The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1899-12-02
REPORT OF THE
SECRETARY OF WAR


power may be known and placed in
positions involving responsibility and
authority.
Without some such process in time
Of peace the selection has to be made
after war has commenced, at the eX-
pense always of treasure and of life,
and sometimes of temporary failure
and humiliation. Such process of Sc
lection will necessarily at the same time
afford an incentive to exertion and a
reward for professional attainments
and effective service, while stimulating
the development of the capable officer
and bringing to the front the men best
able to bear responsibility and perform
the difficult duties to be confronted in
actual hostilities.
Fourth-The exercise and training of
the officers and men of the army in
the movements of large bodies of troops
by brigade, division and corps under
conditions approaching as nearly as
possible those to be anticipated in exc
cutting the plans devised for their ac-
tion in war.
Officers who have never seen a corps,
division, or brigade organized and on
the march can not be expected to per-
form perfectly the duties required of
them when war comes. The collection
of large bodies of men presents, not the
same difficulties presented by a small
body, multiplied or increased in degree,
but entirely new difficulties which only
experience can qualify men to meet.
The sanitation, the care, the discipline,
and many of the duties are new to the
man who has dealt only with a COM
pany or a regiment. The highest efIic
iency under these conditions can be at
tained only by giving experience ap-
proXimating as nearly as possible to
that which will be encountered when
the war machinery is required to do its
proper work.
Recommendations.
I think the following steps may be
taken to advantage:
% That an army war college should
be established, which shall be composed
of the heads of the staff departments,
properly so called, and a number of the
ablest and most competent officers of
high rank in the army Qncluding, of
course, the major general command
ing), these officers to be detailed for
service in the college for limited
periods, so that while the college shall
be continuous in records, character,
and performance, it shall continually
and gradually change in its personal
elements. 1t should be the duty of this
body of officers TO direct the instruc-
tion and intellectual exercise of the
army, to acquire the information, de-
wise the plans, and study the subjects
above indicated, and TO advise the COM
mander in chief upon all questions OF
plans, armament, transportation, mo-
bilization and military preparation and
movement.
This college should have combined
with 1t, reinforced and enlarged in it's
scope and effectiveness, the present
division of military information of the
adjutant generals office, where its rec
ords and its conclusions should be pre-
served. II should not supersede, but
should incorporate, continue, and bring
under the same general management
the present service schools, supplement-
ing where 1t is necessary their courses,
which now, so far as instruction is CON
cerned, largely cover the ground. It's
instruction would, at the outset and
perhaps permanently, be given through
these schools. but it should give unity,