Evening star., 1898-11-12
Character OF the Regulars.

Character of the Regulars.
In regard to the character of enlisted
men, Gen. Corbin says
In assembling the regiments of the regu-
lar army at the beginning of the war with
Spain the character of the enlisted men
arrested attention. A distinguished foreign
officer visiting the 5th Army Corps at Tam
pa, remarked: Every man looked fit to
command Their conduct on transports,
on the march. in battle at Ell Caney, San
Juan and Santiago, gave abundant evidence
that his good opinion was well placed The
officers and men by their valorous deeds
and gallant conduct met the high expccta-
tiOn of the country.
THE act of Congress approved August 1,
1894, providing for three-year enlistments
did much to bring to the service good
class of men; the further provision of the
act providing:
That no person Except an Indian) who
is not citizen of the United States, or who
has not made a legal decfarat ton Of his in
tention to become a citizen of the United
States, or who cannot speak, read and
write the English language, or who is over
thirty years of age, shall be enlisted for tna
first enlistment in the army
THE enforcement of this law gave the
country, small though II was, by common
consent the finest army the world has ever
known. 1t is worthy of note that from the
time the 9TH Army Corps left Tampa-.June
gust 2-the commanding general was not
called upon to order a trial of an officer
soldier by general court-martial
THE new conditions will, however make
a modification of this statute desirable to
the end that the enlistment Of from one
company to battalion of natives for each
regiment serving in Cuba, Porto Rico and
the Philippines may be authorized The
advantage of this is too obvious for discus
sion"
The total number of enlistments and re-
enlistments In the regular army during the
fiscal year ending June 80 1885, exclusive
of the hosuital corps, was %, 521. i the
accepted applicants, "a 400 were native born
and 5,031 of foreign birth; 27,14O were
white. 2,345 colored and 36 Indians (scouts).
The enliStments numbered "a 24S and the
re-enlistments 5,213. Excluding re-enlist-
ments the percentage of native-born appli-
cants for original enlistment was 81 the
balance being naturaliZed citizens The re-
ports show that the recruiting officers re-
jected 9s.27 applicants-a little over II per
cent of the number seeking enlistment-as
lacking in legal, mental and moral or phys-
ical qualifications; 500 of these were re-
jected as aliens, and 4.7Ss for illteracy.
Larger Army Needed.
Speaking of the necessity for an increase
of the regular army. Gen. Corbin says:
THE organization of the cavalry, artil-
lery and infantry regiments has stood the
test of trial in battle and received the ap-
proval of those in command; so that the in
crease of the line of the army, demanded
by our new possessions, should b, by the
addition of the necessary NUMBER of reei-
ments organized as are those now in ser
vice. The number cf officers should be in
creased by one first lieutenant to each
troop, battery and company. This would
enable the department to meet the demands
for various details required by law and vet
leave the troops with the necessary num-
ber of officers for their Lroper discinlina
ard instruction, and in war allow the an
pointment of sufficient generals and general
staff officers, without destroying the ef-
ficiency of the army, threatened by the
recent experience of the department The
number of trained officers as herein pro-
vded for at the beginning of the present
war would have saved lives and treasure,
to say nothing of the increased efficiency
of the service. At the beginning of the
present war some 400 officers were an
pointed to the staff and volunteer reei-
ments. With these, and for aids to the
generals and other duty absolutely required
their commands, ths regiments were sent
to battle with scarcely more than one off,
Ger to the company. J1t is difficult now,
with the sick and wounded officers, for the
department 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 Tor the assembling of
Congress the department will be prepared
to submit a bill providing for the increase
of the army. -
"Officers serving in the West Indies and
the Philippines VIII, as rule, be separated
from their families and their living ex-
penses greatly Increased. 1t is Recommend
ed that all officers below the rank of major
while so serving, shall have the pay and al
lowance of the next higher grade.
1.-The requirements of probable service in