The Monmouth inquirer., 1898-11-17
coRBlN ON THE ARMY.
The Adintant General Submits His
Annual Report to HIS Chief.

Adjutant General H. C. Corbip made
his annual report to Secretary of War
r. A. Alger on Friday. 1t contains
much of a statistical nature about
the armies of the United States in
cluding the regular and volunteer
branches. General Corbin shows that at
the breaking out of the war the regular
army consisted of 2,143 officers and 2S.-
040 enlisted men. He refers to the legis-
lation for increasing the strength of the
regular army. also to proposed legisla-
ton submitted to the last congress- but
which was not enacted Under the war
legislation the regular army was in
creased until it amounted to 1882 Off
GERS and 56,S65 enlisted men, which in
cluded 5.S65 men Of the hospital corps.
Regular army officers to the number Of
SS7 were nominated for and confirmed
in different grades of the volunteer
army.
Discussing the volunteer army, Cen
eral Corbin shows the legislation re-
garding it and gives in detail the diff
ferent organizations called out from the
various states and territories, The
strength of the volunteer army at its
highest point, which was during the
month of August, was S,7S5 officers and
207, ,244 enlisted men. The aggregate
strength of the regular and volunteer
armies was II, ,10s officers and 26S,609
enlisted men.
General Corbin says that the surren-
der Of the Spanish troops in Porto Rico
no less than the successful operations
of our troops in the Philippines led to
the determination to muster out 100000
volunteers.
Continuing he says: "Since the sign
ing of the protocol the officers and men
of the volunteer regiments have re-
mained at their posts of duty, in most
cases at great personal sacrifice. That
they have done this cheerfully and
without complaint makes it all the
more desirable that speedy increase
of the regular army be provided for
in order that the volunteers may be re-
leased from further service and be all
lowed to return to their peaceful voca-
tions.'
AS to the staff, General Corbin says:
Much has been said of late concern
ing the organization of the several staff
departments. IT, as recommended, ad-
ditional officers are given the line of the
army, SO as to give plenty of trained
officers for staff duty in time of war,
the main objection will have been met,
and IL is doubtful If, under the condi-
tions peculiar to this government, a
general reorganization of the staff or
the adoption Of a new system should
be entered upon
The character of enlisted men is COM
mented on in the following:
"In assembling the regiments of the
regular army at the beginning of the
war with Spain the character of the
enlisted men arrested attention. A dis
tinguished officer visiting army corps
at Tampa remarked, Every man look
ed fit to command
Their conduct on transports, on the
march. in battles of Ell Caney, San
Juan and Santiago gave abundant evil
dence that his good opinion was we'll
placed. The officers ard men by their
valorous deeds and gallant conduct met
the high expectations of the country
The number killed and wounded in
all campaigns is as follows: officers
killed, %; enlisted men killed, 257; Off
GERS wounded, 113; enlisted men wound
ed, 1,464. The total deaths from wounds
and disease up to Oct 8 were 107 officers
and {, 1903 enlisted men.
General Corbin recommends that the
men of the national guard who entered
the volunteer army be allowed to re-
turn and be readmitted to their state
organizations.
Other features of the report refer to
the post graduate school of the army,
post lyceums, post schools, the person
mel of the adjutant generals Depart
ment, the bureau of military informa-
tion and military attaches. Officers who
=
commended to be given the rank of lieu
tenant colonel and major while on such
duty He also recommends that the pay
of noncommissioned officers be in
creased and that there be reorganiza-
tion of army bands which will secure
the better class of musicians.