The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-11-12
SEVERAL SUGGESTIONS MADE
INCREASE OF PERMANENT MILITARY
ESTABLISHMENT URGED.
More Officers a Necessity if GarrisOns
Are to He Maintained in Foreign
Service-State Militia.

port to the secretary of war. 1t contains
much of a statistical nature about the
armies of the United States, including the
regular and volunteer branches. General
Corbin shows that at the breaking out of
the war the regular army consisted of 2,143
officers and 26,040 enlisted men. He refers
to the legislation for increasing the strength
of the regular army; also, to proposed legis-
lation submitted to the last Congress, but
which was not enacted. Under the war
legislation the regular army was increased
until it amounted to 1882 officers and
sc, 1865 enlisted men, which included 5,365 men
of the hospital corps. Regular army officers
to the number of 3S7 were nominated and
confirmed in different grades of the volun-
teer army.
Discussing the volunteer army, General
Corbin shows the legislation regarding it,
and gives in detail the different organiza-
lions called out from the various States
and Territories. The strength of the volun-
teer army at it's highest point, which was
during the month OF August, was SIS Off
GERS and 2O7,44 enlisted men. The aggre-
gate strength of the regular and volunteer
armies was 11,1OS officers and 26S,6O9 en-
listed men.
General Corbin says that "the suspension
brilliant operations of the army against
Santiago; the surrender of the Spanish
troops in Porto Rico no less than the sue
cessful operations Of our troops in the Phil
ippines,' led to the determination to muster
out 100000 volunteers. He gives the details
of the campaign, which have been published.
and ADDS: "Since the signing of the proto-
col the officers and men of the volunteer
hay inc ar
duty, in most cases at great personal sacri-
flee. That they have done this cheerfully
and without complaint makes it all the
more desirable that speedy increase of the
regular army be provided for in order that
the volunteers may be released from further
service and be allowed to return to their
peaceful vocations."
AS to the staff, General Corbin Says
much has been said of late concerning the
organization of the several staff depart
ments. IF, as recommended additional Off
GERS are given the line Of the army, SO as
to give plenty of trained officers for staff
duty in time of war, the main objection will
have been met; and it is doubtful if, under
all the conditions peculiar to this govern
ment, general reorganization of the staff
or the adoption of new systems will be
found to be desirable; certainly nothing
radical should be entered upon"
TRIBUTE TO ENLISTED MEN.
The character of enlisted men is COM
mented upon in the following: In assem-
bling the regiments of the regular army at
the beginning of the war with Spain the
character of the enlisted men arrested at
tention. "A distinguished foreign officer Wis
iting the Fifth Army Corps at Tampa re-
marked: Every man looked fit to COM
mand. Their conduct on transports, on the
march, in battle at Ell Caney, San Juan and
Santiago gave abundant evidence that his
good opinion was we'll placed. The officers
and men, by their .valorouS deeds and gal
liant conduct met the high expectations of
the country.
General Corbin refers to the law which
prevents the enlistment of persons who are
not citizens of the United States and says:
'',fhe new conditions will, however, make a
modification of this statute desirable, to the
end that the enlistment Of from one COM
pany to a battalion of natives for each reSl-
nent serving in Cuba, Porto Rico and the
Philippines may be authorized. The adVan-
tage of this is too obvious for discussion.
The assignment of officers and men for
the various expeditions are given, together
with the casualties resulting; The num-
Der killed and wounded in all campaigns
are as follows: Officers killed, 70; enlisted
men killed, 257; officers wounded, n3; en-
listed men wounded, AGA. The total deaths
from wounds and disease up to Oct were
LOT officers and 2S03 enlisted men,
The recruiting service in the regular and
volunteer army is referred to. Lack of ott1-
GERS in the regular army is specifically
pointed out in a number of instances.
General Corbin has the following to say
pv the Of the caVary
artillery and infantry regiments mas 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 ad-
dillon Of the necessary number Oh regiments
organized as are those now In service. The
number of officers should be increased by
one first lieutenant to each troop, battery
and company This would enable the de-
partment to meet the demands Tor various
details required by law and yet leave the
troops with the necessary number of off,
GERS for their proper discipline and 1nstruc-
ton and in war allow the appointment OF
sufficient generals and general statr officers,
without destroying the efficiency or the
army as threatened by the recent eX-
perience of the department.
TRAINED OFFICERS NEEDED.
"The number of trained officers as here
in 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 four hundred
officers were appointed to the staff and
volunteer regiments. With these, and
for aids to the generals and other duty alb
solutely 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 officer to the
company and too frequently there have
been two companies with but one officer.
The increase proposed would in no way give
a greater number of officers than required.
BY the date fixed for the assembling of
Congress the department WILL under your
direction be prepared to submit a bill pro-
viding for the increase of the army.
Officers serving in the West Indies and
the Philippines WILL as a rule, be- separated
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 al
Iowance of the next higher grade.
THE requirements OF probable service in
Cuba and elsewhere will call for an increase
of general officers in the permanent estab-
lishment There should be at least an in
crease of two major generals and four brig
adler generals. Provision for the grade of
lieutenant general is called for by the best
interests of the public service"
General Corbin recommends that the men
of the National Guard who entered the vol
unteer army be allowed to return and be
readmitted to their state organizations. Adj
vice to those who control the National
Guard is given as follows: While the
yearly state encampments have been pro-
ductiVe of positive good in imparting prac-
teal instruction to the troops participating,
the experience of the recent campaign has
demonstrated the absolute necessity Of
further assimilating the condition of en-
camped troops to the actual necessities OF
active service by making the men, while in
camp, dependent for their subsistence on
he'd he