Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1901-03-25
INCREASE OF ARMY.
May Not BE lsecruited Above 60, 900.

May Not BE Recruited Above 10000.
Washington. March 25.-After ALL the
army may not be recruited to its maxi
mum strength of 100000 men, but when
the minimum number of IS. 924 is reach
ed. halt may be called on enlistmenta
That serious consideration is being Civ
en- by the administration to this action
lis complete answer to the cry of Inn
perialism raised when i, was proposed
to give the president discretionary pow
ser in relation to the size Of the army
The Intention TO keep the army within
the smallest possible figures has no po-
litical aspect whatever but it will be
done because the troops are not needed
Secretary Root is authority for the
statemen. that consideration is now be-
ing given to the question of reducing
the military strength in the Philippines
He says If the favorable conditions
brought about during the lag, thirty
days continue i, will be possible to re-.
duce materially the strength of the
army in the Philippines
The secretary of war is not prepared
ito say just how far this reduction will
go That Will be determined when a re-
port IS received from Gen Macarthur.
Gen. Chaffee and Col. Sanger The two
hitter officers have been directed To
make a tour of inspection OF the archi-
relago for the specific purpose of aseer-
tanning the exact conditions and 10
learn the least possible number of troops
it Will be necessary to maintain, The
recommendation of these officers viii, be
adopted BY the war department..
1t will require al least six weeks for
Gen. Chaffee 70 make this tour. return
10 Manila, confer with Gen. Macarthur.
and report TO Washington. In the mean
time Ii is believed by the president and
his cabinet that the conditions will con-
stinue to improve and the three officers
named will be able to recommend that a
large reduction can be made with safe
~.
ON the number of troops required for
the Philippines viii depend the extent to
which the enlistments will go. If, az
the present outlook indicates. the presi-
dent will be justified in Withdrawing a
large number of troops from the Pailip-
pines. the enlistnlssltS will be cut down
TO correspond. L, is mandatory upon
the president to maintain an army of
5S,924 men, and of course he has no die
erection in the matter of enlisting the
army upsto that number. His discre-
.tionary power begins at this point. and.
while Secretary Root Will not express
judgment in the matter, it is the gen
seral belief that when the minimum
strength has been reached enlistments
Will cease.
This would mean an enormous reduc-
.tion in the expense of maintaining tn.
army, and. while the anti-imperialists
Will have the wind taken out of their
sails on this question. they will also be
deprived Of the opportunity Of prating
about the enormous expense of the
army, as many millions Of dollars will
be saved by maintaining smaller or
ganization
The Consideration of this important
matter explains fully the lack of anxi-
ETY. on the part of the war department.
officials because OF the slow progress
being made with enlistments. About
1000 men are recruited each week. and
if the prospective plans are carried out
the war department soon Will have all
the men required to maintain the army
Iat its desired strength and 10 take the
placessof the volunteers and regulars
whose terms expire with the fiscal