Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1898-11-12

\ company to a battalion of natives for each
regiment serving in Cuba, Porto Rico and
the Philippines may be authorized. The ad-
vantage Of this Is too obvious for discus
| sion"
The assignments OF officers and men for
the various expeditions are given. together
with the casualties resulting.
The number killed and wounded in all
campaigns is as follows:
Officers killed. %; enlisted men killed, 25i;
officers wounded, IL; enlisted men wound
ed. 1.iC4.
The total deaths from Wounds and disease
up 10 October ! were 10. officers and 2,S03
enlisted men.
The recruiting service in the regular and
volunteer armies IL referred TO. Lack OF
officers in the regular army IL specifically
pointed out in a number of instances.
General corbin has the following TO say
concerning the increase of the regular
army:
The organization Of the cavalry, artil-
lery and Infantry regiments has stood the
test of trial in battle and received the APP
prevail OF those in command: 50 that the
Increase of the line of the army, demanded
by our new possessions, should be by the
addition of the necessary number OF regi-
inents organized as are those now in serv-
ice. The number of officers should be in
ANh''' y. o4i' lIs li'lltIldIl ~ zach
troop. battery and company. This would
enable the department 10 meet the demands
as 10 various details required by law. and
then leave the troops with the necessary
number for their proper discipline and in
struction. and in war allow the appointment
of sufficient generals and general staff Off
GERS, without destroying the efficiency OF
the army. as threatened by the recent .x-
perience of the department. The number OF
rasaaI GT-ZH 40
the beginning of the present war would
have saved lives and treasure, TO say MOTH
Ing OF the increased efficiency Of the serv-
ice.
AT the beginning of the present war
some 400 officers were appointed 10 the staff
and volunteer regiments. With these, and
for aides TO the generals and other duty
absolutely required for the conduct OF the
war. absent from their commands. the
regiments were sent to battle with scarcely
more than one officer to the company. 1t
Is difficult now. with the sick and wounded
officers, for the department TO get one Off
Ger 10 the company, and too frequently
one officer. The increase proposed would
In no way give a greater number of officers
than required.
Il the date fixed for the assembling
OF congress-. the department will. under
your DIRECTION, be prepared to submit a
bill providing for the Increase of the army.
Officers serving In the West Indies and
Philippines will, as a rule. be separated
from their families, and their living ex-
penses greatly increased. II is recon-
mended that all officers below the rank of
major. while so serving, shall nave the
pay and of the next higher
grade.
The requirements OF probable service
In Cuba and elsewhere cali for an increase
Of general officers IN the permanent es-
increase of two major generals and four
brigadier generals, and provision for the
grade OF lieutenant general. If called for
by .sae best interests of the public serv.
General : Corbin recommends that the
men OF the national guard who entered the
volunteer army be allowed to return and
be to their state organizations.
guard Is given as follows:
While the yearly state encampments
nave been productive Of positive good in
iTparting practical instruction to the
troops participating. the experience of the
soiute necessity Of further assimilating
the condition of encamped troops to the
actual necessities Of active service by max
ing the men, while in camp. dependent
for their subsistence or the army ration
to he furnished by the state authorities,
troops. in precisely the same manner as on
actual service in the field.
A organization ordered to a state camp
Tor military instruction, relying on a ca
terer TO furnish the necessary food. can
never acquire that self-reliance which char
acterizes the regular soldier on active duty.
Tor. without previously received instruction
IN preparing food the natural result when
called into service will be poorly cooked
and wasted %rations. which. falling to
strengthen the physical man. make him la
bic to febrife and stomachic troubles Incl
dent TO service in all kinds of weather un-
der distressing but unavoidable conditions.
For this purpose, involving the issue OF
rations and the purchase of field cooking
stoves and utensils. the annual appropria-
tion made by congress for the support. in
part. OF militia. is totally Inadequate. and
us increase. urged in past years. has now
become a necessity"
Other features of the report refer TO the
postgraduate schools of the army. post
lyceums. post schools. the personnel OF the
adjutant generals department. the bureau
OF military and military at
taches. Officers who are sent as military
attaches are recommended to be given the
rank of lieutenant colonel and major while
on such duty.
He also recommends thai the pay of nom
commissioned officers be Increased. and that
there be a reorganization of army bands
which will secure the better class Of must
clans.