The sun., 1900-12-25
NEEDED.
to Be Returned
Philippines. /. /.
gOF WAR BOARD
g Postponed by Reason
~ 5luHox Fss' Failure to Provide
ho Deinhfe In Army-The De-
I. :. 4rtment Embarrassed.
sHES

124a LII = toit iJcc <-rf.-AS result of q
c''fiterence between the secretary of war
and Quartermaster General Ludington
u fias been decided that no further action
can be taken with regard to the return
of the volunteers from the Philippines
until congress shall make provision for
their replacement.
s The war department is considerably
embarrassed by the failure of congress
TO make provision before the recess for
me relief Of the military situation in the
l'hll1pplnes. Acting upon representations
made by General Macarthur, the depart
ment has concluded that it is absolutely
necessary to maintain an army of 10000
men in the Philippines until the current
policy of establishing municipal govern
ments throughout the archipelago has
been executed. 1t is stated at the de-
partment that any reduction of the mill.
tary strength below that figure under
existing conditions would undoubtedly
prove most disastrous to the interests of
the United States
Number of Troops In Philippines.
There are now about $4,000 troops,
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 congress with re-
gard to army legislation. When the nee
essary authority has been given, it is
The purpose of the department to bring
home as rapidly as possible all the volun-
teers and regulars whose terms of en-
listment expire on the 30th of June next,
but not before it is possible to replace
mo ny
enlisted under the terms Of the new army
bill. 1t therefore appears that after the
5000 volunteers have left the Philp-
pines, no more troops will be withdrawn
from that country until they can be re-
lieved by fresh troops recruited in the,
United States in accordance with legisla-
ton yet to be enacted.
1t is expected that congress will act
promptly on the army bill soon after it
reassenbles in January, but even in that
event, it is said at the war department,
it will not be possible TO get the fresh
troops to the Philippines inside of two
months time.
Home Coming Postponed.
The general home coming movement Of
the mass of the volunteers therefore will
have to be postponed until about the
LIST Of February. That will give the
quartermaster's department but FIVE
months time to bring home the remain
der Of the volunteers and the regular
troops whose terms will expire at the
same time, aggregating about 100000 be-
-fore the LIST of July. This undertaking
is believed to be beyond the capacity of
the transport service as at present organ
lied and may necessitate the chartering
of additional steamships. All arrange
ments in that line, however, will be
held in allegiance until definite informa-
tion has been received of the intention
of congress with regard to the proposed
increase of the regular army.
Recent cable advices from General
Macarthur indicate strong desire on
the part of the volunteers generally to
return to the United States and that
comparatively few of them are likely to
re-enlist unless the most liberal induce
ments are offered. 1t is understood that
General Macarthur has recommended
that bounty of $3.50 be allowed to each
soldier in the Philippines who re-enlists
for another term, and the plan is said
to meet with the favor of the officials of
the war department.
Reflections on williams.
Inquiry at the state department dis
closes the fact that no official notice ever
was taken by the department of a state
ment affecting in some measure Oscar r.
Williams, who had been consul to Manila
before the Spanish-American war. Cap
tain Burritt was the author of this state
ment, and, being in charge of the mining
bureau, in the Philippines, in the course
of his annual report to General MacAr-
thur, commenting upon the finding in an
Irregular fashion of an enormous number
Of mining claims, said, "The record dis
closes an underlined but apparently close
relation of Hon. Oscar f. Williams as
United States consul with the inspecto-
rate of mines that is of such nature as
to seem to require a statement of the
facts appearing in the records of this bu-
reau."
Captain Buriitt then recites some cases
where the consul had certified to certain
claims some time after the claims al.
Sready had been allowed by the Spanish
mining officials. The general statement
of the report is that certain designing
men, foreseeing the overthrow of Span
ish sovereignty in the Philippines, had
filed claims upon everything in sight in
mining way. But Consul Williams is
no longer United States consul nor is he
an official of the United States govern
ment, so that it has no longer any au-
thority to call upon him in connection
with this matter. The mining claims
filed in the irregular fashion referred
to are, however, vet within reach, and
it is said at the war department that the
Philippine commission is about to take
them up with view|to passing upon
their validity. Mr.. Williams is now at
his home in Syracuse.