The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-06-28
THE ARMY TO BE INCREASED
DECISION REACHED BY THE PRESI-
DENT AND SECRETARH ALGER.

Enlistments Are to BE Continued Mt tho
Regular Army Recruiting Stations, and
the Men So Enlisted VIII BE Credited to
tho Provisional Volunteer Armv-Otis to
Have What ReinforcementsH He May Need
wAsHrNaToN June 27.-What amounts prac-
tically to decision to send reinforoements to
Major. Gen. Otis beyond the limit Of 80 600
? men fixed BY that officer as necessary to uuell
the rebellion in the Philippines. was reached
at a conference held at the White House to-day
by PRECEDENT Mckinley and Secretary Alger
They did not decide definitely to raise volun.
teers. but the action determined on will be
equivalent to that. Tho plan adoptsi Is to con-
tinue the enlistment Of recruits at the regular
army recruiting stations beyond the limit Of
$4,000 regulars authorized by the Army Recr-
ganization act. The men thus secured will be
charged the rolls to the provisional volun.
teer force Of $4,000 men. No limit has been
placed on the number OF enlstments TO be
made in excess of $1,000. but the Admins
tration will decide in the near future lust how
many men will be needed by Gen. Otis.
The necessary orders for continuing enlist
ments were issued bv the War Department
this evening. Tho officers in charge OF re-
cruiting men for the regular service say that
the limit Of $4,000 has been reached. This
number is exclusive OF the 2.6OO men OF the
Hospital Corps and 500 general recruits. who
according to recent decision of the Comp
troller of the Treasu = are not to be charged
against the authorize Istrength OF the regular
army. Under that decision. the regular as
tablishment now consists Of So 100 men. and
all these have been secured. II enlistments
are made mt the rate that continued up to the
;tme the limit was reached about 900 addi-
tional troops will be enlisted every week. 1t
is expected. however. that an official an
nouncemcnt that tho army wants recruits for
service in the Philippines will result in great
increase in enlistments over the rate of re-
. cluitinC for the regular service. These addi-
tional men will. under the present arrange
ment. occupy an anomalous position in the
military service They will be enlisted prac.
tidny as regulars. and yet be borne on the
rolls of the provisional volunteer army. Under
the law they cannot be enlisted for longer
period than that ending July |. 1901. Inc
plans Of the Administration in regard to their
organization hare not been matured how
ever. and something will be done soon to de-
termine their actual status.
BY what authority the War De part ment will
enlist these additional men through the regu-
iar army recruiting channels is not clear. The
Army Reorganization law says that the volun-
teers may be raised. and does not require the
President to issue a call for them. SO tn at the
manner t" which they are to be secured Is not
inconsistent wi h the law. They are designated
by the Reorganization law. however. as voun-
teers aud are classified as separate from the
regular troops. Tho plan which was ar
ranged to-day provides for their enlistment in
the same manner as regulars are recruited.
and by army officers at army stations. While
they will be charged on the rolls against the
force OF 81. 900 volunteers, they will not DO dis
tinct from regular recruits. Steps have been
taken by the Administration to ascertain
whether the course Of the War Depart ent is
consistent with the law. There is little ikei-
hood that the law officers of the Government
will declare the method Illegal. as by the time
sufficient number OF recruits are obtained
I volunteer regiments will probably he organ
lied with officers appointed from civil life.
1t is evident that the instruction to continue
recruiting beyond the legal limit OF $1,000 are
merely pie iminary to the muster in OF volun-
teer regiments. By the time the President Sc
lect- the Culonels and OTHER officers Of these
regiments. there will be. it is expected n large
number OF men already enlisted by the regu-
lar army recruiting officers. The new officers
can then establish recruiting stations In the
localities in which they reside and augment
the wurk o: the regular stations 1t is gen
orally believed in military iuarter RS that there
wilt re nine volunteer regiments OF infantry
o,Canizcd. These will absorb about 4 900 men.
each regiment being OF the full war strength.
rs men 70 a company. which, with non
commits oned stan. &c. will make the total
s'r.ng'Esof each regiment l.3IO men. The
War DEPARTMENT is heartily in favor of organ
lang uine regiments
This plan. known "a the three brigade
scheme. because the nine regi ments will be
organized Into that many brigades, was under
consideration before President Mckinley left
WASHINGTON on his New England trip, and it
WIS practically decided then that should the
Necessity arise, for sending more troops to
Gen. obs the three brigade scheme should be
followed. Whether one OF these brigades will
I consist Of the three regiments which Gen.
Otis has been authorized to form from the reg
uIars and volunteers in the philippines whose
terms OF service have expired could not be as
ccr,aned. Gen. Otis has informed the War
n-partment that he has made arrangements
Tor organi2inT two skeleton !egments OF vol
to send an estimate Of the number OF men now
IN the Philippines who will re-enlist in these
The decision Of the President and Secre-
tary Alger to increase the military force Of the
United States Is moi surprising. While Gen.
Otis has consistently adhered TO his original
statement. that 10000 men would be enough
90 pue the insurrection, the Admins iraton
supporters all over tho country to send Gen
Otis enough TROOPS TO make, short work OF the
campaign. To Con 0tis's despatch OF yester
limit of endurance. may be attributed in great
measure the decision reached to-day. Tho Adj
ministratlon is Determined m TO use every means
and II nine additional regiments are not SUI
fcient for that purpose. more will he organ
lied, The new troopS will hardly be ready for
service before the end of tho Philippines rainy
season. Even were they in condition for ac
tive campaign before that time the War Do
+ partplent has not the means OF transporting
them to Manila, The transpor; service IL very
nsagre, bur will soon be increased ty several
vessels which are being lifted for use rs troou-
Ships on tho Atlantic coast.
TOLUNTEERS FOR THE PHILIPPINES.