The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-11-12

DISCUSSING the volunteer army 1CA4~
eral Corbin says:
s'Since the signing Of the protocol, the
officers and men of the volunteer resl-
ments have remained at their posts of
duty in most cases at great personal
sacrifice. That they have done TINS
cheerfully and without complaint makes
it all the more desirable that a speedy
increase of the regular army be pro-
Vided for, in order that the volunteers
may be released from further service
and be allowed to return to their peace
full vOcatiOnS."
The following as to the staff:
Much has been said of late concern
ing the organization of the several stair
departments. If 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 it is doubtful, if, under all the con-
ditions peculiar to this government,
general organization of the staff, or the
adoption of the new systems will be
found to be desirable; certainly nothing
radical should be entered upon
The character of enlisted men is COM
mented upon in the following:
In assent bling the regiments of the
regular army at the beginning of the
war with Spain the character of the en-
listed men arrested attention. A dis
tinguished foreign officer visiting the
Fifth army corps at Tampa, remarked:
" Every man looked fit to command
Their conduct on transports on the
march, in battle at FL Caney San Juan
that his good opinion was we'll placed.
The officers and men, by their valorous
deeds and gallant conduct, met the
high expectation of the country"
General COrbin refers to the law
which prevents the enlistment of per-
sons who are not citizens of the United
States and says:
1.-The new conditions will. however,
make a modification of this statute de-
Sirable, to the end that the enlistment
of from one company to a battalion of
ri11o
Cuba, Porto Rico and the Philippines
may be authorized. The advantage of
this is too obvious for discussion
The recruiting service in the regular
and volunteer armies is refererd to.
Lack of officers in the regular army is
specifically pointed out in a number of
instances. General COrbin has the fol-
lowing to say concerning the increase of
the regular army:
The organization of the cavalry ar
tillery and infantry regiments has stood
the test of trial in battle and received
the approval of those in command; so
that the increase of the line army de-
manded by new possessions, should be
by the addition of the necessary number
of regiments organized as those which
are now in the service. The number of
officers should be increased by first
lieutenant to each troop, battery and
company. This enables the department
to meet the demands to various details
required by law and then leave the
troops with the necessary number for
and in war allow the appointment of
sufficient generals and general staff Off
GERS. without destroying the efficiency
of the army, as threatened by the re-
cent experience of the department. The
number of trained officers as herein pro-
v1ded for at the beginning of the pres
ent war would have saved lives and
treasure, to say nothing of the increased
efficiency of the service At the begin
nlng OF the present war some 400 Off
GERS were appointed to the staff and
ms n &c 4
for aides to the generals and other duty
absolutely required for the conduct of
war absent from their commands, the
regiments were sent to battle with
scarcely more than one officer to the
company. 1t is difficult now with the
sick and wounded officers for the de-
partment to get one officer to the COM
pany, and too frequently there have
been two companies with but one officer.
The increase proposed would in no way
give greater number of officers than
required.
by the date fixed for the assembling
the department will under your direc-
ton be prepared to submit a bill pro-
vidinS for the increase of the army
Officers serving in the West Indies
and Philippines, will, as a rule be sepa-
rated from their families and their Iiv-
ing expenses greatly increased. It is
recommended that all officers below the
rank of major while so serving, shall
have the pay and allowance of the next
higher grade.
u ~ ~ SCI VIC
in Cuba and elsewhere call for an in
crease of general officers in the perma-
nent establishment. There should be at
least an increase of two major generals
and four brigadier generals and pro-
vision for the grade of lieutenant gen
eral if called for by the best interests of
the public service"
Gen. Corbin recommends that the men
of the national guard who entered the
volunteer army be allowed to return
and be readmitted to their state organ
izatiOns, Advice to those who control
the national guard is given as follows:
while the yearly state encampments
have been productive of positive good
in practical instruction to the troops,
participating, the experience of the re-
cent campaign has demonstrated the
absolute necessity of further assimilat-
ing the condition of encamped troops
to the actual necessities of active ser
vice by making the men, while in camp
dependent for their subsistence on the
army ration to be furnished by the state
authorities on ration returns, and cook
ed by the troops in precisely the same
manner as on actual service in the
field. An organization ordered to a
state camp for military instruction, re-
lying on a caterer to furnish the neces-
sary food can never acquire that self
reliance which characterizeS the regular
soldiers on active duty, for without
previously received instruction in pre-
pairing food. the natural result when
called into service will be poorly cooked
and wasted ratiOns, which, failing to
strengthen the physical man make him
liable to febrile and stOmachic trouble
incident to service in all kinds of wealth
er, under distressing but unavoidable
conditions.
For this purpose, involving the issue
of ratiOns and the purchase of field
cooking stoves and utensils, the annual
appropriation made by congress for the
support in part of militia is totally in
adequate and its increase urged in past
years. has now become a necessity
Other features of the report recon-
| mend that officers who are sent as mil
itary attaches be given the rank of lieu
tenant colonel and major while on such