Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-05-12
Gen. I, M. Anderson Points Out De-
feots in Organization.
WEAKNESS IN FIELD OFFICERS
From the Captain Down the Militia
is All Right
FAVORS THE ENGLISH PLAN

| CHICAGO, May 12.-Since assuming COM
| mahd OF the department Of the lakes Major
Heheral IhoH."s Al. Anderson has given
| hiuch thousht 10 he ofganization OF the
regular army, and incidentally to the fu-
| ture OF the National Guard The result
| OF This study, based as il is upon his ex-
perence as commanding general of the
nrst American eXpeuItion to the philin-
pines, which comprised regulars and yoIuu-
teers, leads him to the conclusion that the
| lnterna! military organization of the United
states should be more thorough than IL
ever mas been. Without expressing his per-
Sohal views on the political issues which
nave arisen since the war with Spain. the
general talked decidedly about the couu-
Try military organization and the future
poilcy which he thought should be carried
out to meet the requirements of growing
emergencies. He sad:
The REORGANIZATION of the standing army
win an depend upon what action tn, next
congress takes upon the Presidents s,,,
3. Son.tons' II rema..s for existing condi-
uoiiS ana the policy of the American pconIa
win reference to colonial possessions "a
go tt 1ne grounds upon which to has, future
mlltary .eg.slaton.
New Requirements for ARM,
iet doubt If the war with Spaiu has
opened the eyes of the people to tho rsct
that the strength Of the standing arm, as
1t was constituted at the outbreak az thu
war Is not sufficient to the reuuirem,p,s
s,lS Ii.g TGut'ry as 1t has developed and pro-
sISSsed internally since the civT war
NY eNperlen. Q in the PhilipDin.s ,,.,,
- Ia, ".e nolunteers were brave. patriotic
no"H' Wen officered as to companies but
as rule, carrying inefficient fi,lJ -
company officers were good driil,,'..
ana Wiling under an circumstances Ia n,.r-
| L"fm the most arduous and dangerous mn,
Gi Gei IhhdIEs- But the difficulty Law with tba
ileiu officers. VINO comma nded beCars, s,,,.
elHorS OF states. through polfti,al i,g,,
ehteS' gave them the authority to ro,,,
lhand. This method gave to MANY inf.rin,
hlhtarN men authority, and tn. result ,,.,s
the men, "ii'"Hs
HciieNes In EnSIand's Sy.ten
L am still q firm believer in the worth ~
lhe system which England established MANY
years ago to bring the militia into close
harmony with the standing army Of that
ehlpire-the system of linking regiments
III iS'2'i adVoo this system for our VOL
Gnteer army, and although it was not
adopted, the war with Spain has dcmon-
strated that it deserves To be introdured
anu maintained as A national safeguard
his system is simple enough II places
the National Guard and the regular army
on an equal footing SO far as military edu-
cauoh goes, giving the militia the benefits
OF the regular army practices and drills
ana military instruction on the field for
certain periods each year, and giving the
regular troops the advantage of the excel
.GHt cofnpanlonShlp which well-organized
National Guard companies furnish Ry This
ccmmingling Of the two branches of the SER
wee once a year in the field volunteer Off
GERS would have an opportunity to learn i'm
pErtant duties of war from the regular
army officers and the soldiers would be the
gamers thereby.
Effect in Time of War
Then should actual war require service
in the face Of the enemy the National
Guard would be more efficiently Differed.
and feel as a volunteer body more capable
to perform its auxiliary duty with the regu-
lar army TO the country. The linking sys-
tenn has proved wonders for the military
service IN England. In this country il
would give 4 better standing to the regular
army and at the same time develop the
actual hghtlng strength of the Nnluni e.rs