The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-12-13
he Explains His Plan for Military
Reorganization.
THE SCHEME IN DETAIL
After Reconstruction the Land Forces
OF tho Nation wouid Consist OF
Abou 10000 Men - General
Scoheld Gives His Views.

''gH " phAS - $3.50
purpose are pending. one drawn by Gem
eral Miles and introduced in the senate
as the Hawley bill. and another intro
duced I'm the house by Chairman Huh of
the military committee. II was necessary
now, said General Miles. to consider both
our military requirements at home and
those OF our new colonial possessions,
and also those raised by the increasing
demands Of our seacoast. When the entire
increase in coast defenses is completed
265 batteries will be required. These con-
siderations. said Miles, had led him TO
recommend "A standard of one soldier for
each 1000 of population at home, with
native troops on n basis of two native
soldiers for every 1909 of population.
IF we are to be a first-class power in
the world" proceeded General Miles,
1--WE must have a military system ade-
quate to meet our responsibilities the
world over. I believe in making that
system so small that ii will not be a
menace to the American people and at
the same time large enough to make H.
adequate for any emergency"
He believed hat one soldier to every
1000 of population woul give an army
entirely adequate for every purpose. 1t
would give an army of 1000, accord
Ing to the last census, and about $1,000
/ on the estimated population of to-day.
~ 'NAfANN W AhAE ~ Nv t1N VI A'
tive troops would make an effective
body i'm the several colonies.
And IL we are to keep the Philip
pines-and ] rave no more idea that we
will give up Manila tina We will give
up Bunker Hill, or any other place i'm
mortalized i'm our history-then this ma
tive force will largely augment our own
troops there. and | understand the ma
tives are ready to enter upon this serv-
ice"
General Miles explained in detail the
bill drawn by him.
The hearing look quite a spirited turn
when several of the democratic mem
bers of the committee began cross
questioning General Miles. When Rep
resentative Cox requested that the mi
nority have the opportunity to ask
some questions, Chairman Hull ex-
pressed the hope that the committee
would not divide on political lines, as
II had never been separated into a ma
jority and minority.
In response to questions. General
Miles aid at least 1000 native troops
and 1000 Of our troops were required to
maintain order in Porto Rico. At least
$1,000 were required for Western posts
exposed TO Indian u~prisings. When
asked how many troops were required
in Cuba, General Miles said that as
troops were moving there now he would
not 90 into details on that point. as II
might be enormously construed by his
superiors i'm office. He went on to say
that probably 1000 men would be suf-
fiCient for Cuba in the near future. The
officers in the Philippines estimated
they would require 1000 men, possibly
more. Altogether about 10000 men
We're needed abroad and $4,000 at
home.
Al the afternoon session General
Schoficld, who preceded General Miles
in command of the army, devoted his
chief attention to the friction inevitably
rising between the secretary Of war ana
the commanding general under the pres
ent system. This had occurred under
the command of General Scott, who re-
moved his headquarters to New York
to avoid differences arising with the
war department. 1t occurred also dur
ing the command of General Sherman,
who went to St. Louis to avoid friction.
The trouble arose out Of the system
which gave the head Of the army the
name of commanding general. when n
fact he had little or no authority or
even influence as commanding general.
Whether he does anything depends
largely upon his personal relations with
the secretary of war. III those relations
are not close, then the secretary of war
gets to ignoring the so-called command
ing general. In that event the adjutant
general becomes a more important Off
cial than the commanding general.
General Scofield urged that n of
the most essential features of army re-
organization was to give the president
absolute power to select his own com
handing officers. Instead of creating
the permanent grade of lieutenant gem
eral. he favored giving the president
authority to select at any time a lieu
tenant general, the officer occupying
that position retiring to his former
grade. The title also should be that
of general-in-chief instead OF commans-
Ing general, as that would better ex-
press the idea that the head of the
army was the executive officer for the
president and secretary of a
General Scofeld urged also that the
heads Of all staff bureaus should be SUI
bordinated to the general-in-chief. Con
sidering the size OF the army under
present conditions, General Scohelo
said he estimated n need of about 30,
600 for the Philippines. rs. 900 TO 10000
for Cuba. 10000 for Porto Rico. 15.00C
for manning and caring for fortified.
tions. 5000 for the Indian country and
Il, 900 as n reserve. He did not believe
In Understanding the seriousness OF
our task In the Philippines.
After General Scofeld had concluded
General Miles said he did not approve
the suggestion that the head of tht
army be an executive staff officer to the
president. During most OF the time tbs
past 100 years the army a been In
command OF a general or a Lieutenant
general. and that was the practice tn
world over. General Miles said he die
not speak from a personal standpoint
as he was ready TO be retired at any
time, but he believed in the principle
Of a rank and authority commensurate
with the responsibility. He said In
reply to a question, that h'
thought II would he better for the pres
ident to nave the war minist r more
particularly direct the administrativ
work of the war department, as IL was
m7nifestly impossible for any man &c
come from civil life and at once be-
come familiar with all the latest ap-
planes OF war. II the n occupying
the chief military division was 10
liked. then let some n else be placed
In authority. But the selection should
not be from 50 far down on the list as
TO amount e favoritism, for that would