Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1899-06-29
FORTY THOUSAND MEN
Will Fight Under General Otis in
the Philippines.
ENLIsTMENTs To BEGIN AT ONoE

Volunteers win Not Be Accepted In
Organizations, But state and Local
Lines VIII Be Dfsregarded-The Reg
uIar Army Up to Its Full Strength.
Washington, June %. Secretary AL
ger, Adiutant General Corbin and
Colonel Bird. assistant quartermaster
general in charge of transportation,
had an hours consultation with the
president yesterday relative to the
question of reinforcements for General
Otis. A definite decision has been
reached to continue recruiting men at
all the recruiting stations for service
in the Philippines, and Secretary Alger
said when he left the White House,
after the conference, that General Otis
would have 10000 men when the rainy
season closed for resumption of ac-
tive operations.
There are 70 recruiting stations in
the United States, and enlistments are
to be taken at all of these stations.
Recruits are to be organized into regl-
ments or assigned to regiments already
formed after enlistment. Arrange
ments are to be made at once for in
ereasing the transportation necessary
to get these additional troops to the
Philippines.
It was definitely decided to begin
the enlistments for the volunteer SER
vice under the act of the last con
gress. The reports to the adJutant
general show that the regular army
is up to its full authorized strength.
The additional soldiers needed must
be obtained under that section of the
act of congress authorizing the enlist
ment CT volunteers. The only excep-
ton will be in the case of the few
enIistments that will be made from
time to time to fill gaps in the regular
army caused by casualties and by this
expiration of snlistments. The officers
scattered among the principal cities OF
the country who have been eniistine
regulars only will be instructed im=
mediately TO prepare to enlist Volun-
teers. The present indications are that
about 10000 men will be wanted,
Volunteers will not be accepted in
organizations. Secretary Alger is de-
termined to adhere to that rule. Look
ing over the act of congress, he has
concluded that the authorization to
raise these volunteer troops "at large
indicates a purpose on the part of con-
gress to follow out the plan success
fully operated in the case of the i'm
muns regiments. 1t is the present pur-
pose to disregard state and local lines
in securing the recruits and welding
them into organizations.
No difficulty is anticipated In SO.
curing the men needed. 1t is believed
that the 900 men who are weekly of
fering themselves at the recruiting
Offices will be even more willing tc
enter the army as two year volunteers
than as long term regulars.
The decision TO reinforce General
Otis by the end of the rainy season is
interpreted to mean that aggressive
campaigning will cease until the bad
weather ends Until that time oul
| operations will probably pc confined
to occasional excursions to places II
close proximity to onr lines, where the
insurgents may have congrsgated in
force. By remaining quiescent under
good shelter during the rainy season
1t is hoped the health of our troops
will be conserved and the danger from
climatic fevers reduced to minimum