The times., 1899-05-29
ARMY REFORM.
The Administration Is Confronted by
Serious Conditions.

the War Department, probably including
Russell A. Alger, have reached the conclu-
sion that public sentiment has been ignored
and defied in department policy and meth
DDS about as long as safety will permit,
and now We are being promised reforms of
the most gaudy description from time to
time. A short while ago the Secretary of
War paralyzed a speechless world by or
dering a weekly council of his eleven
bureau chiefs, under his own presidency,
to discuss ways and means and the good
of the order" The press generally hailed
this proposed departure as tardy evidence
that Santa Bona Fides with her little
hatchet had once more been allowed to oc
cupy desk room in the>office.
AS might have been predicted, this coun-
ell order created surprise and Indignation
among its immediate victims, or some of
them. Individual bureaucrats had found it
much more convenient and satisfactory to
make their arrangements quietly and con-
fidentally with the chief than they possi-
bly, could in an open meeting of equally
illuminated persons with themselves. 1t is
said that the council scheme has fallen
fiat and, except perhaps in name only, has
been abandoned. 1t accomplished one Won
der, however. For the first time in many
months the American press had a decent
word to say for its author. The idea itself
was step in the right direction, for, as
the Administration New York Tribune"
puts it: Under such a system OF manage
ment, no matter who was Secretary of
War it would have been almost impossi-
BILE for Eagan to have bought seven mil
lion pounds of worthless beef without the
knowledge or connivance of his superior"
Now the head of the department has
again startled his associates by ignoring
the reports of board of commissary Off
GERS which had sat upon and condemned
certain condensed preparations proposed
as an emergency ration, and ordered the
purchase of an experimental lot to be
tried in the Philippines.
If the Administration is waking up to
the necessity for reformative measures
| in the conduct of its military branch, that
is well, and not too soon, if any effect is
hoped for in the way of allaying public
irritation before the campaign of 1900.
But it should not halt at the door of the
Commissary Office The recent criticism
by General Brooke, of the condition exist
ing among the troops in the field, ought
to suggest prompt and radical action. 1t
is based on an inspection of the Eighth
Infantry, at Havana, by Lieut.. Col. Philip
Reade, Inspector General of the Depart
ment. The inspecting officer found that
/
of raw recruits, the absence of most of the
officers on detached service, or otherwise
| left them without means of instruction in
| their duties as soldiers. Lieutenant Col
onel Reade's report indeed suggests a
| condition Of affairs in what was formerly
one of our best foot regiments, almost
inconceivable by anyone familiar with
the standards Of discipline. equipment, and
military excellence generally heretofore
common in the regular service. The fol-
lowing extracts tell their own story:
''One advantage regarding the Khaki
clothing is that there is plenty of it on
hand for issue or sale. 1t is a STUDY N
color to inspect regiment clad in khaki.
When original packages are opened, shades
of brown. sepia, snuff, pea green even
canary green-are noticed. When dCune'i
| by the men, little stunning either deep rs
or lightens these shades, and new tints AZ c
discovered. After washing the khaki suits
begin to become more uniform in color.
OF course, the suits shrink some. / asked
an officer what, in his opinion, was .he
chief recommendation of Khaki. lie re-
Piled that Khaki had the merit desired y
the boarding house mistress in purchasing
plates: Amy color that wouldn't sho ~
dire
~ trouble is that what is called KHAKI IS
rot khaki. The cotton drilling used by thu
contractors about year ago. on emergen-
cy orders from the Government, in making
up what they called khaki suits, varied a
TO texture. color. weight. etc. This varia
ticu was perhaps unavoidable. FEe gar
ments admirably served their pu pose an /
in the province of Santiago, also at Tam
pa, were welcome substitutes 10" Ike; ssy
trousers and for lined flannel blouses pre-
viously worn by our soldiers in northern
ATTITUDES The minor details now cr'e Used
were then unimpoTtant trifies, but crILi-
cisms in these reports are now lair.
That indigo blue was not used in he
manufacture OF some of the shirts con-
tracted for by the QuGrtermaster's Depart
ment is evidenced. Some shirts issued by
the Quartermaster's Department are more
| nearly green than blue; some are dusty
|
practicable here to ascertain the names o.
these contractors.
THE Eighth United States Infantry viii
shortly be practically a regiment of un-
acclimated recruits and the officers trans
formed into drill sergeants. The war time
connections are severed, and the regiment
will lose not only its military identifica-
tion, but also its effectiveness, unless the
mass is leayened by the assignment of vet
erans. Some of the defects of the reGi-
ment. which 1t is an inspectors duty TO re-
port, are of a minor character. but more
instruction in what is popularity called
target practice is not of minor impor-
tance.
"A chain is no stronger than its weak
est link, and in armed conflict the weakest
organization may be the one that cannot
shoot well. Ability to shoot well is the ul-
innate of a soldiers duty. Argument ought
not TO be necessary where the orders are
mandatory. If these orders are not com
piled with our soldiers might as well bC
armed with gaspipes. If reasons of loca-
tion or climate are advanced as a cause
why target practice cannot be had here
it is submitted that such be required to b,
had at Columbus Barracks or some re-
cruiting depot CT concentration before send
ing recruits to this department
Better yet would be the effect of in
structions from the War Department to al
recruiting officers specially to enlist for tbs
organization serving within the limits o
this department former soldiers of known
qualifications, and none other"
Lieutenant Colonel Reade found tina
great disparity as to the model existed il
i, the rifles of the regiment Some We're new
others were five years and others sever
wears old Many were in very bad condition
r damaged by use or carelessness. Regard