The age-herald., 1901-01-02
The Army Question.

The War Department authorities do not expect that any large percentage of the vol- unteers now serving in the Philippines will re-enlist in the regular army. This is not so much because the regular service will be unpopular with volunteers, as because after two years away from nome, the aver age young man wants to get back to Amer ica to his parents, brothers and sisters and to his sweetheart. Then there is the pleas ant voyage home with the enthusiastic greetings that will come to every young hero, When the volunteer regiments from the several states were ordered home from the Philippines, and the new regiments of volunteers were organized, out of a total force of twenty-four thousand less than per cent, or about HOO, re-enlisted. If 15O0 of the present volunteers enlist in the new regular regiments 1t will be surprising. Some of them may later on enter the reg ular army, but 1t will not be until after they have returned home for awhile at least
 The War Department officials can give no estimate as to the time that will be re- quired to fill the new regiments that the army bill will provide to enlist men to fill the depleted ranks of the other regular reg iments. Just at present. IS has been the case since the war with Spain, enlistments are steady, and fill all the present needs of the army. When there was a prospect of long fight with China, enlistments were so numerous that lIle dIUuy OliCidls Coulu OHly take about one man in five. If the army canteen is abolished, as the House would have 1t, there will be greater difficulty in securing men, for the average young man, whether he cares for beer cr rot, regards the prohibition of an army carteen as an abridgement of his rights So soon as the army enlargement bill has been passed the War Department will proceed to organize the new regiments, and officers will be de- tailed at all the important points in the country to enlist men. But until the bill Is passed and it's exact provisions are known the department can do nothing. The pres- ept prospect is that it will be passed by the first of February, but Congress is al- ways an uncertain quantity.
 The Chinese Minister.
 One of the striking scenes in Washing ton is the Chinese Minister, MT. Wu, rid ing in an automobile. There you have the representative of a conservative and back ward nation using one of the most recent developments of eergetic civilization. But when bicycles were the craze the China men attached to the legation here were to be seen coasting down the Washington hills dressed in Oriental fashion with their pigtails streaming behind Conserva- tive at home these Orientals seem to be highly progressive abroad. Certainly that Is the case with Minister Wu, who is ob- servant and interested in everything. But strange as 1t seems to see Minister Wu riding in an automobile 1t is eve more surprising to see Mrs. Wu making calls in the automobile, dressed in her Oriental costume. With her little feet, 1t is almost pitiful to see her climb the steps in an English basement house in order to pay her respects to a cabinet officers wife or the wife of a Senator. She makes her calls dutifully and is always cordially re- ceived She has learned little English, so there Is less embarrassment that there used to be when she and her hostess smiled at each other and bowed and en- deavored to express themselves.