The Washington times., 1901-10-20
CHAPFEE ASKS FOR TROOPS
Re-enforcemenf. Needed TO QueIi
Insursrat Activity.

Plans for sending additional troops to
the Philippines are now under eonsidera-
tion by the War Department. Whether
these plans contemplate reinforcing Gen.
eral Chaffee's military establishment. or
whether the War Department will salts
/ ~ Itself with merely replacing soldiers
Who will return to the United States by
reason of the expiration of their terms of
enlistment has not been fully determined
a month ago the military force in the
philippines numbered nearly 43,OoO men.
With the return Of over 700 men who's,
terms OF enlistment had expired. and
whose departure from Manila was an
nounced in a cablegram from General
Chaffee several days ago. this force was
reduced to nearly 1900 men. The order
ing home OF an engineer battalion and
the return of troops previously ordered.
VIII bring his total force very near to
10000 men In csbIegram recently re-
ceived from General Chaffee. he declares
that the men returning to the United
States should be replaced by others. SO
as to bring his total strength to not less
than 1900 men.
In the opinion Of War Department Of
hcials, the only way to provide for the i'm
mediate strengthening of General Chat
regiment from the United States to Ma
Mia at the earliest possible time. In the
expectation OF an order from Secretary
Root approving of this directions have
been issued to Colonel Bird. of the Army
Transport Service, to hold the transport
Grant at San Francisco until Secretary
I Roots return. He will then take up the
subject. and decide whether or not a
regular regiment shall be ordered immsdi-
ately to Manila.
II IS understood that the plans of the
war Department cnntemp plate the send
ing OF tho ywenty-eighth Infantry, now in
the Department of the Columbia, to Manila
on the Grant. II has also been decided to
send from.New York nearly 1.000 men ON
the transport Crook. which will sa:I for
Manila about December l. The troops to
go on the Crook have not yet been desig-
mated, but it is known that a battalion
OF regularly organized men will be sent.
numbering several hundred troops and
the balance viii be made up of recruits
from different recruiting stations In the
East
General Chaffee has informed the War
Department that he will require three ex-
ira transports TO assist in bringing home
the short-term men within the next six
months. The Quartermaster's Depart
ment has selected the transports Meade,
Rosecrans. and Egbert for this especial
purpose The Rosecrans and Egbert will
leave the Pacific Coast in a few weeks
for Manila. and will carry out supplies
and civilian employees. The need of off,
GERS in the Philippines has been empha-
sized by General Chaffee in his commurd-
cations to the War Department. Orders
have been issued by Acting Secretary
Sanger, detaching from recruiting duty
those officers who have not had active
service in the field for some time, and
placing them under orders for Philippine
service.
1t is no secret among War Department
officials that the cause of the Increased
military activity in the Philippines Is duo
TO the recent outbreaks in Samar and
other parts of the Philippine archipelago.
II is the belief of army officers that out
breaks in Samar will influence the lawless
element in LuZon. and 1t would not be
II the necessity for renewed
aggressive movements on the part of the
American troops does not become neces-
sary in Luzon. Another effect of the
present condition is that II will cause a
postpon ement of the plans under eontem-
plation by the Secretary of War for the
OF military stations in tho
Stands, IL having been his intention as far
as possible to abandon many OF the
minor garrisons and concentrate the
troops at important points where quar-
terS could be constructed for Them