Arizona republican., 1899-04-17
Status Of the Volunteers in the
Philippines.
VERY FEW WILL RE-ENLIST
aaaKAHI
Their Interests sf Home Dem ind
Their Refurr-War Dep arfm mt
Holds That a IauS c in the a my
Bill Provides for RefcntI0 of
Volunteers in Philippines for
Six MonfhS Longer.

Washington, April 16.- One of the
most important effects of the exchange
of ratifcations of the peace treaty last
Monday will be the disbandment of the
volunteer army of the United States
organized especially for the war with
Spain. In anticipation of this result
the officials of the war department have
for some time past been engaged in
the muster out of all the troops enlist
ed for the war, and this work has so
far progressed that there are only four
volunteer regiments on duty in Cuba.
These are the so-called immune regi-
ments. There are no volunteer troops
in Porto Rico and Hawaii. There are
no volunteer troops in Porto Rico and
Hawaii. There are about $4,000 volun-
teer troops in the Philippines. They
have rendered most gallant and effi-
cient service in the campaigns against
the Filipino insurgents and their i'm
mediate muster out would seriously in
terfere with the successful prosecution
of the military operations now in prog
ress.
1t is said at the war department that
no such embarrassment is apt to oc-
cur in consequence of the Presidents
proclamation, as arrangements will
be made under existing laws for the
continuance ;r service of all these vol
unteer trocps WHO may elect to remain
in the Philippines. The law which
called the army into existence will be
construed at the war department to
mean that the muster out of the roops
in the Philippines will be upon the or
deEs of the executive, and that in the
natural order Of things such a result
cannot be accomplished within less
than two or three months.
In the law fer the promotion of the
efficiency of the army, passed just be-
fore the adjournment of congress, there
was a provision authorizing the Presi-
dent 'fto enlist in the Philippines Off
GERS and men, individually or by or
ganization, now in these islands and
about to be discharged, provided their
retention shall not extend beyond six
months"
Some high officials in the war de-.
there need be no further re-enlistment,
out that the different volunteer or
ganiZatiOns can be retained for six
months as this temporary force, and
some intimation has been given that
this was to be done The legal opinion
is directly contrary to this view, and
holds that to secure this force there
11a
state of affairs applies to about 5000
regular soldiers now in the Philip
pines, who enlisted in the regular army
with the distinct understanding that
their services should end with the
close of the war
AS a special inducement for the re-
enlistment of these regulars and volun-
teer troops in the Philippines, the war
has decided in case of such
re-enlistments, that the men will be
allowed full travel pay on their return
TO the United States, including the trip
by sea as well as by land to the place
of their original enlistment. But in
quiries already made among the vol
unteers there show that they desire to
return to this country. 1t is reported
that of those who have been offered
opportunity to re-enlist with the
offer of bonus in travel pay of over
$500, only seven per cent will accept.
This is due to the fact that the volun-
teers in the Philippines are made up
largely of business men and farmers
rom the west whose interests at home
demand their attention.
In support of the statement that the
execution of the law for the disband-
nent of the volunteer will require sew
sral months time, attention is called
10 the conditions that existed in the
army at the close of the civil war.
There was a similar law directing the
Cf the volunteer army at
he close of the war The proclama-
ion declaring the war closed vas is
sued in October, 1866, and regiments
still remaining in the service were
mustered out from time to time, the
asst volunteer regiment to be clustered
)ut being held Until December 20,
1867, a year and three months after
peace had been proclaimed by the
President.
Under this construction a number of
-olunteer regiments may be retained
n the philippines for some time, al
hough it is known that those who
lesire to return home will be allowed
o do so.
An order has been prepared at the
var department for a reorganization of
he army on peace basis. Among its
most important provisions are those