of sub marine mines in harbors and river en- frances. The work will probably be completed along the entire coast line by tonight