The San Francisco call., 1899-06-23
PRESIDENT
TO AUTHORIZE
ENLISTMENT
Otis Command Will Soon Be
Strengthened by Ten
Regiments.
Special Dispatch to The Call.

/ WI ASHINGTON, June 22.-Presi-
| NM dent Mckinley will authorize
Wy the enlistment of additional
men for the Philippines when
/ he returns to Washington. This is the
understanding of well-informed War
Department officials The administra-
tlon has, a last, come to recognize the
/ necessity of reinforcing General Otis
command, which has been so persist
emily pointed out.
! 1t was apparent to-day that some Of
the department officials are figuring on
the adVisability of enlisting men to
form ten complete regiments. When
asked Acting Secretary of War Meikle-
john on this point he told me if the
President authorized additional men
the number would be determined after
consultation with General Otis 1t
would not be surprising were the de-
partment to hear from General Otis be-
lore the return of the President so that
the latter may be supplied with neces-
Sary information in order to take i'm
mediate action.
In any event" said the official With
whom l talked, Il wish it reiterated
that there is little probability of a for
| mai call for volunteers. State organiza-
uonS Will not be accepted, although
there are many applications on file from
them for muster in and dispatch to the
Philippines. The President will
think, authorize the department to di-
rect its recruiting officers tC make en-
nStmentS, and | am confident the men
| can be obtained in such numbers as to
form complete organizations and be
ready for service with General Otis
! during the fall months"
Tf,sa i
formation of ten regiments, recruiting
officers would have to obtain 10. 700 men
| to fill them. AT least 1000 men will be
required for the three volunteer organi-
cations which General Otis has author
ity to organize, making 10000 of the 35,-
OoO men of the provisional army enlist
ment which is authorized by law
Administration officials not connected
with the War Department with whom |
talked to-day are hopeful that the
President. when he determines to au-
thoriZe the department to enlist more
men, will direct that the entire So 900
be enlisted. The moral effect of such
I action, they say, would be excellent
Press dispatches from Manila showing
that the Filipino papers have been
printing announcements of the with
drawal of the volunteers and that the
rebels have been much encouraged in
consequence, believing such withdrawal
means the beginning Of the exodus of
American troops. have been anticipated
by the officials, who believed Aguinaldo
would find in the return of the volun-
teers an additional argument for con-
tinuance of the war. The news. which
will undoubtedly be promptly cabIed to
HongkOng, and thence transmitted to
the Filipino leaders. OF the determine
tion Of the President to send g.. 600 more
troops to General Otis. making 60. 900
soldiers under his command. will do
more to convince the native officials
Of the purpose of this Government to
restore peace and order in the islands
than anything else that might be done
For this reason the President will be
urged upon his return to direct the in
crease of the army to the 100. 900 men
authorized by the army reorganization
law.