The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1898-09-09
and this General Wheeler insists is the

and this General Wheeler insists is the
absence of a general staff.
We need such a system as VIII en-
able us to pass from peace to war with
the minimum of friction and the least
possible loss of time. The method OF
mobilization, of movement Of troops, OF
uniformity of equipment and arma-
ment: the estimate of the strength or
hostile forces, the study Of the theaters
of war, the preparation of military
maps, the promotion of military science,
the training of selected young officers
all these things should be prospective
ly provided or prosecuted.
AS he puts it, 1--WE need the develop
ment Of a properly equipped intelli-
gence branch, and the just supervision
for information.
The essayist's account of the growth,
training and work of the general staff
in Germany and Of the war colleges and
military academies, and the work Of
and promotion of the attaches of the
of the State militia and National
Guard" Frederick the Great laid the
foundation of what has developed into
a general staff in Germany which has
become the eyes and ears of the army.
In Germany the general staff with it's
intelligence branch began it's greatest
AP f,,1. ~
was given an independent position
directly under Won Moltke.
1t is claimed that it is now fifty years
In advance Of all others, because 1t Is
Independent Of the War Ministry.
The chief Of such a staff must be the
most able, astute and sagacious officer
Of the military service, and his associ-
ates are to be selected from among the
-Wo snoIIolII7u pure p9usTnSunsIp lsoU
GERS Of the country. Three principal
strategical sections, including the intel
ligence bureau, represent the true war
force Of the general staff. The plan
and method of each are such that each
and every change and important move
ment throughout the world affecting the
military and political status of all or
ganized governments, are at once regis
tered in this great central repository
staff is deeply interesting. Scarcely
less so is his sketch of the same eff
Gent body in Austria, Russia and other
European States. We have in both
army and navy information bureaus,
but these only indicate the greater or
ganization we should erect.
1t is the duty of such a body to be
posted in every detail concerning every
thing essential to the mobilization,
movement and encounter Of armies:
concerning arms, transportation, lines
Of communication and intelligence;
waterways and topography, fortifica-
tons, materials therefor, equipments,
proJectiles, ammunition, camps, courier
corps, topographic corps, discipline,
state Of armies everywhere conditions
OF navies, ports of embarkation and
armament Of foreign armies. and so
I'll Oo6AA a chap VI ISClldl INdt
fill column, but those we have named
Will suggest to the intelligent the
breadth Of the work of a general staff.
Whatever the reason for the present
war, says General Wheeler, it is clear
to the commonest intelligence that we
were not prepared for it in any one
direction, judgment the rejecting will
approve. What we need to do now is
to prepare in a way that we will never
again be without the aid Of those Ays-
TENS Of information and preparation
which are employed by all advanced
nations, and the chief of these, says
General Wheeler, is the erection of a
general staff, which would become the
repository Of all military informa-
ton, practical, theoretical, scientific
and of experience, the school for
the highest strategic art, the col
lege Of the military above ali others,
the economic bureau that will make
necessary wars short, sharp and decis-
i've.