The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1899-06-29
TEN THOUSAND men,
Call for Volunteers
for Service in the
Philippines.
TO Be RECRUITED AT LARGE
State and Local Lines Will
Be Disregarded
Wholly,

Washington, June 2S.-Secretary AL
ger and Gen. Corbin had an hours
consultation with the president, today,
relative to the question of reinforce
ments for Gen. Otis. A definite dccis-
ion has been reached to continue re-
cruiting at all the recruiting stations
for service in the Philippines, and Mr.
Alger said that Gen. Otis would have
10000 men when the rainy season
closed, for a resumption of active cper-
ations.
There are 70 recruiting stations in the
United States, and enlistments are to
be taken at all of these stations. The
enlistments are to be for service in the
regular army.
General Corbin said the enlistmen5s
would be for three years. although the
law for the creation of provisional ar
my of $4,000 in excess of the regular
army of $1,000 provides only for such
a force until 1901.
1t is stated at the war department
that the recruits now being gathered
at the rate of 1000 a week, cannot be
used for the volunteer army provided
for in the act of March authorizing
So 900 men, although it would he an
easy matter to transfer these men with
their consent to the volunteer service,
if it should be determined to raise ad-
ditional troops.
Later in the day it was definitely de-
cided to be in the enlistmentS Ter the
volunteer service under the act of the
last congress. The reports to the ad-
ho tho parOrtS
of the recruiting officers, and one close
estimates as to the number of soldiers
in the Philippines and in each com
mand in Cuba and Porto Rico, snow
that the regular army is up to is lull
authorized strength. The additional
soldiers needed must be obtained under
that section of the act of congress. au-
thorizing the enlistment Of volunteers.
The only exception will be in the case
of the few enlistments that VIII ne
made from time to time to NIL gaps IN
the regular army caused by casual'l Is
and by the expiration Of enlistments.
The officers scattered among the prin-
cipal cities of the country who have
been enlisting regulars only will be in
structed Immediately to prepare to en-
list volunteers. The present indications
are that about 10000 men VIII be
wanted.
Volunteers will not be accepted in Or
CARNATIONS. Secretary Alger is deter
mined to adhere to that rule. Looking
over the act of congress, he concluded
the authorization to raise there Volun-
teer troops at large" indicates a pur-
pose on the part of congress to follow
out the plan successfully operated IN
the case of the immune regiments.
1t is the present purpose to disregard
state and local lines in securing the re-
cruits and welding them into organlza-
tions. Regiments will be designated the
First, Second Third, etc, volunteer
United States infantry or cavalry. NO
difficulty is anticipated in securing the
men needed. 1t is believed that the 1000
men who are weekly Offering them
selves at the recruiting offices will be
even more willing to enter the army as
two year volunteers than as long term
regulars.
Officers for these volunteer regiments
will be obtained by promoting officers
now in the regular army and by com
missioning many of the best officers Of
the volunteers which saw service. The
war department has carefully preserved
the records Of those officers and has at
hand a long list Of such OF them as ex-
hibited soldierly and organizing quail