The San Francisco call., 1899-04-12
VOLUNTEERS
ENTITLED TO
DISCHARGE
One Effect of the Peace Proc
lamatiOn Issued by the
President.
Special Dispatch to The Call.


Call Headquarters. Wellington Hotel,
Washington, April IL
one of the most important effects of
the Presidents peace proclamation will
be the disbandment of the volunteer
army organized specially for the war
with Spain. In anticipation of this re-
suit officials of the War Department
have for some time past been engaged
in the muster out of all troops enlisted
for the war, and this work has so far
progressed that there are only four vol
Unteer regiments on duty in Cuba
These are the so-caled immune regi-
ments. There are no volunteers in
Porto Rico and Hawaii
There are about $4,000 volunteer troops
in the Philippines. They have rendered
most gallant and effective service in
the campaigns against the Filipino in
surgents and their immediate muster
out would seriously interfere with the
successful prosecution Of military oper-
ations now in progress.
1t is said at the War Department that
no such embarrassment is apt to occur
in consequence of the Presidents proc
lamatiGn, as arrangements will be made
under existing laws for the continuance
in service of all these volunteer troops
who may elect TO remain in the Philip
pines. The law which called the army
into existence will be construed at the
War Department to mean that the mus
ter out of troops in the Philippines VIII
be upon the orders of the executive,
and that in the natural order OF Things
such result cannot be accomplished
within less than two or three months.
In the law for the promotion Of the
efficiency of the army, passed just be-
fore the adjournment of Congress,
there was a provision authorizing the
President TO enlist in the Philippines
officers and men, individually or by or
eanization. now in those islands, and
about to be discharged provided their
retention shall not extend beyond six
months.
AS a special induCement for the re-
enlistment of these regular and volun-
teer troops in the Philippines, the War
Department has decided in case of such
re-enlistment that the men will be al
lowed full travel pay on their return
to the United States, including trip
b. sea, as we'll as by land, to the place
of their original enlistment 1t is cal
ance will amount to between $500 and
$500 in the case of each soldier who re-
enlists in the Philippines. Besides
this, they will get credit for service
already rendered and will also receive
the two months extra pay provided
for soldiers who rendered service out
side of the United States:
These special inducements, it is
hoped, Will have the effect Of inducing
most of the troops to. continue in the
military service for the next six
months, at least. In support of the
statement that the. execution Of the law
for the disbandment of the volunteers
will require several months time, at
tention is called to the conditions that
existed in the army at the close Of the
civil war. There was a similar law
then directing the disbandment of the
volunteer army. The proclamation
declaring the war closed was issued
in October 1866, and the regiments
still remaining in the service were
mustered out from time to time, the
last volunteer regiment to be mus
tered out being held until a
year and six months after peace
had been proclaimed by the President
Under this construction a number of the
volunteer regiments may be retained in
the Philippines for some time, although
St is known that those who desire to re
turn home will be allowed to do so.