Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1898-11-17
UNCLE SANS ARMY.
The Adjutant General Makes His
Report to the Secretary Of War.
an INCREASE OF The lRNY URCEE.


Washington. Nov. ls.-Adjt Gen. II
c. Corbin ha, made his annual repor
to the secretary Of war. IL contain
much OF q statistical nature about tn,
army OF the United States, including
the regular and volunteer branches
He shows that, at the breaking out o
the war. the regular army consisted
of 9,l43 officers and 1904 enlisted
men. lie refers to the Legislation 70
increasing the strength of the regula
army; also to proposed legislation sub
mitted to the last congress, but which
was not enacted. Under the war leg
islation the regular army was in
creased until it amounted to 1892 0ffi
GERS and So, 3B5 enlisted men. which In
cluded 5,36b men OF the hospital corps
Regular army officers to the number
OF 3s7 were nominated and confirmed
in different grades of the volunteer
army.
Discussing the volunteer army, Gen
Corbin shows the legislation regard
ing it and gives in detail the differen
organizations called out from the vari
Gus states aud territories. Tn,
strength OF the volunteer army at III
highest point, which was during thu
month of August, was =, 7S5 officers ant
aO7,. enlisted men The aggregate
strength Of the regular aud volunteer
armies was tl,lOS officers and 1858, 6Ot
enlisted men.
Gen, Corbin says that the 'suspen
sion of hostlities, resulting from the
short but brilliant operations Of tht
army against Santiago; the surrender
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. lie gives the de-
tails of the campaign, which have beer
published, and adds:
Since the signing OF the protocol. the officer!
and IN N Of the volunteer regiments have re.
malned at their posts OF DUTY In most cases o.
great personal sa,rfce That they HAYS don't
this cheerfully and without complaint makes 1t
all the more desirable that u spec iy increase
Of the regular army be provided for. In order
that the volunteers may BIZ released from fur
Their service and be allowed to return to thei
peaceful vocati0ns
The number killed and wounded in
all campaigns is as follows: Officers
killed, 90; enlisted men killed. 257; Off
GERS wounded, 1lS; enlisted men wound
cd, /, 464. The total deaths from wound.
and disease up to October | were lO'
officers and 2. SO3 enlisted men.
Gen. Corbin has the following to say
concerning the increase OF the regular
army:
The organization OF tho cavalry. artillery
and infantry regiments has stood the test O
trial In battle and received the approval O
those In command so that the increase OF tht
line OF the army. demanded by our new posses
sions, should be by the addition Of the neces
sary number Of regiments organized as are
those now in service The number Of officer!
should be increased by one first lieutenant tt
each troop battery md company This woult
enable the department to meet the demands
as to various details required by law, ant
then leave the troops with the necessary
number for their proper discipline and instruc.
ton and In war allow the appointment OF SUI.
fclent generals and general stan officers with.
out destroying the efficiency Of the army, q,
threatened by the recent experience Of the de.
partment The number Of trained officers o.
herein provided for at the beginning Of the
present war would have saved lives and treas.
ure, to say nothing Of the increased efficiency
Of the service. At the beginning Of the pres.
ent war some 400 officers were appointed Il
the STAFF and volunteer regiments. With these
and for aides to the generals and other duty
absolutely required for the conduct Of the war
absent from their commands, the regiments
were sent to battle with scarcely more thar
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 company, and
too frequently there have been two companies
with but one officer The increase proposed
would in no way give greater number OF Off.
GERS than required BY the date fixed for the
assembling Of congress-, the department will
under your direction be prepared to submit q
bill providing for the increase Of the army.
Zen. Corbin recommends that the
men Of the national guard who en-
tered the volunteer army be allowed
to return and be readmitted to their
state organizations. Advices to those
who control the national guard is given
as follows:
While the yearly state encampments have
been productive OF positive good in impartnq
practical instruction to the troops participant
ing, the experience Of the recent campaign has
demonstrated the absolute necessity OF further
assimilating the condition OF encamped troops
to the actual necessities OF active service by
making the men while in camp dependent fol
their subsistence on the army ration to be fur.
nished by the state authorities, on ration re.
turns, and cooked by the troops, in precisely
the same manner as on actual service In the
field. An organization ordered to state
camp for military instruction, relying on Q
caterer to furnish the necessary food, car
never acquire that sef-reliance which char.
acterizes the regular soldiers on active duty
for, without previously received instruction In
preparing food the natural result when called
into service will be poorly cooked and wasted
ratlons, which, falling to strengthen the ply.
steal man, make him liable to febrile ant
stomachic troubles incident to service In al
kinds OF weather under distressing but unavoid
able conditions. For this purpose involving
the issue Of rations and purchase Of field cook.
ing stoves and utensils, the annual approprin.
tion made by congress for the support. In part
Of militia, is totally inadequate, and its In.
crease, urged In past years, has now become ,
necessity.
Gen. Corbin also recommends tina,
the pay Of non-commissoned officers
be increased, and that there be re-
organization Of army bands which will
secure the better class OF musicians