The Mena star., 1899-02-15
War Department Officials Anxious to Have the Bill Passed to In-
 crease the Army.
TROOPS TO BE WITHDRAWN FROM CUBA.
Reduce the Number of American Regi- monts tn ths Island to Give the Cubans an Opportunity to Demonstrate That They Can Govern Themseivss.

Washington, Feb. l4-There is a genuine apprehension at the war de- rartment over the army situation The Spanish cortes is expected to rati- fy the treaty on or soon after the 2Oth of February. As soon as the exchange of notifications whichswill follow takes place the army will consist of p. 900 reg ulars and no more-barely sufficient for the seacoast defenses- The volun- teers, officers and men, generals and staff officers, will all go out by that act The speedy passage of the army bill is therefore looked upon as a mili- tary necessity.
 The proposition made by Mir. Bryan. hold the present strength of the regu. lar army with 50.000 yolun .eers, ca;. cers claim, would be in the nature of conscription so far as the volunteers ere concerned. and would be attended with much hardships, not to say dis. satisfaction. The universal desire of the volunteers is to return to their homes. and the war department feels that this desire should be met If pos. sible.
 Another makeshift suggestion is to pass resolution extending the pres ent war organization of the regular army. The law of April 70, author. izing the calling into service of volun. teers and the proclamation of the pres- ident specifying that these men should be called into service for the war with Spain is as follows.
 The volunteer army shall be maintained only during the existence of war or while war f. imminent. and shall be raised and organized as in this act provided. only after congress has or shall have authorized the president to raise such a force to call into the actual service oi the United States the militia of the severa states:
 Provided. that all enistments for the volun. teer army shall be for the term of two years unless sooner terminated, and all officers ant men composing said army shall be discharged from the service of the United States when the purposes for which they are called into service shall have been accomplished, or on the con- clusion of hostilities
 It is claimed, from the wording oi this law and from the understanding of all these men who accepted service in this war, that it would be mani. festly an net of bad faith on the part of the government to hold the volun. teer regiments in the Philippines, Cuba and Porto Rico after the signing oi the treaty of peace, beyond reason. able time necessary to provide trans portation and to relieve them with garrisons enlisted for service in the army.
 Troops to Re Withdrawn from Cuba.
 1. H. troops will be withdrawn from Cuba, beginning next month. Just as soon as a report is received from Mai. Gen. Brooke regarding the number of men to be retained in each of the depart ments for the purpose of assisting the Cubans in main taining order, instruc tions will be sent directing the return of all regiments that are not actually needed. In reducing the number of troops in Cuba, the administra ton has q double purpose; first. to give the Cubans an opportunity to demonstrate that they can govern themselves; second, to save the Ameri- can troops from the dangers of rainy season in the island. The Cubans have asserted from the outset that they could main tain order and during the rainy season they will have chance to show what they can do. If they succeed the American forces in Cuba will be gradually withdrawn. This arrangement is in fulfillment oi B promise made to the late Gen. Garcia and is really the beginning of the set tlement of the Cuban question by the establishment of an independent gov ernment.