The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-06-19
He Is Said to Have Determined on In
creasing the Total Strength of
the Army to 374,0OO Men.
RENDEZVOUS FOR RECRUITS
GOVERNORS WILL CHOOSE PLACES
UNDER THE SECOND CALL.
Decision of Interest to Army Officers
The Threat to Send n Fleet to
Cadiz-Three Battle Ships.
Special to the Indianapolis Journal.

special 10 the indianapolis Journal.
WASHINGTON, June 1S.-It was learned
to-day from source that has not here
tofore gone wrong in regard to flu
ture events of the war that the President
has not only determined to issue another
call for volunteers, as has already been
stated in these dispatches, but that he will
make the call for 100 900 men. instead of
$1,000, as heretofore suggested. This will
make a total enlistment, regular and vol
unteer, of $4,000, divided as follows Regu-
lar army, $1,000, an increase of $1,000; first
call for volunteers. 125, 900; second call. 75,-
900; immune regiments. 10000; volunteer
engineer regiments. 5000: proposed third
call, 100000. When war was declared mill
tary experts, remembering the experience
of the past. especially that of the civil war,
advocated the calling into the service of the
United States at once of not less than $780,
600 volunteers. These experts doubted the
preparedness for war of the National Guard
so-called, which on paper numbered up
wards of 100000 men, supposed to be per-
fectly equipped for the field. The result
showed that this paper force dwindled under
the stress of surgical examinations and of
failures to respond to the call on the part
Of individuals and of some organizations to
something like 60 per cent. of the enrolled
guard. Even of those who responded,
the majority were deficient in equip
ments. Some were without arms some
without uniforms, nearly all without the
necessary camp eqttipage and practically
all without wagons. mules, harness, tents
and other articles that go to make up a
properly equipped military force. AS the
volunteers poured into the various camps
set apart for their reception, it was seen
by the military experts that what the coun-
try was gathering was not an army ready
for the field, but great mass of patriotic
recruits, splendid material for an army,
but not an army. All the time since then
has been spent in getting them licked into
shape making soldiers out of them by dint
of drill and discipline. This work, stupen-
dous under the circumstances, has been
about finished, and now the need of addi-
tional men is badly felt The call for 100000
more volunteers may be made within a fort
night.
Adjutant General Corbin said to-day that
the State srendezvousing points for the
troops apportioned to them under the Sec
ond call would be determined upon by the
Governors. This practice is in accord with
that adopted under the first call when the
War Department followed the recommends
lions tnat were mace by the executives OF
the States and Territoriest0 ghese rendez-
vousing points it is understood however
are to be used only for the new organiza-
tons called for as the recruits raised to fill
the regiments already existing are prompt
ly shipped from the locality in which they
are raised to the central point at which the
regiments are stationed. The department
officials hope that the experiences under
the first CALL will not be repeated under the
second, when innumerable appeals were
made and much pressure brought to bear
for changes III the superintendent as at first
determined. Later on, when the troops are
ready to rendezvous, mastering officers will
be appointed and operations will proceed
as under the first call.
Secretary Alger has rendered decision
he holds that troops serving within the
limits of the United States al a time when
there is no foreign army within said limits
are not operating against an enemy not
withstanding the existence of war condt-
tions. The case upon which this decision
claim of some officers who had exercised
a higher command than their grade and
who contended they were entitled to the
pay of the higher grade. The paymaster
general maintained that the troops were
rot operating against an enemy" until they
States and in this he is upheld by the Sec
rotary. The secretary also had orders that
for the purpose of restricting assignments
to command under Section z of the volun-
teer army act to competent authority"
such authority can beeXercised only by the
secretary of war, or by the commanding
general of any army operating against an