The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1899-03-08
NONE AS CONSCRlPTS
VIII be Enlisted Under the New
ARMY Law.


WASHINGTON, March "A great deal OF
hard work viii be required Of the war
department in changing the army estao-
lishment as contemplated by the bill which
has just become 4 law. Especially VIII
this be the case in the .adjutant generals
office, which will supervise the muster
out Of the existing volunteer army and
the recruiting and muster in Of the SS5.e0
men for the new volunteer branch, to-
gether with such recruiting as will be nee
essary to bring the regular establishment
up 10 the required strength. The present
volunteer regiments viii be formally mus
tered out of the service, but the expecta-
ton IS that many OF the men. after pay
ing a visit 10 their homes. VIII again en-
list, so that this branch will have for
its nucleus much of the present element
composing it. Some Of the organizations
may determine to go in bodily. but the
understanding is that each man Will be
free 10 exercise his own viii as to remain
ing-in other words, there is 10 be moth
ing savoring of conscription. The newly
recruited volunteers Will not have state
designations but will be called volunteer
regiments OF infantry and cavalry. re-
spectively, organizations N each arm OF
the service being numbered from l up.
The colonies are 10 be appointed by the
president. Large numbers of soldiers who
enlisted in the regular army ar the be-
ginning OF the war with Spain took ad-
vantage OF that provision which permitted
their discharge after hostilites had ceased
and the estimate Is made that probably
four to five hundred is a fair average OF
those who left each regiment Reports re-
ceived at the adjutant generals office
show, however. that good percentage of
them have re-enlisted for the full term
of army service. At their discharge they
received certain pay. travel and ether al
lowances and having spent their money
and had a rest and visit to their homes,
were again satisfied 10 enlist. The depart
ment is filling the regular army regiments
sent to the Philippines with full-service
men. this precaution being taken TO avoid
the necessity Of Transporting home such
as elect 10 take advantage Of the law per-
hitting their discharge at the close of the
war.
One effect OF the new army law will
be a severe Gripping of the signal service
and the Reorganization of its force IN
the field. There are coo volunteer men in
the signal service and all these will have
to be discharged. Their places could be
filed by the men re-enlisted as regulars
but about seven-eighths of them already
have applied for discharge with the In
tention Of leaving the service altogether.
Out Of the total force of 500 men in the
service about 80 of them will be entitled
to discharge on the ratification OF the
treaty of peace. This sudden mastering
out OF nearly the entire force when ac-
complished will be a severe embarrass-
ment TO the service. but Chief Signal Off
Ger Greeley said today that the department
would have to make the best OF the stu
alton and that every effort would be made
to tide over the emergency.
The war department is inclined to be-
Iieve that under the new army bill the gov
errors of states are deprived Of all power
Of appointing volunteer officers. as the
volunteers. under the law. are United
States volunteers. and not state volun-
tePrS