Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-02-23
Reorganize the Army Immediately

Following close upon the revelation of a
Filipino plot to massacre all the foreigners
IN Manila comes the news of the arson
committed in that city last night by the in
surgents and their native sympathisers. At
the same time it is reported that from re-
cent advices from Dewey and Otis the adj
mnistra ton has reason to believe that the
ihsurgent troops are being concentrated
outside of the capital for the purpose of
Offering battle to the Americans. They are
expected to assemble fully 10000 men under
arms, truly formidable force when the
climate and the present size of the Ameri-
can force are considered.
These are disquieting facts calculated to
cause those who oppose a material enlarge
ment of the regular army to consider more
carefully their course of action in further
preventing the passage of the reorganiza-
ton bill Many more troops are needed in
the Philippines if the present campaign is
to be continued for any length of time The
volunteers already there must be mustered
out of service and their places taken by
regulars. The total American force must
be increased to meet the requirements of
the situation. which demands prompt and
complete demonstration of the American
power to the misguided natives.
1t is announced today that a compromise
has been proposed by the adminstra-
ton to those in Congress opposed to a
reorganization of the army based upon the
assumption that the present serious need
for Il large regular force will not extend
for more than three years. 1t may be that
in the stress of the situation this compro-
mise is wise. 1t is by no means desirable
that Congress should be brought together
IN extra session, even though there are
many matters of first Importance apart
from the army bill which can not be at
tended to before the adjournment a week
from next Saturday. Yet if the army bill
should fail of passage at this session an
extra session is inevitable.
The case is thus in a measure that of a
choice of evils and a compromise is pro-
posed. 1t gives definitely for three wears
an army of nearly 100000 men, $1,000
of whom are 10 be known as a pro-
visional force to be retained until 1902 pos
slbly long enough to permit the satisfac-
tory solving of the various military prob
lens which now confront the government
If by the lapse of that time Cuba should
have passed beyond the need of further
patrolhng by American troops and the
Philippines should have been reduced to a
coiiultiOn Oh quiet ana stable government,
apart from the requirements of an active
field campaign-an hypothesis quite within
the range of reason-the permanent regu-
lar army can with safety be reduced to
62,oe men, which IS more than twice its
size on a peace basis today and the same
as the present war basis as fixed by act of
Congress last spring
In the interval of three years much that is
now uncertain in both continental and CO.
lOnial affairs will have been reduced to GER
tainty. If at the end of that time 1t be
found that more than g., 900 men are
needed for national policing it is to be as
sumed that the new adjustment will be
made. Meanwhile it is TO be recognized
that there is need of haste in the present
reorganization. The peace treaty may be
ratified by Spain within very few days
and the exchange of Publications may then
take place at once. officially ending the war
and terminating the Presidents authority
over the thousands of volunteers still in the
field. Even with an extra session it would
I've many weeks before Il satisfactory army
bill could be framed and put through both
houses. In view of these facts il is per-
haps well that the proposition above out
lined should receive thoughtful considera-
ton.