The evening times., 1900-06-02

The election 10 be held In Cuba on June
Is will have much to do with the transfer
of the Regular Army regiments to the
Philippines TO take the place of volunteer
soldiers TO be sent home. II is thought at
the War Department that at least one half
of the troops now in Cuba can be safely
withdrawn, but the conditions on June 16
are to be the determining factor. Should
all be quiet on that day. then as many of
the reg liars as possible will be sent back
to this country and nsobilized at San Fran
cisco. Should June 16. however. develop
turbulence and the Cubans give evidence
that there was need of holding them drmly
in hand the Department will be forced to
find its Philippine troops in some other
manner.
According to statements made by Sec
retary Root the number of regiments to be
sent across the Pacific has not yet been
determined nor will ii be determined un-
Ill after Generals Schwan and Otis arrive
in this city and can be consulted as to the
military needs OF the islands. That caval-
~ will be sent is beyond doubt Army Of
icers say that the insurgents have broken
up into small bands which sally from the
mountains, attack villages and outposts,
and by swift movements regain their fast
nesses. Pursuit Of them is fruitless with
foot soldiers. For this purpose cavalry
alone are effective. General Macarthur
nas stated tLis in mail reports and re-
Gently cabled :. request that cavalry be
sent TO him. The officers for the new regi-
mill ho fo hair
as soon as possible anG the War Depart
ment is making all preparations TO move
in the matter directly after June l6.
The method of transferring the troops
will be practically the same as that Tow in
vogue. A regiment of volunteers will not
be sent home as unit, but an invalided
battalion will be formed from all OF the
volunteer regiments and this will be sent
to San Francisco. Regular troops in mob
ilizatiOn will be sent to the East at the
same time TO fill the vacancy Thus the
number of men fighting in the archipelago
VIII not be diminished at any time, but
may be slightly increased This method
has been determined upon by Secretary
Root General Miles. and General C.rbin,
and further feature or the plan will be
the selection. Of officers for the new troops
who have net yet seen service in foreign
lands.
In the face of the promotion Of General
Otis TO the position of junior Major Gen
eral of the Army, TO fill the vacancy caus
ed by General Merritt's retirement. the ac-
tion taken by the House Committee on
Military Affairs yesterday in the Major
Kirkman case appears to officers OF the
Army as a direct slap at the newly pro-
NOTED officer The recommendation that
Major Kirkman be restored to his former
rank with only a fine or suspension seems
to be a severe rebuke to General Otis whe>
th.,t h, ~, +r,.
by court martial for conduct unbeooming
an officer and a gentleman and dismissed
from the service: that, later. upon review
OF the findings. General Otis held il 20 be
within his power to take final action on the
case and confirmed the sentence. Under
the seventh article of war which gives
such authority TO a commander in tie field
when state of war exists General Otis
had this right. But no declaration cf war
has been declared ny the President and
Congress against the Filipnos, hence. say
Army officers, the seventh article did not
apply to the case. However. the Solicitor
General of the War Department decided
that General Otis had acted within his
power and so advised the Department. Sew
eral cablegTams sent by the Department to
General Otis found no answer until after
the sentence had been enforced when he re-
piled tEat the queries came too late. Had
the sentence been on of death the PresI-
over the head of the War Department; as il
stood action by Congress was necessary and
this the friends Of the discharged officer
were able to secure.
Among the promotions granted, or which
may be granted, none gives greater salts
faction 10 Army officers that that which is
now tackled on to the Naval Academy Ap-
preparation bill, and which purposes to give
to General Miles the rank Cf Lieutenant
General of the Army. The cause Of this
satisfaction, particularly among those off,
GERS who served in the civil war is that
an honor is going to man who has raised
himself from the ranks TO the highest pos
sible position in the Army, and that against
considerable opposition at times.
General Miles was born in Westminster,
Mass, on August s, 1899 and in 1861 en-
tered the Army as a volunteer. He at
tained the rank of major general OF voIun-