Connecticut western news., 1898-11-17
CORBIN ON THE ARMY.
The Adjutant General Submits His
 Annual Report to His Chief.


 Adjutant General H. c. Corbin made his annual report to Secretary of War R. A. Alger on Friday. It contains much of a statistical nature about the armies of the United States. in- cluding the regular and volunteer branches. General Corbin shows that at the breaking out of the war the regular army consisted of 2,l4S officers and 26,- )40 enlisted men. He refers to the legls- lation for increasing the strength of tho regular army. also to proposed legisla- ton submitted to the last congress, but which was not enacted. Under the war legislation the regular army was in- creased until 1t amounted to 2.SS2 ofri- cers and 56.3e5 enlisted men, which in- cluded 5,365 men of the hospital corps. Regular army officers to the number of 3S7 were nominated for and confirmed In different grades of the volunteer army
 Discussing the volunteer army, Gem eral Corbin shows the legislation re- gardlng 1t and gives in detail 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 the month of August. was s,7S5 officers and 207,244 enlisted men. The aggregate strength of the regular and volunteer armies was 11,10S officers and 263,609 enlisted men.
 General Corbin says that the surren- der of the Spanish troops in Porto Rice no less than the successful operations of our troops In the Philippines led to the determination to muster out 100,00 volunteers.
 Continuing. he says: "since the sign Ing of the protocol the officers and men of the volunteer regiments have re- mained at their posts of duty. in most cases at great personal sacrifice. That they have done this cheerfully and without complaint makes it all the more desirable that a speedy increase of the regular army be provided for fin order that the volunteers may be re- leased from further service and be al- lowed to return to their peaceful voca- tions."
 As to the stan, General Corbin says. Much has been said of late concern | ing the organization of the several stan departments. If, as recommended. ad- ditional officers are given the line of the | army, so as to give plenty of trained officers for stan duty in time of war, the main objection will have been met, | and it is doubtful if, under the condi- tions peculiar to this government, a general reorganization of the stan or the adoption of a new system should | be entered upon"
 The character of enlisted men is com mented on in the following:
 Tn assembling the regiments of the regular army at the beginning of the war with Spain the character of the enlisted men arrested attention. A dis tinguished officer visiting -ermy corps at Tampa remarked, Every man look | ed fit to command
 Their conduct on transports. on the | march. in battles of El Caney. San Juan and Santiago gave abundant evi- | dence that his good opinion was well | placed. The officers and men by their | valorous deeds and gallant conduct met | the high expec stations of the country" The number killed and wounded in | all campaigns is as follows: Officers | killed, 23: enlisted men killed, 2b7: off cers wounded. 113; enlisted men wound. | ed, 1.464. The total deaths from wound, and disease up to Oct. were i0I officers
 and 2,S03 enlisted men.
 General Corbin recommends that ths men of the national guard who entered
 the volunteer army be allowed to re.
 turn and be readmitted to their stat, | organizations.
 Other features of the report refer ts | the post graduate school of the army post lyceums. post schools, the person.
 nel of the adjutant generals depai {.
 ment, the bureau of military informa.
 ton and military attaches. officers who are sent as military attaches are rec commended to be given the rank of lieu tenant colonel and major while on such duty. He also recommends that the pay | of noncommissioned officers be in- creased and that there be a reorganiza-
 ton of army bands which will secure the better class of musicians.