Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1899-07-04

tons for their guidance. las well as
blanks for enlistment. and everything
Is now in good shape TO begin recruit
ing ut the word from Washington.
1t was stated by the Adjutant-Gen-
eral to-day that the Department con-
templates raising nine regiments in all
ana the instructions to the recruiting
officers are based on this figure. Each
regiment will have a strength of 1926
men, making Il total force of 1881
men. This will be almost twice the
number OF men which General OTIS re-
ports will be necessary TO give him the
force Of 10000 cffectives, which he re-
Qures.
The recruiting for the regular army
has brought that establishment up to
within 200 men &C its maximum
strength.
FORCE AT OTIS DISPOSAL.
The force that will be at General
Otis disposal when nc new troops
now in this country reach him at the
beginning OF the Fall campaign may be
summarized as follows:
Seventeen regiments of regular in
fantry. 2S,Si0 men; 3 new volunteer
regiments, I,l3i men; 4 batteries Third
Artillery, 4S9 men; 10 batteries of the
Sixth, 1890 men; the Fourth Cavalry.
l.23o men: an engineer battalion, 200
men; signal corps, $50 men. Total, 49,,
275 men.
COMMISSIONS.
Washington. -. c., July 3-Thc pro-
posed orGani2a ton of nine volunteer
regiments Will place q number of i'm
nortant commissions ut the disposal of
the President. Although there will be
three new brgadc.;. Acknowledgement
Corbin says 1t Is not likely that more
than one additional brigadicr- general
VIII be needed, the other two being
provided by officers of that grade now
in the army whose terms of enlistment
are now about 10 expire General
Grant. who is now in the Philippines IL
In this category, and he probably will
be one OF the three now brigadicr-
generals. Another general officer now
in the Philippines is also available for
fe-aDrointment to the provisional
army. Probably the most important
point In connection with the proposed
volunteer organization is the PreSi-
dents declared intention to appoint
none but officers of the regular army to
the command of the nine new rcgi-
ments. Nearly fifty regular army Of
ncers held regimcntnl commands dur
ing the recent war In the volunteer es-
adjustment and the nine colonies to be
assigned to the new regiments will be
selected from among that number. The
selection will be based entirely upon the
records OF the officers during the late
war, and the nine officers whose prac-
teal work In the field was most efficient
VIII receive the appointments.
II Is not unlikely. however. that some
OF the most efficient may be selected for
subordinate commands in tho different
regiments, lnasmuch as the decision to
appoint only regular army officers does
not apply to positions below the grade
OF colonel.
THE PRESIDENTS PROMISES.
Washington. n. c.. July 3-The Pres
ident was called upon to-day by a dele
CATION of Southern members of Con-
Srcss concerning the distribution OF Of
ilcers of the new regiments to be en-
listed Tor tho army In the Philippines
lie told them that eight regiments in
addition to the three authorized to he
le,ru.icd in Manila would be raised
and assured them that the officers
would be selected without regard to
pon'cal affiliations or location of resi-
dence due regard being had for fitness
ana paSt service. The delegation com
rriSed Representatives Banilhead and
clayton. OF Alabama: Adamscn and
Grigss, Of Georgia. ana Norton, OF
South Carolina.