The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-12-10
INSPECTOR GENERALS REPORT.
Tribute to Military SchOOIs--NatiOnal
Soldiers Homes.

WASHINGTON, Dec 9.-The annual re-
port of the inspector general of the army,
made public tonight, is somewhat unique,
the exigencies Of the war having scattered
the officers of the bureau from their regular
duties to the command of troops in the
field and reduced the number of inspections
considerably. At the same time the war
brought out results in the branch of the
service devoted to military instruction in
civic schools and colleges and makes the
basis for some interesting recommendations
in this line. The inspector general pays
marked compliment to the personnel of his
department as we'll as to the other branches
of the government under whose direction
the war was successfully prosecuted. He
says: 1.-The indomitable energy, the per-
petual military precision, the care and
painstaking that was demonstrated from the
White House down to the loading wharf,
through every branch and desk of the War
Department to the final exit of an organ
lied command of every arm and corps of
the service upon foreign soil deserve recog-
nltion.' He emphasizes strongly the need
of periodical military maneuvers and ex-
perimental mobilization to insure the health
and safety of the troops in actual service
If this Is omitted, he declares, the most
lavish expenditure with the best intentions
and most untiring energy as a substitute
for practical skill is but poor makeShift
Favorable mention is made of the national
home for disabled volunteer soldiers Re-
ports from its branches during the year
showed an average population of 1850, a
net gain over the previous year Of 1892 This
would have been much greater had accom-
modationS been available for all the worthy
applicants The average cost of mainte-
nance per capita for the year was $125.99, an
increase of $4S4 over the previous year, but
less than the three preceding years.
One of the most interesting features of the
report is that upon military. colleges. Fiji
teen thousand students are being annually
trained in practical and theoretical military
service in private and public schools and
colleges. The presidents of forty-six of
these colleges, whose military departments
numbered Z, 100 students, reported that TWEEN
ty-nine of their regular students and fifty
nine alumni had been commissioned i'm the
regular army and 157 students and 296
alumni in the volunteer army, a total of 541
officers, or enough for about twelve regi-
ments. Further, 1854 students and ex-stu-
dents Joined the army as noncommissioned
officers or privates. Accepting these statiS-
tics as a fair average, it would appear, says
the report, that the regular and volunteer
armies secured from the students annually
instructed by regular army officers at the
four regiments. In conclusion on this sub
tial recognition should be accorded the stu
dents who spend a large part of their school
life in military study. and he recommends
the selection of some of the best of these
students for appointment annually in the
army. Such a policy, he says, would benefit
both the students, the colleges and the gov
ernment.