Evening journal., 1898-08-18
THURSDAY. AUGUST ls. 1898
WORK OF MUsTERING OUT.

NoM thdL uut war DepWetn tne United
States and Spain is over, interest CEN
tres in the mastering out Of the vol
unteers who left their homes and avo-
cations to participate in the military
movements designed to bring Spain to
terms on the Cuban question. AS
Delaware has a regiment in the SER
vice our people are vitality interested
in common with those OF other states.
A dispatch from Washington says
that for several weeks past, since
peace negotiations began and their
conclusion was imminent, preparations
have been in progress I'M the office OF
the adjutant- general looking towards
the mastering out Of q large portion
OF the volunteer army Tentative lists
of regiments were made out and dis
cussed by General Corbin and Score
tary Alger, and the question OF what
number OF troops could be safely dis
pensed with carefully canvassed.
Tuesday the subject was brought be-
fore the Cabinet and was made a topic
OF discussion. A decision was reached
that from 10000 to 10000 OF the vol
unteers can with safety be at once re-
turned to their homes, and that within
the next sixty days one-half OF the en-
tire volunteer army may be disbanded.
This action was the result OF many
earnest appeals from troops that they
should be permitted 10 return to their
homes and their business as soon as It
should be determined that there would
be no further need OF their services. The
signing OF the protocol for peace, the
fall OF Manila and the situation in
Porto Rico and at Santiago satisfy the
president that the disbanding OF the
volunteers may safely begin.
While the list OF regiments to be
first mustered out has not been finally
determined upon, It is understood that
the volunteers who have seen service
in Cuba and Porto Rico are to be the
first selected. The volunteers under
General Skaters command, which
have been subjected to the casualties
OF battle and disease, are thought to
have earned the right to earliest con-
sideration in this respect. AS soon as
their places are taken by other troops,
most OF those In General Brooke's S
command in Porto Rico will be order
ed home for muster out. 1t is intend
ed to shortly disband the regiments
and batteries mustered in under the
second call. The ten so-calied immune
regiments will probably be retained in
the service for some months to come
Pending a decision by Congress Of
what the permanent strength OF the
army Is to be, II is the intention OF the
administration to retain one-haf OF the
volunteers in service and to utiliz,
them in garrisoning Cuba and PortC
Rico.
One regiment now on its way tC
Honolulu will remain on station at tha
point until relieved The troops in tn,
Philippines can scarcely be withdrawn
before the first of the year, inasmucl
as ratification OF the treaty OF peace
which will finally determine our right
in these islands, cannot be had at I
date much before the regular session
OF Congress, and further Legislation
will doubtless be required before tn
status Of the army is decided upon.
Should the treaty give to the Unite'
States the Island OF Luzon, we shal
need from 10000 to $1,000 troops q
garrison Manila and maintain order.
A smaller number will be requires
for foreign service in Porto Rico. Blu
no one doubts that for some time Z
come there must be a strong militar
occupation OF Cuba, and that from 80
600 to $4,000 men, distributed through
out the island in the various provinces
will be required to maintain order an
carry out the policy Of the government
There is a general consent, in vier
OF these considerations, that one CT tn
hlct uultco VI OVAtANon VIII NC " Pr
vide for an increase Of the regula
army from It's peace footing OF 27.0C
men, fixed by law, to from 10000
100000 OF all branches. The force no
authorized by special legislation is 81
600. but the total number in service
considerably less than $4,000. Man
Of these are invalided.
Until a permanent policy is decide
upon, the regular army must be SUI
plemented by the volunteers. It seen
TO be fully decided that the Seven'
Corps, under General Lee, is to be
large part retained for the occupatiC
OF Eastern Cuba after it's evacuatiC
by the Spanish troops. None OF Il
Fifth Corps, now home and on the
way home invalided, are to be returns
to Cuba until thoroughly recovered.
When Camp Wikoff is broken up tl
Fall, the question Of the next static
Of the regulars there in camp will