The herald., 1898-11-13
ANNUAL ARMY REPORT
SUBMITTED BY GEN
ERAL CoRBIN
More Officers Are N eeded and Each of
Them Ought to Get
More Pay

WASHINGTON, Nov. l2.-Adjutant-
General Corbin has made his annual report
to the Secretary of War. 1t contains much
of statistical nature about the armies OF
the United States, including the regular
and volunteer branches.
Discussing the volunteer army General
Corbin says: "Since the signing Of the pro.
tocol the officers and men Of the volunteer
regiments have remained at their posts of
duty, in most cases at greatbpersonal sacri-
flee. That they have done this cheerfully
and without compalint makes it all the
more desirable that a speedy increase of
the regular army be provided for, in order
that the volunteers may be released from
further services and be allowed to return to
their peaceful vocations.'
General Corbin has the following to say
concerning the increase Of the regular army:
'Thc organization of the cavalry, artil-
lery and infantry regiments has stood the
test of trial in battle and received the ap-
proval of those in command; SO that the
increase OF the line OF the army demanded
by our new possessions should be by the ad-
diton of the necessary number of regiments
OISdilLtu uS tilOSC HOW III SCtNlNC. lie
number of officers should be increased by
one First Lieutenant to each troop, bat
terry and company. This would enable the
department to meet the demands to various
details required by law and then leave the
troops with the necessary number for their
proper discipline and instruction, 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 experiment of the
department. The number of trained officers
as herein provided for at the beginning of
the present war would have saved lives and
treasure, to say nothing Of the increased eff
cheney of the service. At the beginning of
the present war some 400 officers were ap.
pointed to the staff and volunteer regi-
ments. 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 bat
tie with scarcely more than one officer to
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.
Officers serving in the West Indies and
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 allowance
of the next higher grade"
General Corbin recommends that the men
of the National Guard who entered che vol
unteer army be allowed to return and be
readmtted to their State organizations.
His advice to those who control the Ma
tional Guard is that at the yearly State
L I
for their subsistence on the army rations
to be furnished by the State authorities, on
ration returns and cooked by the troops in
precisely the same manner as in actual SER
vice in the field. This would give them the
same self-reliance which characterizes the
regular soldier on active duty.
General Corbin also recommends an in
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