The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1899-07-07
THE ARMY INCREASE
Nine Regimen ts Will Probably He Re-
cruited for the Philippines-A
Battle Imminent.

members of the cabinet, speaking in
connection with the campaign in the
Philippines, said: 1.-THE president has
given Gen. Otis to understand that he
is to have all the men necessary in the
conduct of the operations against the
insurgents. Gen. Otis has been told this
IN SO many words, the president having
said to him in effect that if he (Otis)
did not have enough men it was his
own fault. The president also realizes
that the better the men are cared for
and their health preserved, the more
capable they will be of doing effective
work, and before the rainy season be-
gan Gen. Otis was instructed to prepare
for it, and in various ways was given
to understand the presidents desire
that the soldiers should be well cared
for, and well fed
/ There will be nine regiments raised
at once for service in the Philippines.
The president discussed the matter Fri
day morning at the cabinet meeting.
over week ago it was suggested to the
secretary of war that nine regiments.
or about $4,000 men, would furnish the
additional force required by Gen. Otis
IN the prosecution of the campaign
against the insurgents. There were
counter propositions, and it was sug-
gested among other things that the
maximum strength of the $4,000 volun-
teers be utilized. There is difference
OF opinion among the army officers
as to the force which Gen. Otis should
have by the end of the wet season.
Washington, July /. - Since the an
nouncement that about 10, 0oOvolunteers
we're to be mustered into the army for
service in the Philippines the president
has been deluged with applications for
commissions. Almost every congress
sional caller has one or more appli-
cants whom he presses on the presi-
dents attention.. The president re-
quests all his visitors to file their ap-
plications with Adjt. Gen. Corbin, at
the same time he makes it clear in
general way that the policy of the ad-
ministration in granting commissions
will be to give preference to volunteer
officers who showed ability and who
performed valuable service during the
Spanish war. Some regular officers are
also to be given volunteer commissions
in the belief that one or two regular Of
ficers in regiment will be of great ad-
vantage. The number of officers to be
commissioned is being carefully guard
ed to prevent scramble.
New York, July L. A special to the
Herald from Washington says: No
colored regiments will be organized for
service in the Philippines. Any colored
men enlisted will be assigned to vacan-
cies in the present colored regiments
of the regular army. The experiment of
the war department with colored volun-
teers during the Spanish war was not
happy one, and, in spite of the re-
ports which come from the Philippines
to the effect that the colored man is
greatly feared by the Filipinos, the au-
thorities are averse to running the risk
of repetition of the troubles of last
year.
Washington, July 1.-The first or
ders were issued Friday for recruiting
the troops under the clause authoriz-
ing the enlistment of $4,000 men. The
order contemplates enlisting men for
the three skeleton regiments in the
Philippines. Recruiting officers have
been instructed to enlist men with this
understanding.
Manila, July IA collision between
the two armies at San Fernando seems
inevitable soon. The insurgents are
active all around the town and can be
seen working in the trenches to
strengthen their position. Day and
night forces are at work. It is esti-
mated that 5000 men were seen march
ing in the road north of the town Fri
day morning. The Americans turned
out and manned the defenses, expecting
an attack. The soldiers sleep in their
clothes and breakfast at four o'clock in
the morning so as to be ready for an
other daybreak assault. Gen. Oven
shine is in the hospital suffering with
fever. Gen. Grant is commanding his
troops on the south line.
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