The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1898-06-03
THE SECOND CALL.
Many Questions to Be Settled Be-
fore Regulations Are Made.
A BRIGADE OF ENGINEER TROOPS.
1t VIII Be Recruited Largely from Mo
chanics, such AS Machinists, Carpenters.
Plumbers, Photographers, Etc.-'Im-
munes" Largely from the south.


munes" Largely from the South.
WASHINGTON, May 27.--In the rush
of military preparations the war de-
partment officials have not been able
to give much attention to the regula-
tions for the procurement of the 5000
additional volunteers called for by the
president. 1t is still uncertain Just
how far the national authorities will
go toward recruiting these forces
themselves, nor is it positively known
that independent organizations, COM
panies battalions 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, ifit 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
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
r. / T..
the organization of certain independ-
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 is
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 /, 1906 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-
crnit 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, Triggers, 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-
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
I'LL TO their maximum strength the 100
and more regiments of the volunteers
already called for, most nf which
are organized at the minimum mum
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 far
below the maximum prescribed by
law, which is 1000 men in the infantry.
Approximately 10000 or more men
will be required to recruit these regi-
ments to their war strength, which,
after all, will not leave such great
number to be obtained under the sec
ond call in new organizations.
The intention on the part of the war
department officials not to limit the
raising of the soldiers to the national
guard organization will give an oppor-
tunity for the formation of independ-
ent commands, a number Of which
already have been offered to the gov
eminent under the previous call, but
which, because of the lack of room
had to be rejected.