The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1899-02-14

with the kingdom of Spain was declared
April q, 1898.
ION May 81, $4,000 volunteers had been
mustered into the service.
in August, 1898, the regular army num-
bered sc, 365, the volunteer army 207, 24+-a
total of 26s3, sO9.
These figures of themselves indicate
that an immense work was thrown upon
the war department. After thirty-three
years of peace, during a great part Of
which the army did not exceed 5000 men,
it suddenly became necessary to arm,
clothe, feed and equip more than 10000.
How that duty was discharged viii ap-
pear in detail in subsequent parts of this
report. The sudden emergency which called
our people 10 arms, after an interval Of
half century of peace with all foreign
powers. was met by the war department
with earnestness and energy. The situa-
ton found the country unprepared with
any large stock Of arms. ammunition,
clothing. supplies and equipments. That
they were duly provided and that. the
numerous demands on the industries of our
people were met so promptly will remain
one Of the marvels of history
Speaking OF the lessons taught by expe-
Renee, the report says:
THE rapidly with which commanding
officers of corps. divisions. brigades, regi-
ments and officers of the staff departments
have profited by the first six months serv-
ice is shown in the improvements in the
new camps, their location, water supply
and sanitary arrangements. The weak
spots in the first arrangements for camping
troops were soon discovered, and it was
learned that with proper system and little
expense they could be camped under IA
vorable sanitary conditions. The present
camps are models the hospitals adapted
to the comfort and care of the sick, the
grounds clean, and the sanitary conditions
greatly improved. The troops are now
moved with promptness, without friction
and with more rapidity than in the begin
ming of the war. These Improvements have
come with experience, and the new army
now is far advanced in facilities for feed
ing, equipping, camping and transporta-
ton"
A recommendation looking to the future
then follows:
zone Of the lessons taught by the war IS
that the country should hereafter be in
better state of preparation for war. Sug-
gestions have been made that large sup
plies of all the material not liable to de-
terioration should be kept on hand, to be
continuously issued and renewed, so that
in any emergency they might be available.
Especially should this be the case with
such supplies as cannot be rapidly obtained
in open market"
Perhaps the most significant utterance In
the whole document, so far as concerns the
-
next.
For many years the divided authority
and responsibility in the war department
has produced friction, for which, in the
interest of the service. a remedy, If posi-
BILE. should be applied. The constitution
makes the president the commander-in-
chief Of the army. and he cannot transfer
that authority to any other person. The
president selects his secretary of war, who
has his confidence and who is his conf
Dental adviser. The commanding general
is assigned to duty as such by the presi-
dent, and under the military laws of the
United States his duties are defined as
follows:
50 The command exercised by the COM
mdnaing general of the army, not having
been made the subject Of statutory regu-
lation, is determined by the order of as
signment.' 1t has been habitually COM
posed of the aggregate of the several terri
torial commands that have been, or may
be, created by the president.
''The military establishment is under or
ders of the commanding general of the
army in that which pertains to the disci-
pine and military control. The fiscal af-
fairs Of the army are conducted by the
secretary of war through the several staff
departments.
'An orders and instructions from the
president or secretary of war relating to
military operations or affecting the mill
tary control and discipline of the army will
be promulgated through the commanding
general.
Lieutenant General Schofeld, who has
probably had as much experience ard
given the question as much thought and
study as anyone in our country, says, in
substance:
GENERAL SCHOFTELD'S LETTER.
"'Recent experience has served to con-
firm all the results OF my lifelong study
and large experience that the proper posi-
ton for the senior officer of the army on
duty at Washington is not that of COM
handing general, a position which is prac-
tically impossible, but that of general-in-
chief, which means, in fact, chief of staff
to the president. The title of general-in-
chief was a permanent one during the
entire history of the country up to the
time when General Grant became lieuten-
ant general.
d" When I became the commanding gem
eral I addressed to the president q letter.
in which I pointed out to him what had
been the result of my study and expert
ence. and saying that the only way was to
abandon entirely, which ! did during my
seven years Of service, all pretense Of be-
ing the commanding general, and to con-
tent myself with acting as the chief of staff
OF the army under the secretary of war
and the president. The result was that
perfect harmony prevailed during my time
and did exercise a legitimate influence in
command of the army, this because I did
not claim TO exercise anything which the
law did not give to me-
The president must have the same
power Of selection OF his general in chief
as he has of his secretary of war; with
out this there can be no guaranty that ne
will give. or that the secretary OF war will
place in the general in chief that confidence
which IS necessary TO perfect harmony
Neither the president nor the secretary OF
war should have in the command Of the
army an officer who is not working in
harmony with MIN"
The report now takes up the war de-
7artment and it's various chiefs Of sub
divisions. beginning with the secretary OF /
war
Nature makes the cures