The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1899-03-10
LEE AND WHEELER
AS BRIGADIERS

Washington, March 9.-Major-Genera1 j.
H. Wilson, Major-General Fitzhugh Lee
and Major-General Wheeler have been Of
fered places as acknowledgements in the
provisional regular army of 65.O00. This is
the highest rank they can be offered until
the So, 900 volunteers are organized.
It was learned today that the president
had before him yesterday the names of the
eight officers who were to be retained in
the service If it was decided to organize
only the Co 900 regulars These were Major
Generals Otis, shafter. Wheeler. Wilson,
Lee, Lawton, Chaffe and Leonard Wood.
The first three had no military rank when
appointed into the volunteer army May T.
1893.
The president, 1t was learned today, was
very anxious to make General Wheeief
major-genral in the provisional army. II
is said he had decided to make the ap-
pointment when the Shafteer boomers de-
clared it would do violence not particularly
to General Shafter, but to the traditional
ways of military preferment General
Shafter, for instance, could not be ignored
while General Wheeler, who served under
him, was advanced. The president VIII
have an opportunity of advancing General
Wheeler in October next, when General
Shafter will be retired.
The secretary of war, the adjutant-gen-
eral and Colonel Wood of the adjutant-
generals office, are hard at work reorgan-
izng the provisional regular force. They
are preparing the list of 101 second lieu
tenancies, which have been apportioned
among the states. There Is great deal
of pressure exerted in the matter OF these
appointments. Today's visitors, who are
supposed to be nominating friends, were
Senator Piatt, of New York; Ex-senator
Gordon, of Georgia; Senator Hawley, Rep
resentative Lacey and others. There Is
just now resumption of the efforts made
last May and June by senators and repre-
sentatives to secure positions for their
friends In the volunteer service.
The war department officials see no diff
ficulty in getting the required number of
recruits for the reorganzed army, espe-
cially as they hope to retain en- masse the
volunteer troops now in the Philippines
under the special provision of the act
whereby they can remain In the service for
six months
Their re-enlistment will entitle them to
travel pay from the United States to the
Philippine Islands-a considerable induce
ment for an enlisted man. There are now
Is 900 troops, regulars and volunteers, in
the Philippine Islands, and this is about
the number that will be assigned to that
station when the provisional army has
been fully organized. Ten thousand will be
stationed In Porto Rico and Is 900 in Cuba,
leaving about 10 900 for service principally
along the coast of the United States.
A large proportion of the home guard will
be arterymen. There are 1862 guns at the
coast defence stations, which are said to
deteoriorate 10 per cent. year If not prop
erly taken care of. For this service 1t is
probable that the artillerists of the old
regular army will be retained in the United
States. While it Is said daily that the
president has decided not to utilize native
troops in the volunteers, 1t Is a fact that
he has asked for a report on the practical
bility of native troops from General Otis
and General Brooke. For the present how
over, the efforts of the war department
will be directed to organizing $1,000 regu-
lars. This process will occupy about three
months.