The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1899-03-06
$4,000 MEN
Will Be Our Fighting Force
Under the New Law.
Analysis of the New Army Bill
Just Passed.
THERE WILL BE $4,000
Regulars and Volunteers to tn Q
Number
Of 35,OOO-HOw They Will Be
Located.
THERE WILL BE $4,000

Washington, March 6.-The new army
law provides for $4,000 regulars, for the
enlistment Of So, 900 volunteers in the
Philippines, Cuba and Porto Rico, for
the continuance of the volunteer staff,
and for the immediate re-enlistment for
six months of such volunteers as are
now in the service in Cuba and the
Philippines. The German amendment
limits this organization of the army to
two years from July next. The bill as
it stands gives the president an effec-
tive force of 81, 900 men. One feature of
the German amendment provides that
no officer who has been may be pro-
NOTED under existing law or rule of SEN
iority shall be disturbed in his rank.
This was concession to the friends of
General Miles, who have feared that he
might be removed from his position as
the active commander general OF the
army.
The present strength of the regular
army is about g., 900 men. Under the
law of last spring this was to be re-
duced to $4,000 at the close of the war.
The passage of the bill maintains the
regular army at its present organ1Za-
ton. 1t substitutes for the volunteers
now in service $4,000 infantry and 5000
cavalry to be enlisted either in Cuba or
the Philippines. This will permit the
return or discharge of all volunteers
ABROAD VINO care TO leave the SSTNlc6
1t will give opportunity for those who
desire to remain in the Philippines to
re-enlist in the provisional regiments.
Neither Mr.. German nor his allies sue
ceeded in Gripping the army to any
great extent.
There are still in the service of the
United States 75,S45 volunteers. OF
these, 1882 are in Cuba, 16,411 in the
Philippine Islands. 1921 in Porto Rico,
BAL in Hawaii, and II, 1874 in the United
States. According to the last report of
the adjutant general the effective
Counting sick and wounded. is IS, 6O7. OF
these, 2S4 400 are in the United States,
Il, 507 in Cuba, II, 7O6 in the Philippines
or on their way there, and 4,376 in Porto
Rico, The new bill does not change the
staff corps, and makes no great change
in the organization of regiments of cav
airy and infantry. 1t cOntemplates the
transfer of many of the regulars still in
this country to the Philippines and the
enlistment of $4,000 new volunteers to
take the places of the $1,000 volunteers
now on duty in Cuba, the Philippines
and Porto Rico.
Before the passage of the compromise
bill by the senate Monday Senator
Hawley offered an amendment which
suggests that the situation in the Phil
ippineS may become more serious than
it has yet been. The amendment auth
orizes the president to enlist temporar-
lily in the service for absolutely neceS-
sary purposes in the Philippines officers
now in those islands and about to be
discharged" It provides that the men
so enlisted are to be counted as part of
the volunteer force authorized by the
bill and that they shall not be enlisted
for more than six months nor beyond
the time necessary to replace them.
This is a recognition that the VOlun-
teerS now in the service will be entf-
tied to their discharge upon the formal
proclamation of peace. And it is an adj
mission that the situation in the Phil
ippines will become very serious unless
the men temporarily re-enlist almost in
a body. Furthermore, it is an admis-
| sion that there must be no great delay
in issuing the peace proclamation for
the purpose of holding men in the SER
vice.
1t is evidently the expectation that
! the men will re-enlist practically in a
body for the six months upon the prom
Use that they will be relieved sooner if
possible. Gen. Otis is telegraphing to
hurry up the re-enforcements, but the
re-enforcementS will avail him little if
they must be discharged almost as soon
as they arrive. The strongest possible
pressure will be brought to bear upon
the men to re-enlist under the Hawley
proviso. There is no alternative, for it
will be physically impossible to enlist
new troops and get them to the Philip
pines by the time it will be necessary
to muster out the troops already there.