The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-06-01
GEN. OTIS WILL DECIDE.
asked If HE WILL NEED MORE
TT Dps ~ THE PHILIPPINES.

, II He Says eyes" the President VIII Issue
aCRll forvolunteers,HH No More Regulars
Can he Spare,i-HewilI Have "a, 900 ReRu-
lars when Those on the Way Reach Him.
WASHINGTON. Msy 31.-After a conference
between President Mckinley and Secretary
ARer this morning a cablegram was sent to
Gen Otis asking him II he would need moro
troops beyond the $4,000 that he will have
when those on the way reach him and after the
volunteers. have been withdrawn..Tf Gen. Otis
replies YES troops will be raised by call for
volunteers. as no more REGULARS will be sent
Gen. Otis was told that IL would take until the
end OF the rainy season 10 call for enlist,
equip and transport the additional troops, and
he was asked to give o prompt and direct reply
to the query whether he needed them.
This.decsion was not based on-any new In
formation from Gen. Otis about the situation
in the Philippines. but grew out OF the dis
quoting dispatches published In American
newspapers under Manila date. In view Of
these publications It was deemed best to ascer-
tain from Gen. Otis the rue sltuation:in order
that no time might be lost. should he want
more men. in getting them ready for service.
The question Of sending moro regulars to
Manila was talked over Mt length Figures
sho wing the number OF regular troops now in
the United States who are not under orders to
proceed to the Philippines we're examined
with view to determining whether any more
could be SHARED for service abroad. The num-
Der OF regular troops now In foreign service Is
42.5OO, including those under orders to pro-
coed to the Philippines The present en-
listed strength OF the regular army is about
O3.OOO men. thus leaving about 10000 regular
troops on, duty in the United States, and
Alaska. Those on foreign service consist Of
1900 in Porto RiUo. The small! body Of regu-
lars in Hawaii Is included in tho 10000 on
After q careful consideration II vas decided
that 4 Gen. Otis called for more troops. say
10000. 1t would be unwise to reduce the home
force that number. Practically all OF the ar
tllcry strength 10 required to care for the
coast.defenco batteries. und It would be I'M
the 3dsn Soun he Heohsp reason sSap y,
curtaiiing the number OF regular troops In the
United states was the possibility Of an emer-
gency requiring their presence In Cuba The
other way out of the difficulty than to call for
gress. II Gen. Otis requested that his force lie
increased after the, volunteer regiments now
In the Philippines had been withdrawn. -,
DEPARTMENT he Immediately sent the despatch
mentioned. In substance It said that after
force under Gen. Otiss command. including
the troops now on their way to Manila or un.
DER orders to proceed there. would consist Of
2i.WW men under arms. leaving out OF that
total the Signal Corps. Engineer and Hospital
Corps attachments nov n the PhLippines
Nou .otlS WAS dbktu III tnlb loTce WOulu Do
sufficient. and. II not. to telegraph tho depart
ment his estimate OF how many more men
would be needed The answer OF Gen. Otis Is
expected tomorrow.
The highest estimate of the number OF
troops required by him was sta ted BY Gen
two or three illness In his official dispatches
Assuming that he has not chang ed his opinion
II will be necessary for the q overnment to call
for at least 5000 volunteers under the au-
thority given the President to enlist yolun-
teer army OF 35,OC0 men, Whether mere than
Mt mi m, hAF vii hA lad fNr ahN a
Otis'stick TO his original estimate has not been
determined.