The San Francisco call., 1899-07-06
COMING OF
CALIFORNIA
REGIMENT
Will Probably Sail Direct
From Negros for San
Francisco.
INCREASE OF TROOPS
Appointment Of Major Rice to Be a
Colonel Inaugurates 0rganiza-
tion of Provisional Army.
Special Dispatch to The Call.

- ALL HEADQUARTERS, WELL
~ LINGToN HOTEL, WASH
INGTON, July 5.-General Corbin
said this afternoon that the Califor-
MIA regiment would probably sail di-
rect from Negros to San Francisco
and not touch at Manila.
The appointment of Major Edwin
Rice. Third United States Infantry, to
be colonel Of the Twenty sixth Infan-
try, United States Volunteers. an
nounced to-day, inaugurated the organ
ization of the provisional army author
lied by the last Congress. Colonel Rice
is the first of the ten colonels who will
be appointed within the next few days
to command the ten volunteer regi-
ments, which are to be designated in
orders to be issued from the War De-
partment tomorrow respectively, as
the Twenty-sixth, Twenty seventh
Twenty eighth, Twenty ninth. Thrift
eth, Thirtyfir Thirty second, Thirty
third, Thirty-fourth and Thirty-fi fifth
Regiments of United States Volunteers
This designation has been agreed up
on in order to maintain the continuity
of the present organization of the in
fantry of the army, which embraces
twenty-five regiments, Two other regi-
ments, to be organized in the Philip
pines. will be known as the Thirty
sixth and Thirtyseventh Regiments of
United States Volunteers.
The provisional army as contemplated
by these orders will thus comprise
twelve regiments, and will add 1868
officers and men to the present force
of General Otis. I learn to-day that it
is the intention of General Otis to en-
list a number of friendly natives to
complete the two regiments in the Phil
ippines. AS previously stated, the COM
manding officers of all the new regi-
ments will be selected from the reglt-
lar army. Among them, in addition 70
Colonel Rice, will be Major James S.
Petit, First Infantry; Major James NJ
Bell, First Cavalry; Major W. M. A
Kobbe, Third Artillery; Captain ]. F.
Bell, Seventh Cavalry.
The two last named officers are now
in the Philippines, and it is understood
they Will command the two regiments
being organized there. With the ex-
ception of a brigadier general, who
may be appointed later on, the twelve
regiments are the highest ranking Off
GERS to be appointed In connection with
the provisional army, and the Presi-
dent is giving a great deal of care to
their selection. The one brigadier gen.
eralship will, 1 am told, go to either
Colonel Joseph B. Sanger of the In
spector Generals Department of the
regular army, lately brigadier gen
eral of volunteers, or to Colonel Ed
ward B. Williston, Sixth Artillery, who
is now in the Philippines.
Under the law one major general has
been allowed for each 1900 men and
one brigadier general for each 1000
men. When.the twelve additional reg
iments are fully recruited the total
strength of the army, regular and pro-
visional will be about $4,000 men.
There are now seven major generals
and tWenty-three brigadier generals.
Three of the latter are to be mustered
out. leaving twenty brigadiers, or a
sufficient number to command 80, 000
One extra brigadier general is. to be
appointed for the 5000 men which will
be enlisted above that number