The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-08-27

the Importance of using all Unavailable
forces of the United States as early as
possible in the Philippines. He undoubt-
eddy desired more thorough prepara-
tions than the regiments have had
which are now being pushed to the East
Indies and those which are to follow
them. But, with this exception. the re-
crult1ng OF troops up to the full limit
is believed to have always been desired
by the former administration of the
war Office. Adjutant General Corbin
was. however, not then in favor of this
extensive recruiting, and the president
hlmself only came to the conclusion
that General Alger was right and that
Generai Otis could not take care of
himself with the forces at hand, after
ne mad dispensed with the secretarys
services.
Some highly interesting facts have
lately been developed concerning the
command of the troops in the Philip
pines. For some time before General
Alger was Segregated" out of the war
portfolio. the charge was frequently
made that he was personally respon-
sible for General Otis assignment to
the Philippines, and that he kept him
there in spite of the conviction of lead
ing army officers, and even of the presi-
dent tnat he was not sufficiently active
and in addition was burdened with the
responsibility for the civil administra-
ton of the islands. The important fact
has now been established that General
Alger, prior to the receipt in this coun-
try of the round robin of the newspa-
per correspondents, recommended to the
president that General Otis be retained
merely as the military governor of the
Philippines, and that General Lawton
be given immediate command of the op-
erations in the field. The president de-
clined to accept this recommendation
RI a1a,,t ,,1- 1t. IA.
Secretary Alger explained that his sug-
gestion was based upon a desire to re-
lieve Otis from the great exertion nee
essary to administer the civil affairs
OF the islands and at the same time
command the military operations.
The present. indications are that Col
onel l.. w. Kennon's Thirty-f fourth reg
iment will be ordered to leave Fort Lo-
gan about the first of September.
The regiment will go by way of the
Preside and the Pacific, and there
fore be one of thee first of the new vol
unteer regiments in the Luzon trench
es. Colonel Kennon did not respond to
the adjutant generals inquiry about
the fitness of his regiment for immedi-
ate departure quite as promptly as
some of his brother colonies. This was
due, undoubtedly, to his desire to he
absolutely accurate in his statement of
the efficiency and readiness of the
y
ceived, was entirely satisfactory. and
the regiment is among those listed for
the earliest possible departure
tits not yet known which of the second
10 regiments will have the Rocky noun
tain states in its recruiting territory.
There are several of the new colonies
in whom the western people would have
special local interest by reason of their
having seen service in the West as reg
ular army officers. number of them
are old Indian fighters and many of
them have been stationed at prominent
frontier posts.
1t is definitely announced to-day that
volunteer officers who served in the
Spanish war will be favored with the
line commissions in the 10 new regi-
ments, and there will undoubtedly be
found places for a number of officers
of the volunteer regiments from the
mountain states which were raised for
that war, a S well as of the Torrey and
Griggsby cavalry troopers. The selec-
lions will be made in the same manner
as they were for the senior ten volun-
teer regiments and the recommends
tons of republican senators will I'M
doubtedly be all-important
1t seems to have been fully agreed
upon by the war department officials
that there will be no transfers of Of
ticerS from the ten volunteer regiments
first recruited. There has been quite
a demand on the part of these officers
for transfer to and promotion in the
newer regiments. But there has been,
thus far, no encouragement given these
officers. the department holding that
such transfers would only break up the
older volunteer regiments, without be-
ing any particular advantage to the
new ones. There may be exceptions to
this rule, but if so they will be made
by reason of congressional persuasion
n hp nrpSi1ent he IN
change of attitude by the adjutant gen
erals office.
1t is not generally known that Colonel
LYMAN w. V. Kennon is a member of
the Sons of Veterans but he has been
for several years an active participant
in Fremont camp, S. o. V. of this city.
He holds membership by reason of the
service of his father Charles H. Ken
non, in the great rebellion. The elder
Kennon, who enlisted in Company ID,
I'd Rhode Island cavalry, was promoted
to corporal, sergeant and quartermast-
ter sergeant, and died in the service.
Colonel Kennon, who was an infant
during the war of the rebellion. gradu-
ated from West Point in 1881, was ap-
pointed second lieutenant in the First
United. States infantry, and in 1897 be-
came captain in the Sixth United States
infantry, At the outbreak of the Span
ish war he was appointed major and
assistant adjutant general of volun-
teers, and distinguished himself at FL
Caney, where he was severely wounded.
His many friends in Washington, both
in and out of the war department ex-
pect him to make a fine record in the
Philippines and that his regiment VIII
be one of the best in the volunteer serv-
ice.
The crop report of the department of
agriculture for August shows the con-
dition of Montanas crops to be in the
following average condition, by per-
centages: Corn, 49, spring wheat, rs;
oats. SO: barley. 81; potatoes. 101; hay,
9S; pasturage, 81; apples, ~.
HOSFORD