Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-07-29
Major Elliott Will Command the
Detachment Going There,
VOLUNTEERS READY TO SAIL SEPT, 10
Rapid Progress in Organizing New
Regiments
BACK FROM THE PHILIPPINES

Major Geo. F. Elliott, now in command of
the marines at the Washington navy yard
will command the detachment of marines
to be sent to Manila. The battalion will
consist Of about $50, in five companies and
will bring the force of marines at the Ca
Vlte naval station, Manila, up to about go
men. The force will ultimately be in
creased it is thought, to about 1 200 men.
Ready to Sail September 10.
Col. Petit, commanding the 31st Regi-
ment at Fort Thomas, Ky.Stelegraphed the
War Department today that his enlistments
number 1,159, which is within 200 of the
full quota of tie regiment. He says that
he will withdraw the recruiting officers Mon
day, and the regiment will then be organ
lied for actual service. He thinks that in
month 1T will be ready for the front 1t
Is stated at the War Department that the
3ist Regiment, commanded by Col. Petit:
the 2ith, by Col. Bell, and the Both, by Col
Gardner, will no doubt be ready to sail for
Manila on the Grant Sherman and Sheri-
dan about September 10.
Inc number of enlistments for the Philip
pine regiments yesterday was i56, making a
total of 1902.
Mastering Out Volunteers
Reports received at the War Department
indicate that people do not yet understand
the matter of mastering out volunteers at
San francisco. The plan adopted of mus
tering out at San Francisco instead of
sending the regiments to the states where
they were mustered into the service was
Tor the benefit of the soldiers, as it allowed
them to obtain travel pay which was a
considerable Increase over the cost Of trans
porting the soldiers by the War Depart
ment- Secretary Alger telegraphed General
Otis the facts, showing what different regi-
ments would receive in travel pay and
stated that the place of muster out should
be left to the soldiers.
AS might be expected the soldiers chose
the point which would give them the most
money. 1t was also deemed advisable by
the War Department to have recruits given
rest at San Francisco during the muster
out, rather than to send them directly home
upon the cars when they disembarked from
the ships. There has been and will be no
change in the present program, save in the
case of the Pennsylvania regiment and in
this instance the people of Pittsburg have
arranged to bring the regiment home in
Dody, paying the expenses, and the soldiers
Will receive their travel pay as If mustered
out at San Francisco.
General Shafter has been advised, how
ever, that any individuals of the Pennsyl-
Vanla. regiment who desire 30 remain in
San Francisco and not return the special
trains shall be allowed to do SO. An at
tempt was made to send the Oregon regi-
ment home, but the soldiers settled that
question themselves and insisted upon travel
pay WHICH WAS 70 DS SIs els 10 OlEeF
Wire From Manila to Calamba.
Gen. Greely, chief signal officer, has re-
ceived dispatch from Major r. E. Thomp-
son, commanding the Signal Corps in the
Philippines. saying that Major Maxiield has
laid a cable across Laguna de Bay from
Taguig to Ca!amba, the last town to be
captured from the Insurgents. This insurss
uninterrupted Geographic commuIEcat
between Manila ana the advanced posts of
what has been the insurgent country.