The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1898-12-15
NEEDS OF ARMY.
Adjutant General Corbin Before Mill
itary Committee.

| itary Committee.
Washington, December 14.-Adjutant
General Corbin appeared today before the
House committee on military affairs. AS
to the need of an increased army, General
Corbin said that was most serious
proposition. He said: 1.-THE Cuban evacu-
alton commission has submitted state
ment that in order to preserve order and
restore order in Cuba 1T will require the
presence of an army of $4,000 men,.
| General Corhin said he would send thi S
recommendation, in confidence. to the
mnittae, but later it was arraigned
that it should be submitted without con-
| fidsntial reservations. As to the Philip
| pines, General Otis. in command there.
| has recommended that $4,000 men wei g
lreauired there. In Porto Rioo the officers
| in command recommend that the force
now on hand is about adequate for the re-
| ouirements. The present force there is
6. 600. That made 81 900 men for Cuba,
the Philippines and Porto Rico leaving
| of an army of 100, 900 about 49, 900 for re-
serves at home.
| s.It must be borne in mind. said Gen.
| Corbin, ssthat an army in time of peace
is like insurance 1t is preparation for
an emergency. If we had such an army
last June no such loss of life would
have occurred He went on to show
how the Spanish soldier had ruled
throughout Cuba, forming even the rural
| police forces and the municipal police
forces at Havana. As TO the trouble
which had occurred in Porto Rico, Gen.
/ Corbin said it was not due to dispo-
sition to fight the United States, but to q
| tendency in certain Glasses towards dis
\ order.
| General Corbin said the proposed large
increase OF staff officers was esseDt ial to
| the peculiar new duties deyolvlng on
/ army officers. In tho Philippines for in
| stance. they were collectors and would re-
main SO until Congress provided other
wise.
Mr.. Hay suggested that General Miles
estimated 1000 for Porto Rico while Gen.
Corbin proposed 5000.
81 would defer entirely to the view OF
Major General in command or me army
on that point said General Corb1n, ms
he has been on the ground and knows int
situation there.
"What is your personal opinion with
out reference to the RECOMMENDATION 20
the Cuban commission as to the number
of men needed in Cubas" asked MIR. hay.
81 would not have an opinion against
such a commission" responded the den-
eral.
The riotous events of the last few days
ne feared, Knight be the casting or tht
shadow of failure events
No one could see ahead as to Cuba and
it was most serious question as to how
long it would take to establish order on
, stable and permanent basis on the island.
The experience of the last war, GENERA
Corbin said, would not warrant an
affirmative answer to an inquiry as 70 TN
, uDciency of a volunteer reserve. I'm
national guard was an admirable Dooy
. men for ordinary EN- ergenc1es, such
the breaking out OF riots, OUT was ~ no
pest suited for soldiers field life. Whel
members of the commission referred Z
, the superior intelligence of the volunteer
coming from civil life, above that OF tn
regular soldiers, General Corbin sala II
considered the regular the equal IN 10
+ telligence to the volunteer, owing to In
! rigid requirements now maue. IN
. character and Intelligence or the men WI,
went into Santiago campaign was secone
a | to none that ever saw service. he deciareu
! The General was asked II he had re
\ ceiyed any complaints from the volunteer
as to their treatment during the recon
war. He said he was yet to hear CON
i plant from a volunteer soldier Suo
complaints as come were from oussiu
: sources, knowing nothing about the Iac'
a and conditions.
a "Would it be proper. under milltar
: usage, for q subordinate to submit CON
/. plaint?" asked MIR. Hay.
"Not only proper but the very thing I
a should do, answered General Oorpin
Mr.. Mahany remarked that he had bee
y DlainfS One OIL Uu6l
y came from soldier who said: - nav
|. loved my country, but 1T Is Sne las
' country will love.
3 Mr.. Fectnn also specified complaint
n reaching him. c., :,
y itarated that he had never received COR
pJaint. adding that he had asked volui
i. faers with whom he had come in contat
v as to their views.
a that the army Jared as well as, or bette
n than any other army that had ever take
. the fiald.
= General Corbin said no exa ct foreca
: could be made as to the Philippians
!. Aguinaldo was reputed to have an arm
= of 46. OO0 men, but what that army woul
q do no one could tell. 1t was too large
4 field of conjecture to enter upon in tn
= off hand way.
!. for the release of volunteers the Associat
Press was requested to send General Co
"a bins statement on that point. de sait
!. .Ths department is disposed to deal We
a leniently as TO letting of men who a
# needed at home. In some cases colons
~ have been instructed to reduce compani
" to eighty men, SO as to let off men W
81 were urgently needed at home and eve
4 below eighty we are making dischara
ia on satisfactory statements that t
presence of the men is needed at home.