New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-12-10


~ THE PRESENT SYSTEM OF INSPECTION
Wellington Dec (speciaD-The annual report
r~s,,ctoi- General Breckenridge Of the Army
" made public at the War Department to-day. A
W., summary Of its important recommendations
80 .re good Of the service was given in The
..n.,ne on Thursday but his comments on the
.,uci of the war were left for more extended
quotation
- priyat,. General Breckenridge speaks in the
,.rsst terms of praise. but of the shortcomings of
.Io inspection system. which he attributes TO re
.-.,,ons imposed az the outset Of the campo gn.
81 criticisms are emphatic. The following extracts
are o. cnict interest.
s,,e the fenoltion ot tho last annual report the
''~sts 20 ina military establishment preceding or
|rr"slrent with the CAM align against spain nave
,yery branch ot the Army ana o~4si"s unusual ao-
,,vl,y ana interest everywhere. In the Inspector
Gsrsrais Department tho ABOLITION % the lnspec-
I'm districts AID tn" assignment Of inspectors
General ant acting NSpectoiS-s eneiai to me head
e-aJ,,'S e rooreatizod ne adoi,,on Of tNiee in
sre,iors-4,ueral to the permanent commissioned
;.S " ''.,-a ~ Volunteers tor each army corps
~ ~ a.l dl.. on cf IN. forces modified FOR ;he
%s,o.al defence. and fhe promotion 80 four inspec-
amy. and tncir selection TO command troops in the
FED. are among The more important recent events
The efforts ~ This Department, were directed 70
rerfolnrs i mp9I'4n (ri Ilnc T ems
Government. ana ai t3c same TINE continue an rs
orc duties connected with the War Department
In.
fo-n ms iasqtc ms duties IN me neld. win party
organize ;or thc purpose ana pr5ccealns uldsr
earaer o' Ing i'm his once. he continued these
80 r. tr~ country and Cuba. where he
,~o,r.5 ur'N after the surrender OF Santiago. II
vas No. aa @i'er ms return irS CHa nat n me ne
recartr,en. rl formed the duties Of nspector-gen-
t,sl Of The cavalry division during the entire cam
Ys.sn against santiago. and third was in com
,aaSi q one u H. infantry divisions Indeed
every division comwanoeT in front OF Santiago de
Cu5a or July had at some time served as in
g., VAS ai.,e expected that the vast amount Of
-'1k co1naofed VIII The mool,fzation q volvn,
49, u-ecarl or Coy active service should absorb
- un3ivlei attention Of every department in the
military esq - 80 r e' lnr i,s Ions
.snay na c.,e StoretSer s The en nTry
rs rs-essar.'v deNcc-od from peace to war meas
,es and ~ part t1ken Nv them IN The active oper-
o,'0rs afaius- SraiN speaks vel for the Depart
rent and 'ha dn,.ss ass sned them. whether az
Aave been performed with prom2tness. ability and
success and "fIf -ar rom ueing limited 70 in
s7e-,'on duties alone Nut embraced quite hetero-
7E, renor,s a. ,nsoec;ion a. the military es,ah-
,i.hrie-, prior t0 The opening Of the war includ-
dero's arm ries ard arsenals recruiting stations
m % t-e accounts Il 6isburslnC officers and Of
%s.6rsl cemeteries made during tho wear. have
e.er brought in sTeat in'aSTe 10 the attention
ANN has maintained a high standard Of efficiency
r7ipr as The cal, came ord frHl many duties be
'ses is own ari ia beyond dhe previous specially
Army. indy iua.y or n ~eGiments. in groups, in
brought honor and success 10 American arms.
NEED OF PERIODICAL MANGUvREs.
Fl. perhaps nothing has been made clearer by
ex7e-.sroe than or need OF periodical military
~aanouyras and experimental mobilization IN times
C. peace % guard against unnecessary suffering
a,d DELAYS f. tines az Va The 0rogress Of CIV
sized nations IN the and organization OF their
expanded srr.es in The fist stages OF war guards
th4.r soldiers against much hardship sickness
and loss Lavish expenditure and untiring energy
and k.ndl.es; attention and sympathy as substi-
tpres for accomplished ski may be successful
bur after ALL are makeshifts.
TIE indomitabe energy. tho perpetual military
provision The caro- and panstaking that were de-
monsl,ated from the Wh..e House down 70 the
,Is Var Teaartmert 20 the hnai exit Of an or.
eanized command Of every arm and corps Tor ser
we upon foreign SOL, GesgINe tJuo9 :eral con,
maning the Arny. tho General commanding mo
tn chief cuarteruaster, engineer and comnls-
sary. and e,herz # Inc .headauarters and sub.
ordinate s+at+s vtra assembled the Port Tampa
na:rf. While far from the most memorable may
ana group .rd.,atink The interest end insis'ence
y,.ta With e.,'las aboard was watched especially
~ such commands as The Rough Riders or br-
rsles ot regulars. Every time, even 10 The finish,
ma, the recognized leaders ~ this eNpedluo1
wee met whether in pTepada d9 ard IAN n a,
The consc!olsness Of strength enc ASSURE .
u military anl naval attach@s a. the dTigHGy n 5
tons accredited 30 tHaI exp. nl'lv. "'9'i'S ''7
Mv connection win IT, % far as my own sent
rrcrts were concerned. was IN the sold'eiy desire
= shlre 70 the utmost The dangers ald hardships
% ~ comrades ana be with them IN their battles.
s~d hear nv share TN our country cause "o u
might he assigned by my sHPeH3,5s ~, SuS ss psT,
Wv ie nov finished. How s"Nr.e II has PROVED:
sr5 the s.rain and tral .mpos ID may he well
known in many America househ"'ls
When peaceful pursuits arr resumed T. W doubt b.
teen fhousard Young men annually receiving theo-
ietical and practice. military insifu 'loH 'f Iess
Institutions under carefully ,ect'c Army o'hc'lS
and nearly as many more are yearly ~
ercised IN military drills at pubic ana PIT
ya'e 1ish SCOOPS unaer speS''i nSjpHe'9 ,1r.
.1erstood. and = would therefore be Interesting
20 learn the practical results Of The military woiK
with the recent struggle against SPAN. hey ma!
never be fully known. and inquiry on this suoJtct
elected only partial information put me stau.ucs
given are suggestive and seem ldtlcr De 20" lIaii
above aofua! conditions The presidents OF % co.,
leces. whose military departments numbered abott
200 students before hosti.ities began. reported
'een commissioned IN TIE Regular Army ana Io'
e.Udenfs and -; alumni in the Volunteer Army, a
,aerts and that l0i students and "N-students
had joined he forces as non-coinmlsslohe' oicefS
i these stc'istics may Ne accepted az fair
average II Is safe 20 assume that tie Regular and
volunteer armies secured from the Young men
annually instructed IN in.,iary scene ana i arucs
enough trained officers for tvertN-foG regiments.
and doubtless had the cal. for VOLTA ietrs been more
G1aTdsTen, many more "o"id haSe JolAJJ5 me
ranks and Joined In q body WNcr" thcf could pre-
serve their Identity cohesion aad esprit de CORPS
INEFFECTIVE INSPECTION.
pera-al~g The i,svoc..on se-yioc AFTER recount