The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1899-10-25
REPORT ABSOLUTELY FALSE.
DIsCH SOLDIERS NOT LEFT
on THEIR OWN RESOURCES.
Men Discharged In Philippines Given
Free transportation Home and
Travel pay-Secretary MetkiejChn

Special Dispatch - the Post-Inleligencer
WASHINGTON. Oct @i.-~AsSlstant Sec
Rotary q War Melklsioan Was asked by
your correspondent what tTuta thege Is IL
the report circulated n certain quarters to
the effect that The So,a.e.s whose terms ~
service had expired Al Manila. AMI who
would not re-eDIlst. were .efi on their own
resources.
None whatever" replied MIR Meikle-
john. This statement u hot only untrue.
but II is infamous 70 circulate n report that
reflects. as MS Oae does. on the humanity
Of Ire government and tae administration,
even for campaign purposes.
Il 10 not kuow from Naat source this
report emanatcd. but from whatever source
Il came the facts DO not suhstanttate II.
Way should the government seek TO coegce
men 10 re-eaiist when, aS has been demon
strsied within The pas; ninety days. II can
get az the men it needs for service in the
Philippines. The returns show that I'D TO
October l., .0si had been enlisted for
service III the Philippines. ana. approx
maie.y Speaking, 800 ulen rejected.
No government has ever Treated TIE
private soldier with as much difference or
mas been as Soilcitous for his personal wei
fare AS Is the government " tho niied
States There Is a reason for this Our
army IL recruited from the farm, the
WORKSHOP the Countins-room and the mer-
chants counter. The American zo41iev is
representative American citizcn Who
serves his country when his country calls
because he is a patriot, and take this oc-
caSion 10 pay tribute to Ills patriotism.
courage. zeal and devotion 10 duty.
Law Is Very Clear.
Now, as 10 soldiers being left on their
own resources; TIE law Is very clear. eS-
plicit ana imperative on This point Sec
tion 10. act % January -. 1918 q Stat. ,sel.
provides:
=" That whenever any oilicer or soldier
shall he discharged from the service ex-
cept by way ot punishment for an of
tense, he sadii be allowed his pay and ra-
lions, or an equivalent in money, for such
term Of time as shall he sufficient for him
Ia travel from the place OF discharge to
the place OF his residence, computing a.
the rate of twenty miles 10 day
The second comptroller in a decision
dated July :. 1906. said:
A soldier konorahly discharged has a
right under tho law 10 an immediate pay
HieIt OF his pay and rations OF an equiva-
snail be sufficient for him TO travel from
the place OF discharge 10 the place ~ AIS
residence. computing al the rate Of twenty
miles a day II IS part Of his contract OF
enlistment ana must lee paid. nor Ia he
under any obligation 10 perform the travel
II he shall choose to reenis; or 10 STAY
where he may DC when dis haTged- The
government has fulfilled it's obligations
when 1t has paid him. and the soldier IS
not responsible 10 the government for the
use he may make OF his money
RtHefdi NtNSEs no. -, ny direction OF the
secre AIRY Of wax, dated March -. 1879. are
AS follows:
= Officers and soldiers discharged under
this order Will be entitled To travel allow
anccs Cor the land travel involved from
the place of their discharge to the place
OF their enlistment. Fer the sea travel the
specific orders Issued by the comman ling
generals OF the departments for the dis
charge or officers VIII state Ia each case
that the officer Is entitled 10 free trans
portatioD and IN cases OF enlisted men 10
free ransporta ton and subsistence on any
United states transport leaving the islanC:
for the United States within one year from
the date Of discharge. When transpurta-
tion or Subsistence is furnished on such or
ders the fact Viii be noted thereon, and a $50
on the discharge certificate by the quarter
master.
Paragraph Of general orders No. S. Is
sued May ~, 1879. by direction OF the secre-
tary OF war, reads follows:
An enlisted man. a resident OF tho
United states. serving I'm the islands men
toned in paragraph 4 hereof. who is dis
charged from the service I'm those islands
by transfer 20 another branch OF the serv-
Ice, or on his own Application whether
ny way OF favor or by purchase; or because
0f confinement ~ the civil authorities: or
by way OF punishment for an offense or for
disability causetNby his own misconduct: or
the operation Of section 1870 Revised Stat
u;ss. and the act of March is. 1879 ga stat
Large 81. prevented from being allowed
the usual travelling allowances 10 the piaca
OF his enlistment. enrolment or original
muster into the service but he will ~
brought by the government TO the United
states on transport free OF charge"