Evening star., 1901-03-27
Regiments Cannot Be Organized as
Was Planned.
VOLUNTEERS TO Be RETURNED
An Army of Fifty Thousand to
Garrison Philippines.
UNTIL ORDER IS RESTORED

The present plans of the. War Depart
ment contemplate the maintenance of an
army of 5000 men in the Philippines until
order has been completely established un-
der the proposed new civil government and
the garrisons can safely be reduced to a
peace footing. There are now about 65, 900
troops in the Philippines and China and
the original plan was to maintain an army
of 6O.O0O men In the Philippines until a
stable government had been established.
The plan was to replace the volunteers
numbering about 25,0OO, with regulars to
an extent sufficient to keep up all existing
garrisons throughout the archipelago, but
1t has been found to be impracticable to
do so under existing conditions within the
short time intervening before the 1st OF
July next, when the entire volunteer army
must be disbanded The failure Of the
plan is due to the lack of available officers
in this country to organize the new regi-
ments authorized by Congress and not so
much to the difficulty of recruiting the
regiments.
All the available troops are either in the
Philippines. on the way to that country, or
under orders to go there. They number all
told. about so 900, and include the troops
to be withdrawn from China and all that
can be spared from the United States. Re
cruiting is continuing with fair success in
all parts of the country. but the organiza-
ton of the regiments Of which they will
form the nucleus is considerably ham
pered by the lack of officers. Nearly all the
officers to be added to the army are now
serving with volunteer troops In the Phil
ippines. and as their services are demanded
in that country. it is not deemed expedfent
to bring them home at this time.
Return of the Volunteers.
Owing to the complete transportation ar
rangements made by the War Department.
all the volunteer troops in the Philippines
will be landed In this country in time for
discharge by the end Of June. There will
be no difficulty on that score. The outgoing
movement of troops. however, is In a much
less satisfactory state, owing to the limited
number of troops available. Three trans
ports-the Buford, Fitzpatrick and Logan
will leave San Francisco between now and
the 18th proximo, and the departure OF the
last one of these vessels will end the dis
patch of reinforcements.
These vessels will carry nearly 1900 SOL
diers, including a battalion Of the 9Th In
fantry. two troops of the 10Th Cavalry, one
company of the 10th Infantry. battalion
of the 18th Infantry, four companies Of the
1st Infantry, squadron Of the 9th Cav
airy one squadron of the 10th Cavalry and
a battalion of the 11th Infantry. The last
of these troops are scheduled to sail or the
Logan on the 18th proximo.
Practically Empty TroOpships.
Unless other arrangements are made In
the future all the transports leaving San
Francisco for the Philippines after the
date named will go out practically empty.
The transport Warren is scheduled to sail
on the Goth proximo, but so far the War
Department has failed to arrange to send
any troops by that vessel. Three other
transports-the Lawton, Ohio and Thomas
are scheduled to leave San Francisco dur
ing the month of May, but there are no
troops that can be forwarded by them.
The Thomas. which will sail about May
20. will probably be utilized by Secretary
Root and General Corbin in case they are
able to make their contemplated visit of
inspection to the Philippines. She is one
of the largest and finest vessels in the
service, and well adapted for the use of
the war minister AS has been already
stated. the troops already under orders
to the Philippines. and which will all ar
rive there before the end Of May, will give
General Macarthur an effective army Of
$1,000 men, which. In the opinion of the
officials of the War Department, is ample
for all military purposes.