The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1898-09-16
AN ARMY STANDARD
Gen. Miles Thinks One Soldier to
1000 Civilians About Right.
q PLAN OF ARMY REORGANIZATION.
The General Commanding states His In
tentiOn OF Recommending One to Con-
gress-Training OF Soldiers Neces-
sary for Proper Efficiency.


Washington, Sept 10.-Gen. Miles
came to the war department yester-
day and, after spending a short time
in his room at army headquarters
went to the Office of the secretary of
war. Acting Secretary Meiklejohn
was at the desk of Secretary Alger
and was talking with Gov. Atkinson,
of Georgia, and Adjt Gen. Corbin,
when Gen. Miles entered. The latter
was accompanied by a member of his
staff. After the gen tlemen had shaken
hands and the business with the gov
ernor was transacted, Mr.. Meiklejohn
and Gen. Miles chatted for some time
on general topics and the campaign in
Porto Rico and the return trip of the
commanding general. Shortly after
ward Gen. Miles left the department.
Speaking of the future of the army,
Gen. Miles said that there were a num-
Der of matters which required careful
and deliberate consideration, with re-
spect to the army organization, and
that, undoubtedly, steps in that direc-
ton would be taken as soon as prac-
ticable. The matter of mastering out
the volunteer general officers, in cor
respondence with the general reduc-
ton of the army by mastering out, he
said, would have to be taken up at an
early date, and that undoubtedly
would cause a Encouragement of the
department commands.
With respect to the reorganization
of the army Gen. Miles said that the
experience of this war had very clear
ly demonstrated what military au-
thorities well understood before, that
the establishment OF standard was
necessary TO the entire efficiency of
the army. He said IL was his inten-
ton to recommend plan of reorgan-
ization to congress. and that he be-
| lieved the necessity for it would be
recognized by the public and congress
The acquisition of territory obviously
made it necessary that there should
be a larger army, and the experience
| of the war had demonstrated the me-
cessity of establishing n standard and
having the troops thoroughly trained
to the military service. IL was desir-
able, he said, that the army should
be organized on the basis of one
soldier to every certain number of in
habitants. 1t was recognized by mill
tary authorities, even before the close
of the war of the rebellion, that the
establishment of a standard was de-
sirable, bat from time to time the
army had been reduced until it had
reached a number disproportionately
small to the size of the country and its
population. He thought that one sol.
der to every 1000 population probably
would be found to be the right ratio
for the standard. The army, the
standard being adopted, would in.
crease according to the recognized
needs of the government in an exact
ratio to the increase of the population.
1t was important, and this had been
clearly demonstrated in the war with
Spain, that there should be full com
plement of non-commissioned officers
and men, as well as of commissioned
officers who were trained to the hard
ships of military life, and who knew
how to take care of themselves and tC
look out for their own health and com
fort in a campaign. He said that il
was important TO the efficiency of an
army that the men should have train
ing for the endurance of marches
methods of protecting themselves
against severe weather and disad
vantageous climatic conditions. knowl
edge of the proper food and how
to care for their persons so as q
preserve their health, strength ana
efficiency, and that there should be &
sufficient number of non-commissioneC
officers thoroughly trained in the
knowledge essential to soldiers life
and to the care of the men. He said
that IL was just as necessary that sol
diers should have proper training as II
was to train men to build a house, OF
to have a man skilled in his profession
TO perform any professional service
II was essential that an army should
be composed of soldiers trained tc
their profession commanded by eff
cient officers in every grade and con
trolled strictly according TO military
principles. That military operation.
should be directed by military men,
he said, was too obvious to be stated
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Pension Claimants from the Late War.
Washington, Sept S.--No new leg
islation will be required to authoriz
the payment of pensions to the sol