The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-04-20
OTIS HAS ENOUGH MEN
The New Volunteer Army Will
Not Be Organized.
HIS ARMY is SUFFICIENT 7
State Troops in the Philippines Will Be
Coming Home Soon - Captured
Sailors Will Be Well Treated
by the Insurgents.

Washington, April 19.-The conference
held at the white house to-day be-
tween the president, Secretary Alger,
Secretary Long and Adjutant General
Corbin, resulted in the confirmation of
the original decision of the adminlstra-
ton to, at present, refrain from avail
ing itself of authorization conferred by
congress to organize a volunteer army
of 35, 600 soldiers in addition to the pres
ent regular army.
General Otis later dispatch, descrip-
tive of the conditions in the Philippines,
was carefully considered and it was
concluded to accept his estimate of the
military needs of the case so that as
he has already indicated that his pres
ent army is sufficient for the purposes
he has in view, the decision is tanta-
mount to a resolve to avoid recourse
to the additional volunteers, A cable
gram was sent to General Otis, how
ever, setting forth the necessity for
withdrawing the state volunteers from
the Philippines again asking him
whether he would need more men after
he has received the reinforcemnts now
on the way to Manila or under orders
to embark as soon as transportation can
be secured. Otis now has a force be-
lieved to aggregate about $4,000 effect
i've men, Secretary Alger informed
him that the troops now on the way
would give him an army Of about 3d.
600 men after allowing for the return
Of state volunteers. This is believed
at the war department to meet all of
the needs of the summer season.
1t is intended TO withdraw one regi-
ment from Porto Rico and to send three
regiments, now in this country, to the
LINN tit,nc hn
equipped and transported there, though
it is not believed they will reach Ma
Mia for two or three months. 1t is also
stated that the conditions in Cuba are
such that it is quite probable some
troops can be withdrawn from that ISL
and for service in the Philippines.
The matter of returning the volun-
teers was also discussed. The depart
! ment is arranging for their return to
| the United States as soon as the neceS-
| sary transportation can be secured. To
| General Otis has been left the selection
| of the organizations to be sent home
! first and it is expected he will follow
| the plan he has outlined of relieving
/ first the men who have been longest in
| the Philippines.
The officials of the naval department
. are confident that such of the men of
| the Yorktown as escaped being killed
| outright in the first ambuscade will be
| we'll treated Dy the insurgents. some
time ago the war department made in
| quiry as to the number Of American
prisoners held by the Filipinos. In re-
| ply General Otis referred to these SOL
| ders and said that they were being
fairly treated by the insurgents. he
! supplying funds to defray the cost Of
their food. The reports to the navy de-
| partment by Paymaster Wilcox, one of
| Dewey's officers who made a trip
across the island from Manila to the
north coast described the condition of
| the Spanish officers who We're held
| prisoners by the insurgents as COM
| Portable.
In many cases. he said. the officials
were only nominally in confinement, be
| ing allowed the liberty of the towns.
| The officials are hopeful that Gilmore
and his men, who survived the ambus-
cade, will some day regain their lib
| erty.
The department has sent no instruc-
| tions to Admiral Dewey as to the course
he shall pursue, believing he is fully
competent to deal with the situation
| and resting sure in the assurance that
| he will spare no effort to rescue Gill
more and his men if they are alive.