The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1898-12-14
ARMY INCREASE.
Hearing Before Committee
On Military Affairs.

Washington, Dec. 1S.-At the hearing
before the house military affairs rela-
tive to the proposed increase of the
army today, Brig Gen. Schwan of the
adjutant generals office detailed at
length the organization Of the army I'M
der the plan proposed in the Hull bill,
which has the Endorsement Of the sec
rotary of war.
The total strength of officers should
be 1921 total strength of enlisted men,
96,1 grand total of officers and men,
1905
In reply to questions by Mr.. Sulzer
of New York, Gen. Schwan said about
1900 men We're required to man sea-
coast Notifications. When MI. Sulzer
asked how many soldiers were required
to maintain peace and order in Cuba:
Till the Cuban republic Is pro-
laimed," Gen. Schwan declined to give
an opinion. A similar response was
made on an inquiry as to the Philip
pines.
Mr.. Sulzer asked: General, what
would you propose as n means of stop
ping the friction between the comman-
ding general and the adjutant general
of the army?"
Gen. Schwan said ne could not an
swer, and there was a chorus of Wig
orous protests from members of the
committee Chairman Hull ruled that
the question was improper and Mr..
Suffers colleagues, Messrs. Cox and
Hay, urged him not to pursue the
question. Mr.. Sulzer said Lieut.. Scho-
field had gone into the subject quite
freely but he did not wish to insist
upon the question.
Mr.. Cox questioned Gen. Schwan as
to what use would be made of our sol
diers in Cuba. The general said it would
be to maintain peace and order there
Mr.. Cox insisted it was to maintain
this order over the Cubans, as the
Spaniards had withdrawn. Gen Schwan
declined to accept this Interpretation,
saying the army in Cuba was to main
tain order against all alike
Maj. Johnson explained the cavalry
features of the proposed reorganization.
He emphasized the need of organizing
the cavalry in times of peace, as it was
impossible to properly equip and train
cavalry at a time of emergency
Mr.. Cox sharply questioned Maj.
johnson as to the relative merits of
volunteers and regulars. Chairman Hull
insisted that this question was not pert
lnent to the hearing. Mr.. Cox pursued
the discussion, however, and argued
that the volunteers were the best fight
ers, as shown by the experience of the
civil war and the recent Spanish war
Maj. johnson said he had no criticisms
for the volunteers, although he MAIN
tanned that military training was an
important element in the fighting abil-
ity of the soldier
Maj. w. A. Simpson followed on the
artillery branch of the proposed reor-
ganization: He urged the battery as the
| limit of artillery organization in prefer
ence to the regiment. Maj. Simpson
who served under Gen. Merritt at Ma
Mia, was asked by Mr.. Hay as to what
cooperation might be expected from
the F'ilipinos The major said opinions
differed as to this among the United
States officers in the Philippines. Most
of the Filipinos seemed to be ready 10
cooperate with the American forces.
but some of them, puffed up by author
ity, might not be so ready to aid the
Americans. About 10000 United States
| troops would be most effective he said
not only for service, but mainly for the
moral effect.
The hearing will be continued tomor-
row.