Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1899-12-06
TIE ARMY.
The Discharge of the Volunteers and the
Reorganization of the Regular Army


The Discharge of the Volunteers and the
Reorganization of the Regular Army.
The unsatisfactory status of our re-
lations with Turkey regarding both
personal rights of Americans and
naturalized Ottomans while within the
Turkish Empire, and unfair discrim-
nations against American commerce,
are referred to, but without recommen-
dation.
The forming of commercial reci-
procity treaties under the Dingley
law, are lauded, and suggestions are
made for amending provisions of that
law so further treaties may be nego-
tiated.
Diplomatic and consular officers are
praised for their zeal in collecting
valuable information that tends to AID
American commerce, and to dissem1n-
ate valuable information at home.
The South American republics, our
relations with them and benefits of the
Pan-American Bureau and Exposition
are drawn to the attention of Con-
gress.
The Philadelphia Export Exposition,
Just closed, is mentioned felicitously,
and it's good results commended.
The Peace Conference at The Hague,
and its limited results, form the topic
for an historic chapter that contains
nothing not long since presented to the
public in the newspapers.
Since my last annual message, the
volunteers enlisted for
THE SPANISH WAR,
consisting of 34,S34 regulars, and no.
POP volunteers, with over 5000 volun-
teer officers, have been discharged from
the military service. OF the volun-
teers. 667 officers and 1881 men were
serving in the Philippines, and 1850
of the regulars, who were entitled to
be mustered out after the ratification
of the treaty of peace. They volun-
tarily remained at the front until their
places could be filled by new troops.
They were returned home in the order
in which they went to Manila, and are
now all of them out of the service and
in the ranks of citizenship. l recon-
mend that the Congress provide a spe-
cial medal of honor for the volunteers,
regulars. sailors and marines on duty
in the Philippines, who voluntarily re-
NAMED in the service after their
terms of enlistment had expired.
BY the Act OF March 2, 1899, Con-
gress gave authority to increase the
regular army to a maximum not ex-
ceeding 65, 900 enlisted men, and to en-
list a force of 5000 volunteers, to be
recruited from the country at large.
BY virtue of this authority the regu-
lar army has been Increased to the
number of 81 ,999 enlisted men and g.
24S officers, and new volunteer regi-
ments have been organized aggregat-
ing 33,050 enlisted men and 1924 Of
fcers. Two of these volunteer regi-
ments are made up of colored men,
with colored line officers.
THE NEW TROOPS
to take the places of those returning
from the Philippines have been trans
ported to Manila to the number of 581
officers and 1922 enlisted men of the
regular army and 594 officers and 49,
1888 enlisted men of the new volunteer
force. while 5o4 officers and 14,119 men
of the volunteer force, are on the ocean
en- route to Manila.
The force now in Manila consists of
COS officers and 30,57S regulars, and 594
officers and 1888 of the volunteers,
making an aggregate of 1,49s
officers and 1896 men. When the
troops now under orders shall reach
Manila, the force in the Archipelago
will comprise 2,051 officers and 63,4S3
men.
During the past year we have reduc-
ed our force in Cuba and Porto Rico.
In Cuba we now have 334 officers and
1926 enlisted men; in Porto Rico, 81
officers and 1856 enlisted men and
battalion of 400 men composed of ma
tive Porto Ricans; while stationed
throughout the United States are go Of
ffcers and 1877 men and in Hawaii,
II officers and 453 enlisted men.
Considerable space is devoted to the
postoffice department and the recon-
struction of the postal systems Of
Cuba, Porto Rico and the Philippines.
This information is identical with
that contained in the report of the
Postmaster General, printed on Mon
day.