Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-07-27
RETURNS DEFECTIVE
Cannot Tell How Many Regulars Re
Enlisted.
AN OFFICIAL STATEMENT ISSUED
When the Spanish War Ended
1888 Were Released.
MANY RFJOINED RANKS

In order to correct a general misappre-
hension which is believed to prevail among
the people on the subject, statement has
been prepared al the War Department, by
direction of Adjutant General Corbin, IN
regard to the reorganization of the regular
army under the provisions Of the act OF
March >. 1888 giving the President author
ity to maintain the army at COCO men,
The onciaI Statement.
The official statement is as follows:
THE act approved April 26 1S9s provided
for the expansion of the regular army IN
time of war to maximum of about 63,poo
enlisted men. and provided that at the end
of any war in which the United States
might become involved the army should be
reduced to a peace basis by the honorable
DISCHARGE OF transfer of supernumefafy
enlisted men. the law prescribing in section
= that nothing in the act should De con-
strued as authorizing the permanent IN
crease of the enlisted force OF the regular
army beyond that provided by law prior to
its passage.
THE maximum of the regular army prior
to this act was $3.50 enlisted men, ana at
the beginning of the war was within ABOUT
500 of being full.
PARAGRAPH 2 of G. o. 40 (May 10, 1889.
based upon the act of April IS, ls9s, an
neunced that men enlisted or reinlisted in
lne regular army uuTlilS Inc Wal Nouiu ~
granted discharges at the close OF the war.
This was necessary, as the act winch
Authorized their enlistment compelled tnelf
discharge at the close OF the war. and the
order promulgated a mere statement OF
fact based upon law. so that men entering
the service would understand the condI-
tons of enlistment
THE war with Spain was declared to
have officially begun April 81. 1898. and on
October %. 1S.fS. by G. o. 113, the privi-
legeS granted by General Order 40 were
withdrawn from men entering after that
date and in the interval of its operation
81 95s5 men enlisted and were entitled to It's
benefits
The records Of the office do not show the
exact number of men discharged under the
provisions of G. Q. 40, but the number of
men enlisted during the months it was in
operation. as above stated. amounted TO
81, 49,, and ii is reasonable to suppose, In
view of the advantages II gave the men.
that they almost universally awaited them
selves of the privilege.
No better proof of this statement could
be than the fact that it has been necessary
to enlist 1921 men TO replace those DIS
charged under the provisions of g. o. 10
and from other causes since october u,
1888
This shows a discrepancy of Hoo
which is easily explained by the fact that
one-third of the $4,000 Of the regular army
are discharged every year by expiration OF
term of service. and It would not be
large number to add 900 for those killed
in action. died Of disease and discharged
AIOiIA btiASi CAUSES
Regular Army EHIistments.
The statement is accompanied by a table
showing the monthly enlistments and re-
erlisJments in the regular army from May
/. 1888. until July TO- 1899. the latest date
to which complete returns have been re-
ceived According to this table the enlist
nents and Te-enlistments during the period
indicated were as follows:
May. 1898 1904; June. lSaS. $3.50; July,
NrEar1Nt asa-
1875. :. 325 October 1S.JS. = 3i3 November Ss'S.
$50; December, 1898. J,GS6; January. 1879.
SIP; February. 1899. 3.l61; March, 1Sas9.
Sa13; April. 1S.9. 6S12; May, 1888, 4,:D1;
June, 1872. 5,l&H; July, first ten days, 1,522;
total, Sj.9i7.
IL appears from this statement that in
Guiding a few men number not yet ascer-
tained) who were enlisted between April %
fSSN and May /. the total number of men
enlisted under the provisions of the Presi-
dents order of May ~, 1898. authorizing
the discharge at the close of the war of
men who enlisted or re-enlsted in the reg
ular army during the war. was 81 .953. and
the number of eniistments and re-enlist
meuts from the last named date until july
10 last was ~ ..594.
Returns Not Received.
1t is stated at the War Department that
It Is impossible at this time to state accu-
rately the number of men enlisted and dis
charged under the circular of May 10 1885,
who subsequently re-enlis;ed in the regular
army. The reason for this inability to give
accurate information on this point Is due
to the fact that the returns from the reg
Ular army under Gen Otis in the Philip
pines have not yet been received.
The only information that has been re-
celVed from Gen Otis bearing on this par
ticular point is that at the close of the
spanish war there We're in the regular
army in the Philippines about 5000 SOL
dlers who were entitled To discharge under
the order of May 10, lSD2 Owing To the
pressing necessity for these troops in the
philippines to assist in the suppression Of
the Instruction. the War Department used
every endeavor to persuade the men en-
titled TO discharge to re-enlist.
As special inducemenI to do so they
ere offered travel pay allowances from the
Philippines TO their homes in the United
States. amounting in each case to nearly
so Gen otis has been repeatedly asked
L. inform the department of the number Of
men secured in this way but so far he has
failed 10 do So.
IL the absence of official information on
that point the adjutant generals office is
therefore unable to state positively the Cx-
act number of regular troops who have re-
enlisted under the provisions of the act of
March :. 1879 authorizing the maintenance
Of the army at GJ.asi men.
The recruiting officers at the department
are OF the impression however that q
large majority OF the regular troops in the
Philippines took advantage of the govern
ment ; liberal offer and re-enlisted in the
service. The returns from military stations
in Cuba ana Porto Rico are also incoTn-
piete on this point, but il Is expected that
within short period the department will
be in possession Of the desired data.
IL has been stated. however, at the War
DEPARTMENT that a very large percentage of
the soldiers discharged among those who
enlisted during the war promptly re-enlst-
ed. To the extent Of these establishments
the present army is only technically new,
and its organization was facilitated By the
fact tEgLr recruits had fn he han.
died and disciplined.