The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1899-03-30
Sufficient Troops Now in the
Philippines to Suppress
AguinaldO's Men.
PLACE HUNTERS ACT
Announcement That the President
VIII Not Organize the Pro
vi8ional Army.
Special Dispatch to The Call.

WASHINGTON, March eft is
stated at the War Department that the
subject of mastering in $4,000 volunteers
as per militant army reorganization
bill has not been mentioned to the Pres
ident either by Acting Secretary of
War Meiklejohn or Adjutant General
Corbin There is no intention TO bring
forward this question at the present
time. as with the troops already ordered
70 Manila. which it viii take some
months TO transport thither, that Cen
eral Otis has all the forces necessary
to accomplish what is desired of him
III the Philippines.
1t is stated at the War Department
that the greatest demand for the or
ganization of the $4,000 volunteers
comes from the men and the friends of
men who desire places as officers. There
are already many applications. on file,
and rot only men who served with the
State troops, but those who have served
in staff positions and have been mus
tered out are anxious to again enter
the service.
The authoritative announcement has
been made that the President Will not
organize this provisional army unless
IL is needed. SO far there is no demand
are now on their way TO Manila. His
last call was for three batteries of light
artillery. These We're placed at once
under orders for Manila and are. on
their way to San Francisco. They will
sail about the 10th Of April. Those who
insist that the provisional army must
be organized say that they have infOr-
nation from the Philippines which indt-
Gates that a volunteer army cannot be
enlisted for six months, as provided for
in the bill. from the volunteers who will
be mustered out when the notifications
of peace are exchanged. It is claimed
that these volunteers will demand
transportation home at once, and that
there VIII not be enough regulars in
the Philippines 10 carry on the war with
the Fihpinos.
Adjutant General Corbin says that
Information received direct from. Gen
eral Otis is to the effect that the VOlUn-
teer troops now in the Philippines have
demonstrated against being sent home
while the active operations are in pro-
gress. General Otis said that the vol
unteerS had periodically declined to
take advantage of that privilege, and
have expressed the desire to continue
in serviCe as long as there was any
fighting TO be done. He added that they
were in excellent health and spirits and
We're rendering most efficient service.
A statement prepared at the War De-
paTtmen1 in regard to the regiments
under orders and en- route to the Phil
ippines shows as follows:
The Twelfth Infantry and four com
panies Of the Seventeenth Infantry on
the transport Sheridan, now nearing
Manila; headquarters and six CONT
panies of the Ninth Infantry left San
Francisco March "a; six other com
panies of the Ninth Infantry will leave
the same port in a day or two; the
Sixth Artillery will leave its present
station April u; the Twenty first IN
fantry will leave its present station
April is, and the Sixth Infantry, Thir-
teeuth Infantry and Sixteenth Infantry
and Light Battery F. First Artillery;
Battery f Of the Fourth Artillery, and
Battery F Of the Fifth Artillery, are
now all under orders to prepare for
transportation TO Manila by way of
San Francisco and will be forwarded
as fast as trQopships can be secured
Tor the long voyage across the Pacific.
These troops number about 10000 in all
and their arrival at Manila viii greatly
strengthen the fighting force of General
Otis