New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-12-02
THE SECRETARY'S STATEMENT.

Secretary Roots statement regarding the ina
provement OF the Army is in part as follows:
Before July l. 1901 when, under existing law.
the present volunteer force must be dsbanded
and the present regular force restored 10 lts
peace basis Of 26,6lO, we shall be compelled 70
face the practical necessity OF providing Tor
some increase Of the Regular Army. 1t is mani
fest that however speedily the insurrection IN
the Philippines may be quelled we shall be re-
Quired TO maintain for a long time In those ISL
ands a considerable force to furnish the protec-
tion which the inhabitants are entitled To receive
from us, and 10 maintain order among the saw
age and sem-cvized tribes which still exist
in nearly every island There Is no occasion 10
doubt that the expense of this portion OF the
military establishment can readily ana properly
be defrayed from the insular revenues.
1t is not conceivable that practical people
should expend the great sums we are devotns
TO our seacoast fortihcations and the delicate
and complicated machinery OF modern ordnance
with which we are equipping them, and not pro-
vide an adequate force or men 70 care ror' pre-
serve and become familiar with the use Oh tne
guns and machinery. An increase IN our drIt-
lery force will be absolutely necessary Tor thiS
purpose. The present heavy arullety lorce 10
about one-fifth Of the requisite NUMBER
| beg TO suggest that the MANIFOLD services
which have been rendered by officers OF the
Army Of the United States during the last year
in almost every branch OF civil government, anu
the effective zeal and devotion Wnlcn tney naNo
exhibited in succoring the distressed, teachlng
the ignorant, establishing and maintaining ciyLt
law fighting against pesthence' lntroduSins
sanitary reforms. ana prOinOtlHk anu hiuhS
peaceful industry should be regarded as PROOF
II any were needed, that American soldiers dol
not cease TO be American citzens' ana thae ~
danger is TO be apprehended from reasohaols
enlargement Of the Army which aHords such
evidence of its character ana splrlt
II is greatly to be desired that at the SANS
time while the lessons drawn from the expert I
ence of recent war are fresh IN our minus. s0ni'
irnrovements should be made in the orsaniza-I
ton Of the Army ,.,, ,,,or ouv
For many years various criticisms upon our
present organization nave oeeh Nnare s nu ,.,ro,a-
cussed and a number Of measures tor ,n lnlpross-
mont have been recommended by my pieue.es~
sors or embodied in bills INTRODUCED IN IN,
gress Some marked improveihent,s ,or,,' ~ regi
,nantaI organization, which, after being ureeo
nv several successive Secretaries OF war ,ai ana
advocated by all the high mlltaIy aS onamy
in the country for generator ,wddSS Hha"'
authorized by the act Of April 20: 1875. -
AS TO most Of the proposed cnahges' nov w.,
ever there has not been SUFFICIENT puolc m
terest in the subject or a sufhcif 1tly strong
.convIction Of the Importance OF good organza-
tion 10 overcome the diversity or opinions ana
personal interests desirous oi Deihs 'ei' un''''
turbed ,,., ..
The method OF proposing and considering one
by one specific remedies FOR speclfc defects uOes
not seem 10 be an adequate treatment OF the
subject IL seems me that the best course
would he 10 settle upon the true principle which
should govern the use 10 be made or the Army
and then inquire in what respect our present
ARRANGEMENT fails TO conform 10 that primer
pie and make IL CONFORM
TWO FUNDAMENTAL PROPOSITIONS.
Two propositions seem 10 me fundamental In
the consideration of the subject
First-That the real object Of having an Army
Is 10 provide for war
Second-Tbat the regular establishment IN the
United states will probably never be by itself
the whole machine with which any war VIII De
fought The preparation OF an army Tor war
Involves at least these four things:
~ nlans .or action under all contingencies or
possible conflict and with this, study OF the
larger problems OF military science ana the
or, study OF the constant improvements In I'M
Elements and methods OF warfare, and OF the
adaptability OF improvements and inventions FOR
the purpose OF carrying out the plans devised;
Ia studv ~ the arrangement OF territorial and