The Progress., 1898-11-19
LARGER STANDING ARMY
SUGGESTED BY AOJUTANT GENERAL
CORBlN IN HIS ANNUAL REPORT.
A Statistical Summary of the Army of the
Past War-."Every Man Looks Fit to
Command" the Assertion Of a Foreigner,
Who Witnessed the Embarkation.

the secretary OF war. 1t contains
much of statistical nature about the
armies of the United States, including
the regular and volunteer branches.
Gen. Corbin shows that at the break
ing out of the war the regular army
consisted of 2,143 officers and 26, 040
enlisted men.
Discussing the volunteer army,
Gen. Corbin shows the legislation re-
garding it and gives in detain the diff
ferent organizations called out from
the various States and territories.
The strength of the volunteer army at
its highest point, which was during
August, was 1875 officers and 207, 244
enlisted men. The aggregate strength
of the regular and volunteer armies
was 11,1OS officers and 263,6O9 en-
listed men.
The character of enlisted men is
comment ed upon in the following:
'In assembling the regiments of the
regular army at the beginning of the
war with Spain, the character of the
enlisted men arrested attention. A
distinguished foreign officer, visiting
the Fifth army corps, at Tampa, re-
marks: Every man looks fit to COM
mand.'
"Their conduct on transports, on
the march, in battle at Ell Caney, San
Juan and Santiago give abundance of
evidence that his good opinion was
well placed. The officers and men by
their valorous deeds and gallant con-
duct met the high expectation of the
country"
Gen. Corbin refers to the law which
prevents the enlistment of persons who
are not citizens of the United States,
and says:
''The new conditions will, however,
make modification of this statute de-
sirable to the end that the enlistment
of from one company to battalion of
natives for each regiment serving in
Cuba, Porto Rico and the Philippines
may be authorized. The advantage 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 number killed and wounded in all
campaigns are as follows:
Officers killed, %; enlisted men
killed, 257; officers wounded, 113;
enlisted men wounded, 1,464. The
total deaths from wounds and disease
up to October 8 were 107 officers and
2,803 enlisted men.
The recruiting service in the regular
and volunteer armies is referred to.
Lack of officers in the regular army is
specifically pointed out in a number of
instances.
Gen. Corbin has the following to
say concerning the increase of the reg
ular army. The. organization of the
cavalry, artillery and infantry regi-
ments has stood the test of trial in
battle and received the approval of
those in command. So that the in
crease OF the line OF the army de-
manded by our new possessions should
be by the addition of necessary regi-
ments organized as are those now 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 for various
details required by law and yet leave
the troops with the necessary number
OF officers for the proper discipline
and instruction, and in war allow
the appointment of sufficient gen.
eralsand general staff officers without
destroying the efficiency of the army,
as threatened by the recent expert
ences Of the department. The num-
Der OF trained officers as herein pro-
vided for at the beginning OF the pres
ent war would have saved lives md
treasure, to say nothing of the increas-
ed 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 aids to the generals and duty re-
quired for the conduct of the war, alb
sent from their commands, the regi-
ments were sent to battle with scarce
ly more than one officer to the COM
pany. 1t is difficult now, with the
sick and wounded officers for the de-
partment to get one officer to the COM
pany and too frequently there have
been two companies with but one Off
Ger. The increase proposed would, in
no way, give greater number of Off
GERS than are required, By the date
fixed for the assembling of congress,
the department will, under your
direction, be prepared to submit bill
providing for the increase of the army.