The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1898-11-12
C0RBIN
His Report on
the Army.
NATIONAL GUARD
Adjutant General Gives Ad-
vice on Encampments.

Washington, Nov. 12.-Adjutant Cen
eral H. c. Corbin has made his annual
report to the secretary of war.
1t contains much of a statistical ma
ture about the armies of the United
states, including the regular and vol
unteer branches. General Corbin shows
that at the breaking out Of the war
the regular army consisted of 2143 off,
GERS and 26,040 enlisted men, He refers
to the legislation for increasing the
strength of the regular army, also to
the proposed legislation submitted to
the last congress, but which was not
enacted.
Under the war legislation, the reg
ular army was increased until it
amounted to 1882 officers and 1896 en-
listed men, which ino1uded 1865 men of
the hospital corps. Regular army Off
GERS, to the number of 3S7, were nom
mated for and confirmed in different
grades of the volunteer army.
The strength of the volunteer army
at its highest point which was during
the month of August, was 1855 officers
and 2O7, 244 enlisted men. The aggre-
gate strength of the regular and vol
unteer armies was II, 10S officers and
263, 500 enlisted men.
Gen. Corbin says that the surrender
of the Spanish troops in Porto Rico,
no less than the successful operations
of our troops in the Philippines, lead
to the determination to muster out
900 volunteers.
The following as to the staff: "Much
has been said of late concerning the
organization of the several staff de-
partments. If, as recommended, addi-
tional officers 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 the condi-
lions peculiar to this government, a
general reorganization of the staff or
the adoption of new systems will be
found to be desirable, certainly nothing
radical should be entered upon.
The character of enlisted men is COM
mented on in the following: "ln as
sembling the regiments of the regular
army at the beginning of the war with
Spain, the character of the enlisted
men arrested attention. A distln-
guished officer visiting army corps at
Tampa remarked: "Every man looked
fit to command" Their conduct on
transports, on the march, in the battle
of Ell Caney, San Juan, ana Santiago
have abundant evidence that mis- good
opinion was well placed. The officers
and men with their valorous deeds and
| gallant conduct met the high cXpecta-
| lions of the country.
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, 49, enlisted men killed, 257; Of
Q.
ded, 1864. The total deaths from wounds
and disease up to Oct. 3 were 107 Of
ficers and 1903 enlisted men.
Gen. Corbin has the following to say
concerning the increase of the regular
army:
1.-THE organization of the cavalry, ar
tillery and infantry regiments has stood
the test in battle and received the APP
prevail of those in command; so that
the increase of the line of the army,
demanded by our new possessions,
should be by the addition of the neees-
sary number of regiments organized as
are those now in service. The number
of officers should be increased by one
lieutenant to each troop, battery, and
company This would enable the de-
partment to meet the demand for va
rious details required by law and yet
leave the troops with the necessary
number of officers for their proper dis
cipline, aid and instructions, and in
war allow the appointment of sufficient
generals and general staff officers
without destroying the efficiency of the
army. as threatened by the recent ex-
periences of the department. The
number of trained officers as herein
provided for at the beginning of the
present war; would have saved lives
and treasures, to say nothing of the
increased officers 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 other
duty absolutely required for the con-
duct of the war, absent from their com
mands the regiments We're sent TO bat
tie with scarcely more than one off,
Ger 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 hut one
officer. The increase proposed would in
no way give a greater number Of OH
GERS than required.
BY the date fixed for the assembling
of congress- the department will, I'M
der your directions, be prepared to sub
nit bill providing for the increase
of the army.
Gen. Corbin recommends that the
men of the national guard who entered
the volunteer army, be allowed to re-
turn and be admitted to their state or
CARNATIONS.
Advice to those who control the
national guard is as follows: while
the yearly state encampments have
been productive of positive. good. in i'm
parting practical instructions to the