The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-12-15
Thirty-Seventh Regiment Will Sail ON
Jan. L, and the Eleventh Cav
airy on the 18th.
RE-ENLIsTMENTs DESIRABLE
But NO EXPECTATION THAT vOLUN
TIERS WILL REJOIN THE ARMY.
Letter from Secretary Root in the In.
terest of Officers who Served
in the Civil War;

WASHINGTON, Dec. 14.-Secretdry feool
was before the Senate committee on mill
tary affairs for two hours to-day, going
over the army reorganization bill. He
urges that the anti-canteen provision in
serted by the House be stricken out, say
ing that the canteen or post exchange is
an important factor in army life from
social point of view. He feared 1t might
BE- difficult to secure recruits with the cam
teen abolished. The secretary again dwelt
on the Importance of speedy action on the
bill, saying that transports from Manila
would begin to leave San Francisco to-
morrow, and that all transports leaving
after this time would bring volunteer
soldiers back. He called attention to the
lished among some of the Filipinos. and
said that it would not do to leave them
unprotected even for short time.
Secretary Root has cabled instructions
TO General Macarthur to begin the work
of returning the volunteer troops from
the Philippines in order to permit of
their discharge in this country by the
Goth of June next. This action has been
taken in anticipation of the authorization
by Congress of the enlistment of regular
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 approval of Congress. It
is hoped by the secretary of war and the
military authorities that the bill for the
reorganization of the army, now before the
Senate. will become law before Congress
takes a recess for the holidays, on the 2lst
inst. The officials make no secret of their
great concern over the existing situation
and say that the failure of Congress to
take Immediate action for it's relief un-
doubtedly will result in considerable en-
barrassmens to the government and seri-
ously retard the execution of the admins
tration's policy for the establishment of
efficient and stable government in the
archipelago.
VOLUNTEERS MAY NOT RE-ENLIsT
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 that
only a small percentage of the state troops
are likely to offer services beyond their
present term of enlistment officers serv-
ing with volunteer regiments I'm the Philip
pines have been sounded on that point and
have reported a general disinclination on
the part CT the volunteers to prolong their
foreign service. 1t IL recalled that a SIM
liar state of affairs existed among the State
volunteers recruited during the Spanish
war. There were about 1900 of these VOL
unteers in the Philippines when the VOL
Unteer regiments we're mustered out at the
close of the Spanish war, and of that num-
Der only 1,45o men re-enlisted for service
In the Philippines in the present yol,1n-
teer army, Notwithstanding the liberal in
6uoements offered by the government to
that end, including travel pay allowance
to the amount of s400 to each man who re-
enlisted.
The plans of the War Department for
bringing home the volunteer troops are
shown In the following cable message.
dated Dee. II, from General Corbin to Gen.
eral Macarthur, at Manila:
Send volunteers convalescent to the ca
pacity of the next transport returning, and
a volunteer regiment by transport follow
ing. AS you report So. 600 now. the secretary
Of war directs that you start home the VOL
unteer regiments until the force is reduced
to 10000. the number fixed before beginning
reinforcement by regulars. VIII send you
regular regiments to further relieve the
volunteers
To the foregoing General Macarthur re-
piled on the 18th inst, as follows:
with reference to your telegram of the
11th. the Thirty-seventh volunteer infantry
regiment sails on the transport Sheridan
Jan. I. and the Eleventh Regiment voiun-
teer cavalry, on Jan. Is. The movement
will continue directed till completed The
Thirty-sixth Regiment is in the fied: cam
not leave at present. Authority is requested
to retain regular officers in the volunteer
service whose regular organizations are
here. Also volunteer officers now assigned
to special duty who so desire. with a view
to muster out June 60 An important ques-
ton of policy is involved. as the departure
of volunteers almost renders II impossible
to furnish officers for special duty, the
necessities for which are increasing. Trans
pert Sherman leaves Dec. Is with about 500
volunteer convalescents, and the transport
Warren Dec. % with the same number. Any
remaining will go on transport Sheridan
Jan. L.