The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1900-12-25
SOLDIERSMU
ONLY 1000 voLUNTEE1S CAN COME
HOME NOW.
DEPARTMENT EMBARRASSED.
MUST KEEP 10000 TROoPs N THE
PHILIPPINES.

with Returning Volunteers and
Regulars whose Terms Have EN-
pired There VIII lie About 4oODO
Men 90 Hiring Home gNhose Places
VIII Have 10 Bc Taken by Fresh
Mcn-Gen. Macarthur Recommends
Bounty al $3.50 for Re-enIist-
ment
Washington. Dec. 2f-As a result OF q
conference between the Secretary oi War
and Quartermaster General Ludiuet0n. IL
has been decided that no further action
can be taken with regard 70 the return
OF the volunteers from che Philippines
until Congress shall make provision for
their replacement. The War Departments
is considerably embarrassed by the fail
urc Of Congress 20 make provision before
the recess Tor the RELIEF OF the military
situation in the Philippines. Acting upon
representations made by Gen. Macarthur.
the department has concluded thai H s.
absolutely necessary 90 maintain an army
o. COCO men In the PHILIPPINES until the
current policy Of establishing municipa.
has been executed Il s. stated a. the
department that any reduction OF the mil
itary strength below .hat figure under
existing conditions would undoubtedly
prove most disastrous 90 the interests OF
the United States
There are now about e9.ooo troops. regu-
lars aud volunteers. IN the Philippines and
arrangements have been made already for
bringing home 300 Of that number. No
further reduction VIII be made until the
War Department Is advised fully of the
purpose Of Congress with regard TO army
legislation.
When the necessary authority has been
given k is the purpose Of the department
70 bring home as rapidly az possible all
the volunteers aud regulars whose terms
OF enlistment expire on June 81 next. but
not before II is possible 10 replace them
man for man with now recruits enlisted
under che terms OF the new army bin.
IT, therefore. appears that after the ge0
volunteers have left the Philippines no
more troops will be Withdrawn from thar
country until they can be relieved hy
fresh troops recruited Ia the United
States In accordance with legislation yet
TO be enacted.
II Is expected that Congress viii act
promptly on the army bill soon after a
re-assemhles in January. but even IN that
event, u is said al the War Deparfnteu
Il VIII not be possible 10 get the fresh
troops 20 the Philippines inside Of two
months time. The general homecoming
movement Of the mass OF v0iunfears
therefore. viii have 90 Doe postponed un-
til about the first OF February. That viii
give the quartermaster's department but
five months time 10 bring home the re-
mainder OF the volunteers and the regu-
lar troops whose terms will expire az the
same timc. aggregatiug about 31ooo mon.
before the first Of July This undertak-
ing Is believed 20 be beyond the capacity
Of the transport service as at present
organized. and may necessitate the char
ter of additional steamships All ar
rangements in that line. however viii he
held IN allegiance until definite iuforma
tiou has been received OF the intention a
Congress with regard 20 the proposed In
crease OF the regular army.
Recent cable adviccs from Gen Mac-
Arthur indicate a strong desire on the
part Of the volunteers generally 60 re-
turn TO the United States and that com
ssarsttveslv feus ~ sharn are Mkaty 20 re-
enlist without tho most liberal induce
scents are offered. n Is understood thai
bounty OF $50 be allowed 90 each sol
dier in the Philippines who rc-cnllSts for
another term and the plan D. said 20 meet
with the favor OF the officials Of the war
department.