The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1895-11-30
The Secretary Of War Makes
His Report
THE MOST ESSENTIAL NEED
Is the Adoption of the Battalion For.
nation
Recommendations Looking to Increased Eff
cheney Of the Army ana the Improve.
ment of Coast Defenses

port, just submitted to the president
makes many valuable suggestions for thu
ba tterment OF the service and, speakinf
of the coast defsnses, lays particula
stree. upon the slowness with which
conors IS ''desires in that regard that i
be exec, ted. y
The exn snditures for thc fiscal year
end;no inn, 80, 1895, have been $50. 9s7
ESQ. The an, opriation for the year end.
ing June 80. IL '96, was si3, 466. ST., and es
Inmates tor the following year are placed
ct $51, $40. 643.
The report of the officers III command
of the several geographical departments
show that the year has BET en- tranquil
and undisturbed by Indiah outbreaks,
dom stir violence or troubles ON the Dor
der. Steady and general effort to imrove
the service has brought the troo ps every
where to highly satisfactory condition
as to discipline, e:Gciency in military
exercises and soldierly. patriotic spirit.
The army is better fed, clothed and
housed than ever before and the policy
zealously pursued of promoting the per-
sonsI comfort of officers and meR has
resulted in a devotion to the service
which is everywhere apparent. 1t can be
said with confidence thar never in It's
history has the present condition OF the
army bsen surpassed.
The number of enlisted men in servicN
on October 31st was 25,35S. Excluding
these on the sick list, etc., the effective
list is placed at 20, 5s4 of all arms.
Changes established by the method
of recruiting during the past two years
have considerably reduced the cost OF
that service, while perceptibly increasing
the effective strength of the army.
The secretary concurs in tho recon-
mendation of the payma ster- gen eral th at
the entire amount of pay earned by eac b
enlisted mau be paid to him monthly
By far the most essential need of
our army today is the adoption of the
battalion formation. The reasons for this
change and q way to provide it we're
stated in the report of the department.
for 1894. Secretary Lamont goes OIL at
considerable length to discuss the pans
ami says.
The formation desired admits OF rapid
and great expansion to meet the ext
cencies of actual warfare, and is aspect
ally adj ptable TO the small force consti-
tuting the peace establishment of the
United States.
Resolving the effect of these changes
into money, it appears that for pay,
rations and clothing OF the increas ed
mum Der of enlisted men proposed an in
crease of 81 200, 900 in annual appropria-
tions will be required. Retrenohmenr IN
the administrative branches OF the war
hoo aypon6 I'm fnr
the current fiscal year by upward Of half
a million dollars comapred with last year
and the estimates contemp plate further
retrenchment for the coming fiscal yaer.
These economies in the adm nistration
of the war department may properly be
turned to the benefit of the army, and SO
regarded, proposed increase in numbers
and the higher efficiency in the organiza-
ton of the enlisted men may be OBJ
tanned with an increase of only about
$40, 900 over sums hitherto APP
propriated annually to the war depart
ment.
The proposition outlined oontemplates
ali increase in the mum Der OF line ticers.
involving an increase for salaries OF about
5000, 900. This increase of expenditures
should be met ana more than overcome
by reductions in the expenditures for the
staff.
One-fourth Of all the o:Sscers are perma-
nently assigned to staff duties. OF the
entire amount appropriated for the cur
rent fiscal year for pay OF officers ($5, 069,-
750) nearly one-thiri ($1.610, 500 was
required for the salaries of the staff. 1t
must be conceded that the ratio of staff
to line in our military establishment is
decidedly out of proportion, and that at
tention may we'll be directed to some ad-
justment which will in effect increase
efnoisncy and at the same tins permit
the transfer Of fund of no small amount
to purposes tending to promote the well
fare OF the whole service.
The present chiefs OF bureaus in the
staff organization of the army are capable
and efficient men. The wisdom, however
of continuing the present system of
selection may we'll be questioned.
Following the close of the last war and
up to the present time, in The assign
ments of stiff places, successful service
in the active operations OF that trying
period has already governed, and the SEN
iority method in promotion has operated
comparatively well, by reason OF the fact
that the older officers, eligible under tn
prevailing custom, had been benefited by
such experience. 1t is fair to assume
that these conditions cannot much longer
continue, and the time, therefore, is
deemed opportune for the considerable
of new methods. The vast importance
to the public service of securing in these
places in the future, regardless of other
considerations the officers best tiuted by
natural talents and attalnments, as evil
denced by their present performance of
duty, cannot be denied, and the knowl-
edge that such distinction is open to
merit could not fail to excite an am OIL
tion and effort that would increase meal
culably the efficiency of the whole SER
vice.
The head of each staff corps should in
my judgra ent, be selected for term of
years, the officer at the expiration of b is
term to resume ddty in his ommissiuned
grade, unless reappointed.
The act approved October ] 1890, to
provide for the examination OF certain
officers OF the army and to regulate pro-
motions. has proved to be great stimu-
lus to the younger officers to pursue a
comprehensive course of reading and
study calculated TO fit them for the
higher and more important grades. 10
stimulate their requirement of such
knowledge 1t is recommended that the
provisions OF the act above cited be ex-
tended so as to provide for the examina-
ton of all officers of the line and staff of
the army below the grade of colonel prior
to promotion.
The superintendent Of the military acad-
envy at West Point reports that the num-
Der of cadets on Septem Der lst, including
one foreigner admitted by special author
ity of congress, was 324, being forty less
than the full rum Der authorized by law.
Notwithstanding the desire of large num-
Ders of the youth of the country to enter
this institution, there are every wear
many untitled vacancies, mainly because
OF failure OF representatives. in congress
10 n ~ atrio tf.,,