Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1898-06-02
THE SECOND CALL.
Many Questions to Be Settled Be-
fore Regulations Are Made.
A BRIGADE OF ENGINEER TROOPS.
II VIII BE Recruited Largely from Me-
chanics, Such as Machinists, Carpenters,
Plumbers, Telegraphers Etc.-"Im.
munes" Largely from the South.

chanics, Such as Machinists, Carpenters,
Plumbers, Telegraphers, Etc.-"Im.
munes" Largely from the South.
WASHINGTON, May Elm the rush
OF military preparations the war de.
partment officials have not been able
TO give much attention to the regula-
tons for the procurement OF the $1,000
additional volunteers called for by the
president. 1t is still uncertain just
how far the national authorities will
90 toward recruiting these forces
themselves, nor is it positively known
that independent organizations, com.
panes, battalons and regiments
raised by individuals, will be accepted
en- bloc, if by so doing the department
is required to accept the officers with
the men. Indeed, it is now questioned
whether under the law, the depart
ment could, ift would accept services
Of officers under such conditions, as
the governors of the states appear to
be the only persons authorized to Is
sue commissions below the regimental
grade. There are many other vexa.
tious questions to be settled before
the regulations can be promulgated,
but, fortunately, in the judgment OF
the department officials due notice
having been given to the people of a
desire for more troops by the govern
ment, there is no occasion for haste in
deciding upon details in view of the
fact that the full draft Of men called
for under the first proclamation has
not been secured
The department officials were en-.
gagged yesterday largely with the
execution Of new law providing for
the organization Of certain itdepend-
ent forces, with the result that it was
able to announce regulations govern.
ing the examination Of applicants for
commissions in the engineer regiments
and organization for the immune regi-
ments. The brigade Of engineers ia
to be composed Of three regiments to
be designated, res pectively, the First,
Second and Third regiments of United
States volunteer engineers. There are
to be three battalions in each regi.
ment, of four companies each, For each
regiment there are to be SO com.
missioned officers and l,lO6 enlisted
men, The officers will be selected for
their skill as military, civil, electrical,
mechanical or Typographical engi'
neers An effort will be made to re.
cruit the enlisted men from every
branch Of engineering profession and
Of mechanical skill. Machinists, steam
engineers, blacksmiths, carpenters,
plumbers, telegraphers, topographers,
craftsmen, photographers, railroad
men, riggers, boatmen and those
skilled in the use of explosives are
especially desired. Volunteer engi-
neer troops will be armed and equipped
as infantry. Their uniform will con-
form to that prescribed for the use OF
engineer troops of the regular army.
The men composing the 'immunes'
are expected to be recruited largely
from the south, They are to be organ.
lied into ten regiments, five of which
will be composed of whites and the
other regiments of colored persons.
They will be made up as far as practi'
cable of officers and men who owing
to their origin. the place of their resi-
dence, and other circumstances affect
ing their physical characteristics,
possess immunity, or are likely to be
exempt, from diseases incident to
tropical climates.
There will be some consultation be.
tween the president and the war Off.
GERS before the conclusion is reached
as to the programme to be followed in
regard to the second call. 1t seems,
however, to have been determined to
fill to their maximum strength the l0C
and more regiments Of the volunteers
already called for, most of which
are organized at the minimum num-
Der allowed by the law This
was permitted in order that as
great number of the national
guard organizations might come into
the army as possible, thus giving an
opportunity to their officers to hold
their full rank In the volunteers, The
enlisted strength Of most of the vol
unteer regiments in many cases is fal
below the maximum prescribed 10y
law, which is l,06O men in the infantry
Approximately 10000 or more mel
will be required to recruit these regi
ments to their war strength, which
after all, will not leave such a grea
number to be obtained under the sec
ond call in new organizations
The intention on the part of the wa
department officials not to limit TIL,
raising Of the soldiers to the nationa
guard organization will give an oppor
tunity for the formation of independ
ent commands, number of whicl
already have been offered to the gov
eminent under the previous call, bu
which, because Of the lack OF roor
had to be rejected.