New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-12-14
AboMmQvs
1.-THE QUEEN OF TABLE WATERS" 8
First in Purity"
British Medical Journal.
CONDITION or THE ARMY.
ANNUAL. REPORT OF INSPECTORGEN-
ERAL BRECKENRIDGE.

OF EDUCATING THE ofFlCbhS IN
HANDLING MASSES OF TROOPS.
Iny TELEGRAPH TO THE rsIBUNEI
Washington. Dec Bone Of the most Interesting
OF the Army annual reports Is that OF the III
sn.ctor-G eneraL This years report has been held
hack by the authorities for unknown reasons FOL
lowing are some OF Genera BrecKinridges re-
marks:
During the year ifyhve garr.soned niiitafy posi-
and camps have been inspected , afo a,Su nnart
ent OF the East. thirteen tne MssouIi e'snv, @
Plate ne on%b ssvcn DURING the year
ten military posts have been abandoned and three
in station of ali or portion each regiment have
been made except in three regiments Of artillery
gestve feature relative to the strength OF posts is
the reduction which has been made N me nu nnn
of posts garrlsoned by ore, Two ara tnree con-.
panes and the increase in those having regiment
IN 1893 there were eighteen posts eaGS
there are but ten On the other hand since 1898 the
reeiment has Increased from three to seven, and
those having a garrison OF more ina" 'ee
The rs rsqurcent Of soldiers is the b s6i Il s sp
act Effectively in ma be ed sn than IN the Garrison
evidently the opportunity TO acquire THIS hant anu
quality Is being improved Ths Gn,fef and ai num-
Der Of them mentioned as having snoe ae
nartment Of duty As an indication OF the preva-
ience Of harmony. it may be stated .hat ou ny one
S had Complaint to make An improvement stu ap,
pears to he noticeable in the character OF .d d ss
methods recruiting seem to have at
attention Of deserving young men 10 he mani and
welI-pad occupation in many respects NOR ,b cU
forabe than can be found upon tIa but has not
been in opera ton long enough 10 draw any reiapie
s Of S fsc' dscpne or contentment Of
the soldier the subject Of deserton OF .r,e md
e ano}eG OF of shortseryce Army sufficiently
understood by al professional soldiers IL lmposSSs
J,,tio
greater attention 70 details and practice Of e!d ex
ercses and lends itself readily to an organTIen fr
serve and perfect preparation and organization LOT
5e reports indicate that the discipline Of the
norted as exceptionally good During the last year.
or since he ast whch is selected because the par
tcuar data are more complete ron me nercentaee
Of soldiers who have not been in confnement -
s3 which is about the same psrcen,@Ige he m.
proved system Of recruiting, the higher requIremeents
adopted and the greater care exercised by men
from service in their regiments seem to be bear.
ing @ 5r" The limits , OF the reservation and
the nature Of the country were iaYo[ao.e' hut
there are still posts where exercises under service
eondon been scarcely attempted ED or soa have
OF the more simple problems in minor tactics
FIELD MANOEUvREs
The number OF officers in service who have
had experience in handling large masses or troops
is growing less and less each year. and there are
many on it's rolls who have never seen brigade
of troops. Can a satisfactory condition of nstruc-
ton exist under such circumstances? Has not me
time come when 1t Is absolutely essential In order 10
instruct the younger officers Of the Army how pes,
TO apply the theoretical knowledge which they have
acquired AT the Military Academy and at the service
schools occasionally to concentrate troops at some
central points and engage In series o. manoenyres
approxmatins as ne9ry as possible 10 sne Setu nv
W Which an be- While in
son? There was never time in the history OF our
Dared theoretlcally to meet an enemy than now;
what they need s practice: and next to war simu
lated condition OF war, with system OF thorough
and intelligent inspection Is the best senooi Inns
b0 ey wf be forge WIFE WIFE ne nSw
regulations large number Of well-educated but
of ppractesl kind With forces sufficiently large
simulate war conditions This Is the essential ele-
have had some tentative experiments. as at Chocco
and Camp Crook. in this direction and the fed ex
meats notably in that of Arizona in 1887 and 1885,
after the Geronimo campaign, are said to have given
The methods In use for feeding the troops during !
the year have in the main been satisfactory. Inc
practicable and feasible II the question were
left to a vote of the officers of the Army II Is
by some that the proper education Of company |
in the management and economical ar |
of the ration Is being negatived by the |
institution of the post mess, and also that their |
operation results In leaving companies without IN
structed and experienced cooks Other armies also |
furnish instructive illustrations in this matter botn
d,
study. These objections may not be sufficient. how.
ever, to overcome the advantage OF a minimum OF |
of general mess should and probably does insure.
The facilities for gymnastic exercises at military
importaunn feature Of Soldiers training than his
physical development and no better way to secure |
direction OF competent instructors Every permanent
post should be provided with suitable gymnasium |
building supplied with inexpensive but modern ap- |
paratus. That the soldiers themselves much IN
terested in this branch Of training is evident by the
IA IA a IN fheN hava honUh
apparatus. and fitted up at their own expense small
their barracks Post exchanges
than IN the British service. and are reported in |
which inspection reports have been received. there
seems to be no question to their general useful |
directly concerned. Proper accommodations in the
way Of suitable buildings still lacking at mum
Der OF posts.
NEEDS or THE GARRIsONs.
The quality of the supplies Of all departments |
has been generally very satisfactory and sutfi-
Gent in quantity. In the purchase supply ana ac |
OF stores for soldiers the Wort, and |
the requirements are far less exacting now than /
In the cxgencies Of war which is the normal con-
dtloa to be considered in Army business methods
but the closest attention Is being given to the
matter by all concerned The buildings are re-
ported In a satisfactory condition with exceptions
here and there as 10 their sanitary condition. Of
hcers quarters at several Of the service schools
sons even when the post has been reconstructed
comparatively recently as az Fort Riley Kansas.
Some barracks. as at For, Schuyler, New-York, are
reported to be old and not well adapted TO the
oyercrowded or inadequate. at Fort Nlo5rara.
Nebraska; Benicia Barracks and the Preside OF
tant; Fort Yates. North Dakota. and Forts Candy
and Spokane, Washington, The changes in prog
ress. both az 70 troops and barracks promise con-
slant Improvement. and at some points the improve
nent has been marked. and has more than once
been constructed recently generally give entire
satisfaction.
The hospitals are usually reported In good conll-
lion and OF sufficient capacity Some OF them are
models or their kind y few od and un ser- |
vlceabe. and quite number of Them are In need
IF minor repairs. There has been a decided i'm |
proVement IN their convenient construction in re- |
cent years. under the supervision OF the medical |
officers There Is some complaint the part OF |
company commanders that the present allowance |
u tentage Is not sufficient under all circumstances
ND Is SNgaafll that " nnr md axixa |