The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1899-06-01
More Volunteers 10 be Called For.

More Volunteers 10 be Called For
The Washington ID O.. Post says:
Although not officially admitted, it is
generally known in inner circles that
leading officers Of the administration,
including the President and his prinoi-
pal advisers in the War Department, are
seriously considering the question Of
another call for volunteers 20 aid in the
suppression OF the instruction in the
Philippines Latest official advices
from Manila indicate that there are
very small prospects Of an early sub
mission to the sovereignty of the United
States on the part Of Aguinaldo and
numerous followers. The rainy season
has begun in earnest in the archipelago
and has compelled the withdrawal Of
the American troops to their inner lines,
which action it is said has encouraged
the insurgents TO the belief that Gen
Otis is discouraged and will undertake
no more aggressive steps until he has
received large reinforcements from the
United States Meanwhile the Filipinos
have withdrawn TO their remaining
strongholds in the interior, and are EN-
plOying their time to strengthening
their position with view to resistance
as long as possible. Active field opera
tions are practically impossible during
the rainy season, and it is said that
Gen. Otis will confine his tactics in the
near future to retaining his position
and holding the enemy in check
The rainy season usually continues
about three months, and is not expected
to terminate sufficiently for a resump
ton Of active military operations by
unacclimated troops before the end of
August
WILL LOSE SERVICES OF THE YOLUN
TIERS.
During this enforced period of COM
parative idleness Gen. Otis will lose the
valuable assistance Of nearly all Of the
volunteer troops which have heretofore
been the mainstay Of his army, and
their places will be partly supplied by
regular troops now on their way TO the
Philippines These regulars being
mostly raw recruits and unacclimated,
will hardly be as efficient at first as the
veteran volunteers who have had the
experience Of years campaign OF con-
slant and severe fighting The home
movement Of the volunteers will begin
in day or two, and il is stated at the
War Department that the last Of them
will have left Manila by the end Of
June or early in July.
FEW VOLUNTEERS WILL RE ENLIST.
The efforts of the War Department to
induce the volunteers III the Philippines
to re enlist have been successful only TO
very small degree. Notwithstanding
the offer TO allow such Of these men
who re-enlist travel pay amounting to
nearly 5000 in each case, il is reported
that not more than enough men 10 or
ganize two full regiments have been
secured out of the entire eighteen vol
unteer regiments now in the Philip
pines. When the volunteers who are
coming home have left the archipelago,
and all the regulars destined to that
country, including those still in the
United States preparing for the voyage,
have reached there, General Otis will
have an army Of about $4,000 men.
This number includes also the vOlun.
teers who have indicated a Willingness
to re-enlist in the service
Military experts who have given the
subject much thought and study are
practically agreed that an army Of the
size indicated is not sufficient for the
enforcement of the sovereignty Of the
United States within reas Unable space
of time, and that the only possible way
TO conquer the insurgents is to place in
the field an efficient army Of at least
40, 600
THE PRESIDENTS VIEW.