The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1900-12-28
THE ADMINISTRATION WORRIED AT THE
DELAY OF CONGRESS.
GREAT NECESSITY FOR ACTION
At an Early Day-The Time Now Short
for Bringing Home h Volunteers
and Replacing Them with Regulars
Under the Proposed Army Reorgan-
fZation Act The War Department
Awaits Its Passage-Proposed Bounty
to Secure Re-Enlistment of the Vol
~unteers.

Washington, December pas a re-
suit Of a conference between the sec
rotary Of war, and Quartermaster Cen
eral L~udington, it has been decided
that no further action can be taken
with regard to the return of the volun-
teers from the Philippines until next
congress shall make provisions for their
replacement. The war department. is
considerably embarrassed by the fall
ure of to make provisions be-
fore the recess for the relief Of the mil
itary situation in the Philippines. Act
ing upon representations made by Cen
eral Macarthur, the department has
concluded. that it is absolutely necessa-
ry to maintain an army of 1000 men in
the Philippines until the current policy
of establishing municipal governments
throughout the archipelago has been
executed.
1t is stated at the department that
any reduction of the military strength
below h a figure under existing con-
ditions could undoubtedly prove most
disastrous to the interest of the United
States.
There are now about 1900 tro~
regulars and volunteers. in the Philip
pines, and arrangements have been
made already for bringing home 5000
of that number. No further reduction
will be made until the war department
is advised fully of the purpose of con-
gress with regard to army legislation.
When the necessary authority a been
given it is the purpose of the depart
ment to bring home as rapidly as pos
al Ill 49, ,-NI,--+-r- a-1 rno111nr=
whose terms of enlistment expire on the
Both of June next, bur not before is it
possible to replace them, man for
man.. with new recruits enlisted under
the term of the new army bill. 1t,
therefore, appears hat after the 5000
volunteers have left the Philippines, no
more troops will be. withdrawn from
that country until they can be relieved
by fresh troops recruited in the Unit
ed States in accordance with legisla-
ton yet to be enacted. -
It is expected that gre will act
promptly on the army bill soon after
it is re-assembled in January, but ever
in that event. it is said at the wal de-
partment it will not be possible to get
the fresh troops to the Philippines in
side of two months time. The general
homecoming movement of the mass OF
volunteers, therefore. will ave to be
postponed until abou the first of Feb
Tudry. That will give the quartermas-
ter's department but five months time
Ito bring home the remainder of the vol
urteers and the regular troops whoss
term will expire at the same time, ag-
! ~gregating 70 10000 men. before tht
1st of July.
This undertaking is believed to bt
beyond the capacity Of the t%ranspor
y service, as at present organized, ant
may necessitate the charter of add
iOnal steamships.
All arrangements in that line, how,
ever, will be held in allegiance until def,
mite information has been received o
the intention of congress with REGARD
to the proposed increase of the regulal
army
Recent cable adviccs from Genera
Macarthur Indicate 81 strong desire OIL
the part of the volunteers generally t,
return to the United States. and tina
comparatively few of them are lil1el,
to re-enlist without the most liberia
inducements are offered. q
1t is understood that General Mao
Arthur has recommended that a bount,
of $3.50 be allowed to each soldier in tn
Philippines who will re-enlist for an
other term, and the plan is said to NEE
with the favor of the officials of tn
wal department.