The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-11-02

and deaths amounted to 4,155. and in the
volunteer establishment to 5921. In the
casualty list the regulars had III officers
and 1.s56 enlisted men killed and wounded
and the volunteers I05 officers and 1856 en-
listed men killed and wounded. In the reg
ular army, between April 80 1898, and June
30, 1899, 9l7 enlisted men were discharged by
sentence of general court-martial and 294e
enlisted men deserted. Three officers OF the
regular army who were killed also held
commissions in the volunteer forces, In
which they are included in the above re-
capitulation.
COURTESlES BY BRITONS.
The report dwells on the courtesies shown
our troops by the British government OFF,
cials while stopping at Gibraltar and else
where en- route to the Philippines. and says
this international courtesy will long live in
the memories of both parties to the spon-
taneous exchange.
The report speaks of the unsatisfactory
conditions in Hawaii in relation to land for
military uses, saying: SALES of govern
ment lands and leases of crown lands have
continued to the present time and there is
very little of either class left in immediate
control of the government. Should this
action be permitted TO continue ii will re-
suit in embarrassment TO the United States.
1t is urged, therefore. that certain tracts
be taken without delay from the control
of the Hawaiian government and secured
to the future uses of the United States and
have them declared as reservations for mill
tary purposes.
Recommendation is made that military
officers serving abroad as military attaches
be given increased rank and pay.
AS the increase in the army calls for an
additional number of Military Academy
cadets to fill vacancies it is recommended
that the President be authorized to appoint
ten annually and that two be appointed at
large from each State.
Satisfaction is expressed that army can
teen embarrassment has been removed
from the War Department by the action of
Congress In establishing certain restrictions.
Recommendation is made that noncom-
| missoned officers be given additional pay in
order to attract to these places a worthy
| class willing TO stay in those grades, and
| that twenty-five years service en-
| listed man shall be sufficient to admit 10 the
retired list of enlisted men.
The condition of the artillery service, es-
pecially of the seacoast, the report describes
as not altogether satisfactory. 1t is believed
| the time has arrived when the artillery
branch of the service should be recognized
and the field artillery separated from that
engaged in the coast defense. IT is recon-
mended that the regimental organization
of the artillery be abolished and that corps
| of field artillery and of seacoast artillery
| be provided for, separate and distinct from
each other.
| In a resume General Corbin says: 1.-The
regular army is now practically at max
| imum, are also the volunteer regiments.
| The work incident to all these changes,
brought about by the acts aforesaid, involv-
| ing the enlistment of 23s, 500 volunteers, the
! increase of the regular army from 5000 TO
5000; its subsequent reduction, and then
! again it's increase to $1,000, necessitating
numerous orders and instructions bearing
on the same. to say nothing Of the COM
plete military record of every officer and
man of this force, threw upon this office
| work, the magnitude of which cannot be
understood until undertaken. That this
work has been done with accuracy and in
telligence is now history. All credit is que
| TO the assistants and clerical force cf the
| Office"
The report also calls attention to the fact
that not single life had been lost by ac-
| cident incident to travel in the course OF
all the transportation to the Philippines.
In conclusion General Corbin points out
an omission of the law in failing to provide
chaplains for the volunteer regiments and
recommends that chaplains be provided fol
as soon as possible, as the presence Of one
with each regiment is deemed very aeces
Sary.