The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-12-05
Our Army of the Future.

The Secretary OF War. in his report, shows
a re markable comprehension OF tn" weak
ening elements In our army organization.
and clear-sightcd view Of what Il needed
to remedy the defects. He strikes Directly
at the root Of trouble Ike veteran. Let
us briefly consider his recommendations.
The Army has several war schools which
are for officers OF engineers, infantry, cav
airy, field artillery md coast artillery. but
there is no school for the staff corps or
for educating officers for tho higher COM
mands. The latter subject has been taken
up ut the Lcavenworth and Fort Monroe
schools necessarily. because we had no
other place where it could he taught, to
the partial neglect Of other subjects, more
definitely pertaining to these schools Of tho
line. II these schools could be relieved OF
this labor they could much better fulfil
their proper mission.
There was no reasonable complaint dur
Ing our late war with Spain "a to the pro-
fcssional knowledge or military conduct OF
tho infantry, cavalry. artillery or en-
rln""rs; II was the higher COM
Inands and the staff corps mot in
Guiding the engineers who have their
their own service schOoO that were most
severely criticised, justly or uniustly
The Navy has its war college, and has
, found 1t most useful. In spite OF many
discouragcments the best element in tho
Navy has constantly exerted its influence to
preserve Il.
As Secretary Roof forclbly remarks:
The real object Of having an army Is TO
provide for war" What better preparation
for war could b" made than fitting our Of
iicers for the higher commands and pre-
pairing them for efficient stafr duty?
TIL" student officers Mt this college should
be officers under the rank OF Major
undoubtedly, hut would it be wise tn
exclude the officers who have graduated
at the service schools now in exist
once? A. the English, French and Ger
man STAFF Colleges the entrance ia by
competitive examination, and there are
generally several times as many applicants
rs there arc vacancies or course, II the
present service schools are to teach the
science OF war and staff duties to the samo
extent AZ the Staff College this would be
practicable but this Is hardly possible.
This Is, however, a minor matter, which
would soon right itself.
Secretary Roof recommends that stafr
appointments be made for fixed period,
four or five years, the holder to return to
the line at the end OF the period and TO
remain there certain time before he is
eligible for reappolntment.
The stan is intimately related to the line.
all the comfort, efficiency, equipment
armament and discipline OF the line, aside
from its own efforts, Is dependent on the
knowledge the staff possesses OF it's diff
cultIes and its needs; hence the neces-
slty OF keeping the stat in constant
touch with the line, and this can only
be done by continually sending staff officers
back to the line for duty. The European
nations have learned by experience the
absolute necessity for this rotation, In order
to produce tho best results, and it Is in
operation in all the important armies.
To give meaning to the phrase, the Sur
viVa' OF ting attest', there must be strus-