Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1898-09-15
AN ARMY STANDARD
Gen. Miles Thinks One Soldier to
1000 Civilians About Right.
4 PLAN OF Army REORGANIZATION.
The General Commanding states His In
tsntion OF Recommending One to Con-
gress-TrAining Of soldiera Neces-
sary for Proper Efficiency.

"oS"iuRtOu, Sept lU-uen Miles
came to the war department yester.
day and, after spending a short time
in his room at army headquarters,
went to the Office Of the secretary Of
war. Acting Secretary Meiklejohn
was at the desk Of Secretary Alger
and was talking with Gov. Atkinson,
of Georgia, and Adjt Gen. Corbin,
when Gen. Miles entered. The latter
was accompanied by member OF his
staff. After the gentlemen had shaken
hands and the business with the gov.
ernor was transacted, Mr.. Meiklejohn
and Gen. Miles chatted for some time
on general topics and the campaign in
Porto Rico and the return trip Of the
commanding general. Shortly after
ward Gen. Miles left the department
Speaking Of the future Of the army,
Gen. Miles said that there were a num-
Der Of matters which required careful
and deliberate consideration, with re-
spect to the army organization, and
that, undoubtedly, steps in that direc.
ton would be taken as soon as prac-
ticable. The matter of mastering out
the volunteer general officers, in cor
with the general reduc.
ton Of the army by mastering out, he
said, would have to be taken up at an
early date, and that undoubtedly
would cause Encouragement of the
department commands.
With respect to the reorganization
OF the army Gen. Miles said that the
Of this war had very clear.
ly demonstrated what military au.
thorities well understood before, that
the establishment of standard was
necessary to the entire efficiency OF
the army. He said it was his inten.
ton to recommend plan Of reorgan.
ization to congress, and that he be-
lieved the necessity for it would be
recognized by the public and congress
The acquisition Of territory obviously
made it necessary that there should
be larger army, and the experience
Of the war had demonstrated the ne
cessity Of establishing a standard and
having the troops thoroughly trained
to the military service. 1t was desir.
able, he said, that the army should
be organized on the basis of one
soldier to every certain number Of in
habitants. 1t was recognized by mill
tary authorities, even before the close
If the war Of the rebellion, that the
Establishment of a standard was de-
,irable, but from time to time the
army had been reduced until it had
reached a number disproportionately
small to the size Of the country and its
population. He thought that one SOL
iier to every 1000 population probably
would be found to be the right ratio
Tor the standard The army, the
standard being adopted, would in
,rease according to the recognized
needs of the government in an exact
alto to the increase Of the population.
1t was important, and this had been
clearly demonstrated in the war with
spain, that there should be full COM
OF non-commissioned officers
md men, as we'll as Of commissioned
,fiicers who were trained to the hard.
hips of military life, and who knew
low to take care OF themselves and to
ook out for their own health and COM
ort in campaign. He said that it |
vas important to the efficiency of an
lrmy that the men should have train
ng for the endurance of marches,
of protecting themselves
against severe weather and disad-
ambiguous climatic conditions, knowl.
'dge Of the proper food and how
o care for their persons so as to
reserve their health. strength and |
efficiency, and that there should be |
efficient number of non reconnaissance |
Ulcers thoroughly trained in the
knowledge essential to a soldiers life
md to the care Of the men. He said
hat 1t was just as necessary that SOL
liers should have proper training as it
vas to train men to build a house, or
o have man skilled in his profession
o perform any professional service
t was essential that an army should
Ne composed Of soldiers trained to
heir profession commanded by eff.
lent officers in every grade and con.
rolled strictly according to military
principles That military operations
hould be directed by military men,
le said, was too obvious to ID stated.