Evening journal., 1898-11-12
REPORT BY CORBIN.
Adjutant General on Army
Organization.
THE MUCH CRITICISED STAFF.
General Corbin Says 10 Increase the
Number of Limo officers IL Best
Solution of the DiaIculty-The
Plans For New Organization.

branches. General Corbin shows that at
the breaking out OF the war the regular
army consisted Of 2.14S officers and &C.
0i0 enlisted men. He.refers to the legis-
lation for increasing the strength Of the
regular army, also to proposed legisla-
tlon submitted to the last congress- but
which was not enacted. Under the war
legislation the regular army was in
creased until IL amounted to 1882 Off
GERS and 56365 enlisted men, which in
cluded 1896 men OF the hospital corps
Regular army officers to the number Of
387 were nominated for and confirmed
in different grades Of the volunteer
army.
Discussing the volunteer army, Cen
eral Corbin shows the legislation re-
garding 1t and gives in detail the diff
ferent organizations called out from the
various states and territories. The
strength of the volunteer army at it's
highest point, which was during the
month OF August. was S,7S5 officers and
2e7,24l enlisted men. The aggregate
strength Of the regular and volunteer
armies was IL, 10S officers and 1858 500
enlisted men.
General Corbin says that the surren-
der OF the Spanish troops in Porto Rico
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-
NAMED at their posts Of duty, in most
cases at great personal sacrifice. That
hey have done this cheerfully and with
nut complaint makes it all the more de-
sirable that a speedy increase of the
regular army be provided for in order
that the volunteers may be released
from further service and be allowed to
return to their peaceful vocations."
AS TO the staff, General Corbln says:
much has been said OF late concern
Ing the organization OF the several staff
departments. If, as recommended. adj
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 IT, under the condi-
lions 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 Ga 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. dis
tingushed officer visiting army corps
at Tampa remarked, Every man look
ed NJ TO command
"Ther conduct on transports. on the
march in battles of FL Caney, San Juan
and Santiago gave abundant evidence
that his good opinion was well placed.
f The officers and 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. ,464. The total deaths from wounds
I and disease up to oct. 8 were 1O7 officers
and 2,S03 enlisted men.
The recruiting service in the regular
and volunteer armies is referred to.
Lack OF officers in the regular army is
specifically pointed out in a number of
Instances.
General Corbin has the following to
say concerning the increase of the reg
ular army:
1.-The organization of the cavalry, ar
D
the test in battle and received the APP
prevail Of those in command, so that the
! increase Of the line OF the army, de-
handed by our new possessions. should
be by the addition Of the necessary
number of regiments organized as are
those now IN the service. The number
Of officers should be increased by one
lieutenant to each troop, battery AMI
company This would enable the de-
partment TO meet the demand for vari-
Gus details required by law and yet
leave the troops with the necessary
number Of officers for their proper dis
cipline and instruction and in war al
low the appointment of sufficient gem
erals and general staff officers without
destroying the efficiency of the army,
as threatened by the recent experiences
Of the department The number OF
trained officers as herein provided for at
the beginning of the present war would
have saved lives and treasure TO say
nothing of the increased efficiency
ST the service. At the beginning of the
present war some 400 officers were APP
pointed TO the staff and volunteer regi-
ments With these and for aids to tho
generals and other duty absolutely re-
luired for the conduct of the war alb
sent from their commands, the regi-
nents were sent TO battle with scarcely
more than one officer TO a company
II is difficult now. with the sick and
wounded, for the department 20 get one
gnicer to the company and too fire.
luently there have been two companies
with but one officer. The increase pro-
posed would in no way give a greater
number of officers than required.
by the date fixed for the asse h''ne
81 congress the department wil undci
your directions. be prepared to T1hmii
bill providing for the increase 81 Tho
army.
Officers serving in the West Indies
and the Philippines viii, as a rue. b,
separated from their families and theil
living expenses greatly increased. 1t i.
recommended that all officers below th'
rank of major while so serving shal
have the pay and allowance Of the mex
higher grade.
"The requirements of probable servic
IN Cuba and elsewhere call for the in
? crease Of general officers in the perma
! nent establishments. There should a
least be an increase Of two major gen
erals and four brigadier generals. Pro
. vision for the grade of lieutenant gen
fla hos Ia =,