Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-12-14
Homeward Movement Of Volunteers
in Philippines.
ARRANGING TO REPLACE THEM
Awaiting Action on the Army
Reorganization Bill.
GEN. MACARTHUR'S PLANS

| The Secretary Of War has cabled instruc-
| tions to Major General Macarthur at Ma
| Mia to begin the work of returning the VOL
| unteer troops from the Philippines in order
| to permit Of their discharge in this country
| by the 30th of June next This action has
| been taken in anticipation of the authoriza-
| ton by Congress of the enlistment Of regu-
| lar regiments to replace the recalled troops.
Plans for the organization of the proposed
new regiments have been perfected at the
War Department and complete arrange
| ments made for their speedy recruitment
! and equipment.
! Action in this matter awaits only the APP
| proval Of Congress. 1t is hoped by the
| Secretary of War and the military author1-
| ties that the bill for the reorganization of
| the army now before the Senate will be-
| come law before Congress takes recess
! for the holidays on the 21St instant. Such
| action is necessary, according to the mill
| tary authorities, to meet present and pro-
spectve conditions in the Philippines. The
! officials make secret of their great con-
| cern the existing situation, and say
! that the failure of Congress to take inn
! mediate action for its relief will undoubted-
! ly result in considerable embarrassment to
| the government and seriously retard the
!
the establishment of an efficient and stable
government in the archipelago.
No General REIMBURSEMENT Expected.
The opinion is expressed at the War De-
partment that there is no prospect Of a
general re-enlistment on the part of the
| volunteers in the Philippines. The records
| of the department all tend to show tina,
| only a small percentage of the volunteers
are likely to serve beyond their present
| tern, of enlistment. Officers serving with
| volunteer regiments in the Philippines have
| been sounded on that point and have re
ported a general Discrimination on the part
| OF the volunteers to prolong their foreign
| service. Most of the officers reported thai
many of the volunteers might possibly en-
| list after they have had a chance to visit
| their homes, but certainly not before. The
testimony on that point was almost unan!-
| nous. 1t is recalled that similar state
of affairs existed among the state Vo.un-
teers recruited during the Spanish war.
There were about 10000 Of these volunteers
| in the Philippines when the volunteer regi-
ments were mustered out at the close OF
| the Spanish war, and of that number only
| LAC men re-enlisted for service In the
!, Philippines in the present volunteer army,
! Notwithstanding the liberal inducements
! offered by the government to that end. in
| Guiding travel pay allowance to the amount
| Of $500 to each man who re-en.isted.
Plans of the Department.
Inc plans OF the war Depar l1nenl IOT
| bringing home the volunteer troops are
shown in the following cable messages:
WAR DEPARTMENT.
ADJUTANT GENERALS OFFICE,
December H. 1900
Macarthur, Manila:
Send volunteer convalescents to the ca
pacity of the next transport returning and
volunteer regiment by transport following.
AS you report 1900 now, the Secretary OIL
War directs you to start home the vo.un.
| teer regiments until the force is reduces
| to 6O,ODO number fixed before reinforce
ments to further relieve volunteers.
(Signed) CORBIN.
MANILA. December 13, 1900.
| Adjutant General, Washington:
With reference to your telegram Of 11th,
! 9th Regiment, United States Volunteer In
| fantry will sail on the transport Sheridan
| January 1: 11th Regiment. United States
Volunteer Cavalry, January 15 The move
nient viii continue as directed till COM
pleted. The 26th Regiment, United states
Volunteer Infantry, is in the field and cam
no. leave at present. Authority Is request
ed to retain regular officers In the volunteer
service whose regular organization here.
also volunteer officers now assigned to spe
cal duty who so desire. with view to mus
ter out June 30. Important question policy
involved, as departure of volunteers almost
renders it impossible to furnish officers for
special duty, necessities for which increas-
ing. Transport Sherman leaves Decembe,
10 with about 800 volunteer convaiescents;
transport Warren December %, same mum.
Der. Any remaining will go transpor,
Sheridan JannarV