Evening star., 1899-03-29
NO CALL INTENDED
The President Averse to Forming a
Volunteer Army.
REGULARS THOUGHT TO Be ENOUGH
Military Force in West Indies May
Be Reduced.
THE SITUATION AT MANILA

The authoritative announcement has been
made that the President will not organize
| the proposed provisional army Of 35ooo vol
unteers unless II is needed So far there is
| no demand from Gen. Otis for more troops
| than are now on their way TO Manila. Hi$
| last call was for three batteries OF light
| artillery. These were at once placed under
orders for Manila, and their way to
| San Francisco. They will sail about the
| 10th of April.
| 1t Is the desire of the President to avoid
calling this volunteer force into the service
| II possible, and IL is understood that no
| steps will be taken in the matter until the
result of the present operations I'm front of
| Aguinaldo's army is determined. This de-
| termination Is regarded as very close at
| hand. and, should the operations result I'm
| the destruction of the insurgent army, IT
| is thought there would be no need OF en-
| larging the army beyond the limits of the
regulars-tSa.oco. At all events, the raising
| of the volunteer force could not affect the
present operations and could bear upon the
| Philippine operations only in the event Of a
great protraction of the resistance Of the
| natives. since il would take three months
| TO get the rev volunteer recruits to Manila.
If the volunteers now in the Philippines
are willing to re-eniist after the expiration
of their present term of service by the
proclamation of the Spanish peace, they
will undoubtedly be taken in, but the regu-
! lar army has not yet been fully recruited.
! being about 5000 short, and it is the desire
| Of the department to fill up the regular
army, ii possible, before calling on voiun-
teCrS.
In the West Indies.
The situation in Cuba and Porto Rico war
| rants the expectation that the military
| there can to very considerable extent be
| speedily replaced with civil officials. so that
not only will no additional troops be needed
there, but some Of those now there may be
Withdrawn. II is understood that some of
the War Department officers are strongly
| in favor of organizing the volunteer force
at once, whether or not ii Will be Of service
| in the Philippine war. their theory being
that army OF 100000 is needed, anyhow,
and that its existence under the temporary
| law would accustom the public 80 IL and
render esaier the execution of the plan for
the establishment of permanent standing
army of that size.
The President, however, has shown a very
decided indisposition to accept this advice.
| and it is acknowledged among army officials
| that a positive necessity for the increase
will have 10 be shown before he will con-
sent 10 call for the VOLUNTEERS.
Demand From the O6iceseekers.
1t is stated at the War Department that
| the greatest demand for the organization of
the $4,000 volunteers comes from the men
and the friends of men who desire places
| in the volunteers as officers. There are al
ready many applications on file for these
places, and not only men who served in
the state regiments, but those who have
served in staff positions and have been mus
tered out, are anxious to again enter the
army Those who insist that the provision
al army must be organized say that they
have information from the philippines
which indicates that volunteer army can
not be enlisted for six months. as provided
for by the bill. from the volunteers who
will be mustered out when the ratincauons
of peace are exchanged. 1t is said that
most of these volunteers will demand trans
portation home at once, and that there Will
not be enough regulars in the Philippines
to carry on the war with the Fflpinos-
Volunteers Want to Remain.
Adjutant General Corbin says that these
representations do not agree with informa-
ton received direct from General Otis.
which is to the effect that the volunteer
troops now in the Philippines have remon-
strated against being sent home white act
i've operations are in progress. He made
that statement in response to a direct in
qury TO the desire Of the volunteers to
take advantage of the law authorizing their
muster out. General Otis said that the vol
unteers had patriottcally declined to take
advantage of that privilege. and had ex-
pressed the desire to continue in service as
long there was any fighting to be done.
He added that they were In excellent
health and spirits, and were rendering most
efficient service.
A statement prepared at the War Depart
ment in regard to the regiments under or
ders and on the way to the Philippines
shows follows:
Reinforcements for Otis.
The 18th Infantry and four companies Of
the 18th Infantry, on the transport Sheri-
dan. now nearing Manila. Headquarters
and six companies OF the 9th Infantry left
San Francisco March "a. Six other compa-
nies of the 9th Infantry Will leave the same
port in a day or two. The 9th Artillery will
leave its present station April Is. The 2lst
Infantry will leave its present station April
Is, and the 9Th Infantry, 18th Infantry and
10th Infantry and Light Battery L, LIST Ar
tiiiery, F, 4th Artillery, and F, 9th Artil-
lery, are all under orders to prepare for
transportation to Manila by way of San
Francisco and will be forwarded fast
troopships can be obtained for the long
voyage across the Pacific. These troops
number about 10 900 in all, and their arrival
at Manila will greatly strengthen the fight
ing force of General Otis and enable him TO
send home an equal number Of the volun-
teers who have made such splendid rec