Omaha daily bee., 1899-07-02
TWO THOUSAND MEN A WEEK
Young Americans Show Bagerness to Join
Uncle Sans Employ.
REGULARS ARE NOW UP TO THE MAXIMUM
Postmaster General Smith Outlines
what Has necn Done to Cope
with the situation in
the Philippines.

NEW YORK, July IA special to the
World from Washington states that in re-
sponse to a request for an Interview on the
Philippine situation Postmaster General
Charles Emory Smith said: The situation
In the Philippines is the most important
and absorbing public question just at pres
ent / am well aware that there is some
restlessness on the matter and in some
quarters no little impatience. There Is
notion that the administration should have
been more energetic and when the Fill
pinos prolonged their warfare should have
called for and sent forward more troops.
But those who make this criticism do not
know that the administration has recruited
nearly 1000 men week right straight
along since congress adjourned on March a.
They do not know that with these recruits
and with the re-enlistments a force of
nearly 1000 men has been raised within
that time.
"They do not know that the army bill,
which passed on March 2, practically COM
PEELED the reorganization of a new army
nearly fourth as large as that which was
raised for the Spanish war. They do not
know that under the law authorizing the
creation of the army for the Spanish war all
of the regulars above $1,000, as well as all
of the volunteers had to be mustered out at
the ratification OF the peace treaty, and that
while the new army bill provides for a force
of 65, 900 men. the whole number above $4,000
had to be raised afresh.
ION the ratification Of peace with Spain
the presidents program was to reconstruct
the army up to the maximum number of
regulars permitted, viz: $4,000 men. He
began that work Immediately. About 10000
men have now been added to the force and
of the recruits fully 20 per cent were In the
service during the Spanish war.
This fact signifies two things: First, that
those who served had no terrors from what
they had gone through and were ready to
serve again. Second, that the force thus
recruited was Injured to the service and able
to stand its harships.
Besides, no married man Is taken. The
highest physical standard is enforced. No
person applying with any physical defect is
accepted.
at might have been possible to call for
volunteers, to have a rush, to have had the
hurry and the possibilities of mistake which
came with the sharp action at the begin
ming of the Spanish war, but even If this
had been done troops could not actually
have been sent to the Philippines faster
than they have been and they would not
have been anything ike as eHectlVe
within two weeks 5000 additional men
will be in the Philippines or on their way
and by August 1, before the close of the
rainy season, there will be $4,000 regulars
or more at the disposal Of Otis, and with
this force he will certainly be able to cope
with the situation.
General Otis has managed affairs In the
Philippines with skill and judgment. He
has never indicated a belief that he needed
more than 10000 effective troops.
''There is no trouble in the Philippines
outside the Island of Luzon. Aggressive
fighting is now restricted for about three
months because OF the rainy season, but as
soon as aggressive operations can be re-
sumed short work will be made of the con-
flict.
without Understanding the difficulties,
1t may be accepted THAT our government will
be equal to the demands of the situation"