Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-08-17
Secretary Root Decides That More
Volunteers Are Needed.
COMMANDING OFFICERS CHOSEN
filipino Revolt Said to Be Gaining
Strength.
A VIGOROUS CAMPAIG IN

last few davs was issued by the War De-
partment today It's promulgation at this
time is the result of teegraphic correspond
ence between the Secretary of War and the
President. a telegram was received at the
War Department this morning from the
President fully approving of the organiza-
tion of the new regiments as recommended
by Secretary Root, and a bulletin was
posted at the War Department giving the
principal details of the scheme. 1t shows
that ten more regiments OF volunteers are
to be Immediately organized. making, with
the thirteen regiments now in the final
processes of organization volunteer es
tablishment of tWenty-three regiments, of
which twenty-five infantry and
cavalry.
Tu,i;ty's action will add Is $50 men to the
enlisted strength of the army and increases
the total strength of the army to 3J0f5
men. The total number Of volunteers call
ed into service is 30,lT0 men, being only
4.S!ti short Of the total authorized
volunteer establishment OF HtcjD 1t is
stated at the department that the number
OF volunteers already called into service is
regarded as amply sufficient to meet all
possible needs of the army, and that there
is no possibility that the remaining 1893
volunteers Will be called for.
y ompt and vigorous campaign in the
Philippines is assured by today's action 1t
also indicates that the new head of the
department is not altogether satisfied that
the 50,oo0 odd men previously allotted to
w
cjent for the prompt and complete estab-
lishment of United States sovereignty in
the archipelago He has therefore per-
suaded the President to exercise his pre-
roga.ive in utilizing all but about 1000
of the provisional army of 5000 men au-
thorized by Congress.
InsurrectiOn Gaining Strength.
Although not officially admitted. there is
good ground for the belief that the admin
istration has received recent advices from
-1:..l.l
government to the effect that the insurrec-
ton in the Philippines is gradually gaining
in strength, and is now more formidable
than was at first supposed. This impress
sion has been strengthened by recent news
of reported uprisinSs in unexpected quar-
ters in NeSros. Sulu and other outlying
islands.
1t is said that one of the main reasons
which governed Secretary Root in his plan
for an increase of the army the neces-
sity for having a sufficient number Of
serve troops to garrison and retain the
towns and cities captured by the army
it moved forward against the retreating en-
emy. 1t is his desire to avoid any pGssi-
tlity OF repetition of Gen. Otis eXpe-
renee during the campaigns of the past
spring and winter, when, because of the
small number of men at his command, he
was unable to detach enough to hold the
towns that he captured. and was compelled
TO permit the Insurgents to return to them
and re-establish their positions
Troops Will Be Forwarded Promptly.
According to the present policy of the
department, the volunteer troops already
organized In this country will be forward
ed to the Philippines with the utmost dis
patch, with view to having the entire
Philippine army of 10000 men in the Phil
ippines in time for the opening of an ac-
1--WE aggressive campaign by the end of
October at the latest.
In order to accomplish this purpose the
War Department has chartered four addi-
N md h.4
entire fleet of government transports on
the Pacific will be expedited as much as
possible
The four vessels just engaged are the
Pueblo. Belgian King, Columbia and
Charles f. Nelson. The Pueblo is at San
Francisco and the Columbia at Portland,
Ore They Will be fitted out and made
ready for use with the least possible de-
lay. The other two vessels are now on
their way to San Francisco and are ex-
pected to reach there inside of ten days
or two weeks. The War Department has
been informed that all four of these trans
ports Will be ready to start on the voyage
for Manila early in September. They have
accommodations for about $500 men.
Progress of Recruiting.
Yesterdays recruiting for the volunteer
army amounted to 2S9 men, making the
total recruitment to date II, I'D, being Gi2
in excess of the number required to COM
pete the ten regiments organized under the
orders of July D. 1899. All of these regi-
ments have secured their full quota Of men
except the oath Regiment, at Fort McPher-
son. Ga; the 33d at Fort Sam Houston
Texas, and the 35th Regiment, at Van
couVer barracks. These three regiments
Will be filled by the use of the overflow
from the more successful regiments The
remainder of the excess will be used in fill
ing the volunteer regiments being slowly
organized in the Philippines which are
about 500 men short.
Indifference in the South.
ten new regiments to be mainly re-
cruited in New England and the middle
and central western states. Kansas and
Pennsylvania have been apparently selected
as the best field for recruits 1t is said
that no special effort is to be made to Sc
cure recruits from the southern states. This
Is due, it is said to the experience of tbe
recruiting officers who operated in that
quarter for recruits for the ten volunteer
regiments now being organized
Inc only place where dfficuItv u-as az,
perienced in securing such recruits was il,
georgia Alabama, the Caroinas and the
gun states and the two northwestern pa
cliIc states.
Will BE Organized as "a Reserve.
1t was stated at the War Deoartment
this afternoon that the ten new regiments
of volunteers will be mainly organized as
reserve force, and will not be sent to the
Philippines unless such action shall he
found necessary by the developments of the
situation.
Adjutant General Corbin is confident that
there will be no difficulty in securing the
additional volunteers, and he predicted
this afternoon that the ten new regiments
would be organized by the first of October
He says that the question of their being
ient to the Philippines will depend alto.
gether upon the progress of events in that
country.
In another quarter it is stated that ow-
ing to the pressing demands upon the gov
ernments limited fleet of transports IL
Will be impossible. under the most favorable
circumstances TO land the volunteer REIN
forcements Just called for in the PhfIip-
pines before next spring at the earliest
The ORcial Announcement
Following is the official announcement:
August II, 1899.
Pursuant to the instructions of the
President the Secretary Of War directs
that ten additional regiments of infantry
CONTINUED on Tenth Pag,)