Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 19, Number 66, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 26 April 1898 — TO DEFEND THE FLAG [ARTICLE]

TO DEFEND THE FLAG

President McKinley Issues His Expected Call for Troops. ASKS ENLISTMENT OF 125,000 MEN. Table .Showing Quota lof theVgrlou*Statea Under the Call—Synopsis of Main Provisions of Proposed War Revenue Bill. Washington, April 25. —The president Saturday issued a proclamation calling for 125,000 troops, to serve two years, unless sooner discharged. Plans were perfected Sunday for the mobilization of troops in most of the states to-day. From all over the country comes the answer to the call for 125,000 volunteer*. Governors of several states telegraphed to the war department that their quota could be easily doubled or trebled. All want to know if they cannot be permitted to furnish an extra regiment or so. These messages were very cheering to the officials of the war department, but since there are so many who desire to -fight it will be necessary to hold each state strictly to its own quota. Answers to this effect were sent out. The volunteers are not to be mobilized at once. Each state will takd care of its own troops for the next few days and wait for orders from the war department. It may be the end of the week before they are moved. Quota by States. While it is the purpose of the war department to secure only national guardsmen as far as possible under this first call for volunteers, yet in states where thert are no national guards or where the number falls below the quota stated in the call, the states will be expected to supply th 6 volunteers regardless of their lack of organization. In fact, this must be done under the law. On the basis of Saturday’s call for 123,000 men the various states and territories, including the District of Columbia, will be called upon to supply each the following number of volunteers: Alabama A,600) New Hampshire. 752 Arkansas 1,026 New Jersey 8,962 California 2,238 New York ...11,812 Colorado 1,298 North Carolina.. 2,584 Connecticut 1,607 North Dakota... 461 Delaware 841 Ohio 7.284 Florida T&i Oregon 829 Georgia I,l7«lPennsylvania ...40,769 Idaho 232 South Carolina... 747 Illinois 6,608 South Dakota.... 1,850 Indiana 4,402 Rhode Island.... 710 lowa ..3,772 Tennessee 8,060 Kansas ....2,772 Texas 4.229 Kentucky 8,407 Utah 425 Louisiana 1,9-fO\ermont 654 Maine S,2£'l|Virginia 2.583 Maryland 1,942 Washington 1,178 Massachusetts ..4,721 West Virginia.... 1,389 Michigan ..2,368 Wisconsin 1.274 Minnesota 2,874 Wyoming 281 Mississippi .......2,267 Arizona 181 Missouri 4,411 Dfst. of Co’mbla. 449 Montana 524, New Mexico 830 Nebraska 1,409 Oklahoma 143 Nevada 1381 Passed by the House. Washington, April 25.—Tha house Saturday passed the army reorganization bill at the urgent raquest of the president and secretary of war, but the senate did not remain in session as was expected, and the bill will not go to the president until this week. The bill reorganizes the army Into the three-battalion formation and authorizes the 35 regiments of the Infantry arm of the service to be recruited up to a total of 81,800 enlisted men. It authorizes the recruitment of ten regiments of the cavalry arm of the service to a total of 12,000 enlisted men, the seven regiments of the artillery arm of the service to 16,457 men and the engineer battalion of five companies up to 752 enlisted men, including two noncommissioned officers, which makes a total for these four arms of the service when at a maximum strength of 61,010. Points of goncentratlon. Washington, April 25. Secretary Alger has decided to concentrate the volunteers at Washington, Richmond, Atlanta and possibly one other point. Will Respect Blockade. Washington, April 25.—Memebers of the diplomatic corps say that no question can be raised as to the right of the United States to declare a blockade. This being conceded, foreign powers will accept it as binding. At Chickamauga Park. Chattanooga, Tenn., April 25. —All roads led to Chickamauga Sunday. The immense national park, where now are encamped nearly 8,000 of the United States regular troops, was a lodestone which drew thousands of people from all the surrounding country, and for the day nearly depopulated Chattanooga. Even before sunrise the stream of humanity had started toward the park, and by afternoon fully 50,000 people were scattered through the vast grounds watching the incoming soldiers unload and march to their assigned camping places and noting with interest the different phases of a soldier’s life on the field. Excursion trains brought in thousands from Nashville, Memphis, Cincinnati, Atlanta, Huntsville, Ala., and all the intermediate towns and villages, and the trains which ran to the park as often as the prompt handling of the soldiers would permit were crowded to the platforms at every trip. It being Sunday, all drills were suspended, and the soldiers, who were fairly settled In their camping places, had little to do but lounge around. The staff of Maj. Gen. Brooke la now complete, and by to-day all department* will be located at the park. The staff as now composed is as follows: Adjutant general, Col. Sheridan; chief quartermaster, Col. Lee; chief surgeon, Col. Hartauff; chief commissariat, Maj. Sharpeaids de samp, Capt Richards and Lieut*. Dean and McKinna. CoL Hartauff arrived from Chicago Sunday and immediately took up his quarters at the park.