The times., 1898-12-13

view OF the fact that there would have tf
be constant stream or men going TO the
colonies and another stream OF sick mt Il
coming home.
On the same point Gen. SchofieId said
Il think that We shall need 3G.t00 men IN
the Philippines, 1900 to 5000 in Cuba
5000 to 5000 in Porto Rico and l0,ee0 TO
l5.V0 for Indian protection in the We st
We need l5.e00 men in peace to care 70
our present sea coast artillery. and n
time of war we shall need s.. .08J for TIA
alone. With the absolutely ineispensabI
reserve of 1900 men this amounts
about 5000. | make no distinction be-
tween American troops and native aux
iliaries- Further. would give the Pr, s
ident power 20 increase the army with
out waiting for authority f,om Congress
He will never abus, il d it viii! save
rs from danger many time"
Gen. Miles favors small regiments and
small companies.
FOR an Infantry company Gen Miles
thought that 100 men would be more eff
cient than $50. Three officers could care
for tha; number better and direct their
hre better. lie advocated more regiments
ard smaller companies.
Gen. Schofield did not favor this. lie
believes that in a few years we shall be
able TO decrease the army largely. and
he would prefer TO do this by mastering
cut enlisted men and leaving the COM
pany formation intact. but with only I
little more than half its strength. This
would prevent irjrstire TO officers and
would prevent ts- .fsry being loaded up
with number % -alents. He thought
that an infantry company should consist
OF at least l59 men. though he believed
that 100 was enough for the cavalry
Both generals objected to the corps Of
Isan .uf.1 -
believe in the corps of artillery system
because 1t will require more red tape and
more departments here in Washington
me department commander now has full
control of all matters in his geographical
department. and Is responsible for all
arms of service in that department 1
see no reason Why there should be di-
vided responsibility"
The feature OF Gen. Sehofeld's remarks
was his advocacy of plan to remove
friction between the general commanding
the army and the Secretary OF War This.
he said. had always existed. and always
would exist as long as the present meth
DDS continued. Only once in the history
of the country he said. has there been
any such real rank as general of the
army. This rank was held by Gen. Grant
for just one year. Except for this the
command has been merely nominal
Usually II has been worse than nominal
the senior officer often exercising no ben
eiicial influence over the army. There
are frequent. II not continual. quarrels
with the Secretary of War Thus Gen.
Scott went to New York and Gen. Sher-
man to ST. Louis in order to avoid fric-
tion.
In such cases the adjutant general be-
comes far more important than the senior
Of he. 7 m hauut ifrTitN
because I was really commander-!n-chief.
Secretary OF War and commanding gen
erai all in one.
when / became senior officer l aban-
doned all attempt to control the army and
announced myself simply chief of stan
under the President. I believe that this Is
the only tenable position
y. therefore. think that the President
should have perfect freedom OF choice IN
the selection at any time Of one OF the
major generals to act as lieutenant gen
eral with much increased pay. The Pres
ident should have power to remove MN
at any time. This would remove all INC
ton.
This acting lieutenant general should
have full control over the staff depart
ments as well as over the line. IL Is a
lamentable fact that the commanding
officer of the United States army has no
control and little influence over the Of
fcers who pay the men. who feed them,
and who care for their health In fact,
the department officers here are now
sending out orders all over the country
independent of the general of the army
PERSONALLY. l should favor the setire-
ment of the lieutenant general wen the
President saw fit to displace him by an
other, with the rank and pay of lieuten-
ant general But l don't suppose that
Congress will do this. The President now
has power 10 order a junior major gem
eral to command, but none to return the
senior to a lower grade. or do anything
except put him upon waiting orders.
Mr. Marsh inquired In regard TO the in
fusion into the army of volunteer Of
ficers. Gen. Schoield thought that it
would be we'll in very few instances,
but not in many. lie thought it best to
have officers start at the bottom and
work up. He advocated letting in as
many volunteers as possible as second
Heutenants but not at any higher rank
If the Hawley bill authorizing fifty new
regiments should be adopted, he thought
that some of the new officers authorized
by it should be drawn from the voiun-
teer service but if the increase is small
as it is in the Hull bill. then the pro-
motion would not be excessive for the
regular olicSfS, anu he thouSHs SIi.Ae o'i-S
such volunteers should be appointed TO
high rank as might have shown special
qualifications.
"In a few years. he said. II hope the
great job we are undertaking will be
so far completed that reduction of
the army will be possible. Then. If the
Hawley bill Is adopted. ii will be neces-
sary to reduce the number of regiments
and there will be an overplus of officers,
and most of whom will be inefficient"
The hearing will be continued today
when Gen. Corbin and one or two Others
will appear.