The record-union., 1898-11-13

WASHINGTON, Nov. 12.-Adiutant
General Corbin has made his annual
report to the Secretary Of War 1t con-
talns much of a sensational nature
about the armies of the United States,
including the regular and volunteer
branches
Discussing the volunteer army. Gem
eral Corbin says:
Since the signing of the protocol the
offlcers and men of the volunteer regi-
ments have remained at their posts of
duty, in most cases at great personal
sacrifice. That they have done this
cheerfully and without complaint
makes it all the more desirable that al
speedy increase of the regular army be
provided for, in order that the volun-.
teers may be released from further SER
vice and be allowed to return to their
peaceful vocations.'
General Corbin has the following to-
say concerning the increase of the reg
ular army:
'The organization of the cavalry. ar
tlllery and infantry regiments has
stood the test of trial in battle and re-
ceived the approval of those in COM
mand; so that the increase of the line
of the army demanded by our new pos
sessions should be by the addition of
the necessary number of regiments or
ganized as are those now in service.
The number of officers should be in
creased by one First Lieutenant to each
troop, battery and company. This
would enable the department to meet
the demands to various details required
by law, and then leave the troops with
the necessary number for their proper
discipline and instruction and in war
allow the appointment of sufficient
Generals and general staff officers,
without destroying the efficiency of the
army. as threatened by the recent ex-
pertinent of the department. The num-
ber of trained officers as herein pro-
yided for at the beginning of the pres
ent war would have saved lives and
treasure, to say nothing of the in
creased efficiency of the service At
the beginning of. the present war some
400 officers were appointed to the staff
and volunteer regiments. With these,
and for aides to the Generals and other
duty absolutely required for the con-
duct of the war, absent from their COM
mands. the regiments were sent to bat
tie with scarcely more than one officer
to the company. 1t is difficult now,
with the sick and wounded officers, for,
the department 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 a greater number of Off
GERS than required.
"Officers serving in the West Indies
and Philippines WILL as a rule. be sep
arated from their families and their
living expenses greatly increased. 1t is
recommended that all officers below the
rank of Major, while so serving, shall
have the pay and allowance of the next
higher grade
General 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. His advice to
those who control the National Guard
| is that at the yearly State encamp-
ments the men be made dependent for
| their subsistence on the army ration
to be furnished by the State authori-
ties, on ration returns, and cooked by
the troops in precisely the same man
ner as in actual service in the field
| This would give them the same self
reliance which characterizes the regu-
! lar soldier on active duty
| General Corbin also recommends an
| increase in the pay of non-comrlis-
stoned officers