The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1898-11-13
CORBIN WANTS MORE OFFICERS
AN ADDITIONAL LIEUTENANT
FOR EACH COMPANY.
Many Companies During the War
Had But One Officer Each-Pro-
posed Increase In Regular Army.

Washington Nov. 12.-Adjutant Cen
eral Corbin has issued his annual re-
port to the secretary of war. 1t con-
tains much of a statistical nature about
the armies of the United States, in
Guiding the regular and volunteer
branches. General Corbin says: Since.
the signing OF the protocol the officers
and men of the volunteer regiments
have remained at their posts of duty,
in most cases at great personal sacri-
flee. That they have done this cheer
fully and without complaint makes it
all the more desirable that a speedy
increase of the regular army be pro-
vided for, in order that the volunteers
may be released from further service
and be allowed to return to their
peaceful vacations"
General Corbin has the following to
say concerning the increase of the reg
ular army: THE organization of the
cavalry, artillery and infantry regi-
nlentS has stood the test of trial in
battle and received the approval of
those in command, so that the increase
of the line OF the army demanded by
our new possessions should be by the
addition of the necessary number of
regiments organized as are now those
in service The number of officers
should be increased by one first lieu
tenant to each troop, battery and COM
pany. This would enable the depart
ment to meet the demands to various
details required by law and then leave
the troops with the necessary number
for their proper discipline and instruc-
ton, and in war allow the appointment
of sufficient generals and general staff
officers, without destroying the eff
ficiency of the army, as threatened by
the recent experience of the depart
ment The number of trained officers
as herein provided for at the beginning
of the present war would have saved
lives and treasure, to say nothing of the
increased efficiency of the service. AT
the beginning of the present war some
400 officers were appointed to the staff
and volunteer regiments. With these
and for aides to the generals and other
duty absolutely required for the con-
duct of the war, absent from their
commands, the regiments We're sent
to battle with scarcely more than one
officer to the company. 1t is difficult
now, with the sick and wounded OIL
GERS, for the department to get one Of
ficer to the company, and then fire.
quently there have been two companies
with but one officer. The increase pro-
posed would in no way give a greater
number of officers that required.
Officers serving in the West Indies
and Philippines will, as a rule, be sep
arated from their families, and their
living expenses greatly increased. 1t
is recommended that all officers below
the rank of major, while so serving,
shall have the pay and allowance of
the higher grade
General Corbin recommends that the
men of national guard who entered the
volunteer army be allowed to return
and be re-adnitted to their state or
CARNATIONS.
His advice to those who control the
national guard is that at the yearly
state encampments the men be made
dependent for their subsistence on the
army ration to be furnished by the
state authorities on ration returns and
cooked by the troops in precisely the
same manner as in actual service in
1.-THE field. This would give them the
same self-reliance which characterizes
the regular soldier on active duty.
General Cofbin also recommends an
increase in the pay of non-commis-
stoned officers.