Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1898-12-01
2umor Says That Two Of the Presi-
dents Advisers May Soon Retire.
VOLUNTEERS NAY SOOy BE- LET OUT
The Three Missouri pegiMents Still In the
Service VIII PROBABLY Be Mustered
out Without sssing Cuba
Army ReorgMnix .ti0u.

l
after the peace treaty is an accom-
plshed fact Secretary John D. Long
OF the navy, and Secretary Cornelius
N. Bliss, OF the interior, are said t.
have expressed desire to retire from
official life as soon as they can do SC
without causing embarrassment tt
the president They are said to be
thoroughly in accord with the presi
dents policy, and have been
throughout the war and the pegotia.
tions leading up to peace, but each
has large private interests, and neither
is apparently ambitious for high po-
ltical honors. The changes talked oil
are not to come soon, it is said, II they
come at all. Several times the an.
nouncement has been made that Sec.
rotary Bliss wanted to resign, but each
time the peculiar political conditions
in New York prevented his doing so.
Should Mr.. Bliss 90 out. this time it is
quite probable that Whitelaw Reid,
now completing his labors on the Par
is commission, would be given the
portfolio.
California has filed caveat on the
navy portfolio should Secretary Long
retire within the next few months
Representative Hilborne. OF that state,
one OF the foremost members of the
house committee on naval affairs, Is
the Pacific slopes candidate. Because
California so staunchly supported the
administration at the recent election
and made such great gains, it Is be-
lieved the president should recognize
it by giving 1t representation in the
cabinet In the event Of vacancy.
Expansion and the reconstruction of
the Nicaragua canal means more to
the Pacific states than to any other,
say the Californians who are here, and
they should be represented at the
council board of the president.
VOLUNTEERS MAY SOON DE LET OUT.
Washington, Nov, 80 Unless there
is unexpected delay Ia an exchange of
the articles OF pecce between the joint
commission now at Paris, the three
regiments OF Missouri volunteers still
in the service will probably be mus
tered out without seeing Cuba.
Although war department officials say
that few II any volunteers will be let
out until the peace treaty has been
formally signed, orders have been
given to list the volunteers who are
now in southern camps anticipating
speedy embarkation for Cuba. The
volunteers now in Cuba, Porto Rico
and the Philippines will remain in
the service until succeeded by regu-
lars, but for the volunteers now in the
south different arrangements will be
made.
Extraordinary efforts are being made
by the war department to enlist men
up to the maximum Of war standing
authorized by congress last spring. 1t
is less than 5000 short Of the requisite
number so, OOO-and Col. Sheldon, who
has charge Of the enlistment bureau,
said that the maximum might be
reached before Christmas The enlist
ments for the regular army for the
month of November, said Col. Sheldon,
would bring the total Of regulars up
to $4,000 or $1,000. A good many vol.
unteers, whose desire for army life
was not satisfied with their time in the
state volunteers, are being transferred
to the regular list and enlistments in
dependent of this are heavy. During
September 2,7l5 men were enlisted in
the regular service; October recorded
total of $500, and November reports
are expected TO aggregate 5000. In
the three months of May, June and
July $4,000 men were enlisted in the
regular army, but in August, before
the expansion policy was determined
on, the enlistments were few. Sol
diers who enlist in the regular army
now are practically certain to see serv.
ice in foreign countries Philip.
pines, Cuba or Porto Rico-and they
are coming forward rapidly. Adjt
Gen. Corbin is anxious to get quickly
the full quota of regulars authorized
by congress, as that will allow the
mastering out of many of the volun.
teers who have not yet gone out OF the
United States. Orders have already
been prepared to make up lists OF vol
unteer regiments which, in the opin-
ion OF the department. can be spared
ARMY REORGANIZATION.
Washington, Nov. SO.-There is re.
newed talk Of the reorganization Of
the regular army by the present ses-
sion of congress The general i'm.
preston seems to be that the regular
army should consist of lOO 900 men
and that number will no doubt be
recommended in the draft of the bill
being prepared by the war depart
ment However, there has been ad-
vanced suggestion which meets with
some favor in military circles which
is to make a regular standing army of
$4,000 men, the latter made up large
ly of natives of the islands
where the United States must do
garrison duty. These troops could be
differed from the United States army
and provision made to give them in.
creased rank and pay while on such
duty. 1t has been suggested that lieu
tenants could become captains and
cantains m iors and 81 on IN the hiuh.