The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-09-27
URGES BIG ARMY
Congressman Hull's Bill Pro-
Vides For 100000 Men.
Reduction in Three Years of
Danger Is Over.
ADOPTS GERMAN IDEA
General Staff System Approved
by Gen. Nelson Miles.
Plans For Two Complete Chang
es Under Consideration.

Washington, Sept. 27.-Plans for two
complete changes in the army are be-
ing matured. Both require action by
congress, and it is the purpose of their
sponsors to have bills ready for intro
duction as soon as congress convenes.
One project is for a general staff, in
which Gen. Miles is taking an active in
terest. The other is for the increase of
the regular army to 100, 900 which Con-
gresham Hull of Iowa, chairman of the
house military committee, is fathering
The war department as now organized
has ten brigadier generals at the head
of the independent divisions. These di-
visions are not subject to the control Of
the commanding general of the army,
and many of the difficulties of army
management are attributed to this in
dependent form of organization. Gen.
Miles has studied foreign methods, and
he has selected the German system for
model The German army has a gen
eral staff under the control of one man,
the chief of staff. There is no pulling
and hauling between bureaus, no petty
Jealousies, no waiting for each other to
act There is one master mind in touch
with the army, knowing it's needs, and
all bureaus must work in unison to sup
ply those wants. Gen. Miles has been
greatly impressed with the perfection
of the machinery of the German army,
and is understood to be planning a sys-
cd to meet American wants.
Commissary General Egan relates Il
striking example Of how the present
system works. The Quartermaster' de-
partment is charged with the duty of
providing transportation not only for
the army and its impedimentS, but also
for its food. Gen: Egan bought large
quantity of provisions in Chicago last
spring at the time the troops were be-
ing modified at Tampa. The Chicago
dealers sold their product to the COM
missary department, but when it was
delivered at the railroad freight depots
it came under the jurisdiction of the
quartermaSter general, and he had to
be notified to make contracts with the
railroads for its shipment to Tampa.
On reaching Tampa the quartermaSter
general had to notify the cOmmissary
general OF its arrival, and it became a
part of the commissary. The commits
sary general decided to store some of
the meat, and the Quartermaster's de-
partment had to be called in again to
carry it from the cars to the ware
house. Then the cOmmiSSary depart
ment again resumed jurisdiction Short
ly afterward it became necessary to
load in on ships, and the quartermaS-
ter's subordinates had to take possess
sion and remove it to the vessels. After
landing at Siboney there was a similar
series of changes of authority. 1t is not
hard to see that with such a system
Veniences, but the law is explicit and
the heads of the war department bu-
reaus must abide by it. If they viola
ted it they would be court martialed and
punished.
Attention has already been called to
the probability of an effort to increase
the standing army to 100, 900 men, but it
is now being coupled with new prOvis-
ion. The sentiment of the country has
long been opposed to a large standing
army, and it was only possible because
of the existence of war to pass the re-
cent act increasing the force to 81, 900.
But even that has a provision requiring
the reduction of the regular army to It's
former peace basis at the close of the
war The pressure from all parts of
the country to secure the discharge of
volunteer regiments is counted on to aid
the passage of the bill for raising the
arrny's strength to 100, 900 men, but the
supporters of the proposition apparent
ly have some doubts about their ability
to overcome the old hostility against a
large army, and they propose to quiet
the fears of the country with a prOvis-
ion that the increase shall be for per-
iod Of three years only. They argue
there will be absolute need of a large
force until disturbing elements in the
conquered islands have been quoted or
eliminated, and they will hold out the
prospect of the esta Adjustment of q
strong government that in the course
of two or three years will assure peace
in the islands. It is expected that the
United States forces, after the vOlun-
teers designated for the purpose are
mustered out, will consist of about 100,-
600 volunteers and 81, 900 regulars.