The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-07-04

was every volunteer entitled to be dis
charged, but every regular above 1850 was
required TO be mustered out The President
then was confronted In the midst of in
surrection with the problem of relieving
large part of the force in the Philippines
and of being compelled to substitute new
levies. He stood face to face with the
difficulty, in the presence of a force al
ready too small, OF withdrawing more than
10000 trained and disciplined men from the
fighting line while the campaign was at
its height, and of filling their places with
new forces.
PATRIOTIC VOLUNTEERS.
Had the volunteers exercised their right
of immediate discharge our army would
have been seriously crippled, and disastrous
results might have followed. But, to their
undying honor be IL said, they made answer
WHICH reflects immortal glory on the Amer
lean citizen and the American soldier. They
said: We are entitled TO discharge; we
want to return to our homes and families,
but nevertheless We will stay here and fight
on and We will not leave our posts until
the government is ready to put others in
our places 1t was a magnificent exhibit
ton OF the devotion and patriotism of true
Americans. Nebraska holds high place
on that lustrous roll of honor. Two days
ago the Nebraska regiment, which has been
at the front and shared the triumphs and
glories of the campaign. sailed for home.
In a few weeks these heroes will be here to
receive your welcome and TO wear the we'll
earned laurels of their faithful and intrepid
deeds. They were entitled to come in March,
but with that noble and chivalric spirit
which has ever distinguished the American
soldier they declared that they would hold
their post on the fighting line until the
government was ready 10 make their places
good with equally true fighters, and now
they come only when others are there and
on the way to carry forward the flag of the
country which they have SO bravely up
held.
THE foresight and care of the President
permitted this to be done without any detri-
ment. He might have called for volun-
teers as many now ask him to do; he
might have accepted the great numbers
who have FASTENED to respond to that call
he might have sent these undisciplined and
unacclimated levies TO become the prey of
sickness and disease, but he did a wiser
and surer thing. Required by the army
bill practically TO reorganize a new army
he directed Immediately on the passage of
the bill and on the adjournment of Con-
gress, that the work of recruiting should
be carefully undertaken. The recruits en-
rolled have numbered more than a thou
sand a week, 80 per cent. of all who have
applied having been rejected because Of
falling short of the standard; fully 20 per
cent. OF those accepted saw service in the
Spanish war of last year. These recruits.
with the re-enlistments, number all told
about 10000 men; so that now, when many
loyal and earnest people. without having
understood what has been going on, are
asking that volunteers may be called out to
crush the instruction, they awake to find
that the army has been quietly recon-
structed, and that instead of being obliged
TO raise and hurry forward raw troops,
the government is able to give General
Otis from 5000 to 10000 of the best trained
and most effective soldiers in the world.
With such force of such quality at his
command, when the rainy season Is over
and the fighting can be resumed again. the
earnest desire OF the country for short,
sharp and decisive campaign will be fully
realized
General Mar derson introduced General
Wheeler, who =. briefly of the events
at Santiago and Endorsed the attitude of
the administration in the Philippines.