Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-02-20
THE HULL BILL PREFERRED.
war Department on the Reorganila-
ton of the Army.

The officials of the War Department are
openly advocating the enactment OF the
nun Dill for the reorganization OF the army,
and plainly intimate that II it fails at the
present session the President will immedi-
ately reconvene Congress. They have IS
sued a statement in advocacy of the bill in
which they say in part:
The measure preserves the present or
ganization and slightly strengthens the cav
airy, augments the artillery and organizes
that arm on a scientific basis suited To our
conditions, gives to the infantry the much
needed three battalion organization. and
makes only such additions to the stan as
are absolutely Indispensable. Under It's
provisions entrance TO any branch Of the
army cannot be obtained until after the
candidate for commission has demonstrate
ed his ntness for il to the satisfaction of "A
competent examining board. There is n
clause empowering the President to extend
or contract the enlisted strength. according
10 the necessities of the country, providing
for the first time scheme adopted long
systems.
The other bill is brought forward by
Senator Cockrell. Its first section direc-s
the disbandment of the volunteer army
within a specified period after the peace
treaty shall have been ratified by Spain.
Sections and 3 contain its principal pro-
visions. BY the former authority is COM
terred for continuing the regular army AT
its war strength until July J. 1901 while
the third section authorizes the President 10
raise military forces to the number nf ~ 900
in Cuba, Porto Rico and the islands of tho
Pacific, to be known, respectively, tho
army of Cuba, the army OF Porto Rico and
the army of the islands of the Pacific to
be composed of the inhabitants OF such ISL
ands. No organization is provided I'm tho
bill for this force nor does it determine
what relation il shall sustain toward tho
permanent military establishment of the
United States; and no professional cduca-
he < Rffh nod far "a
persons who are to officer it, The bill does
not provide for any additional general Off
GERS, greatly needed in the administration
of affairs in Cuba, Porto Rico and the Phil
ippines. 1t would leave the army now
organized. with but three major generals
and six brigadier generals. which allows
but one general officer for each of the milf
tary departments of the United States and
one for commanding general of the army.
The returns of the War Department
show the strength of the regular army at
this time to be only a few less than O.. 900
enlisted men. OF these there are nearly
14,0oo in Cuba and a like number In or en-
route to the Philippines, and I'm Porto Rico
4,oS6. leaving the total enlisted men OF thu
regular army in the United States "A 600.
OF these 5000 are held in readiness for dis
patch to reinforce the army at Manila. This
would leave the total enlisted strength OF
the army within the United States less than
Is 900. or nearly 1000 less than is necessary
to furnish a single relief to man the guns
now on our seacoast Notifications. II would
tie interior, would strip the Indian country
of troops and leave none to supply the re-
quirements of an exigent condition.
THE Hawley bill fixes the permanent mill
itary establishment at the minimum Of
10000, force that is smaller in proportion
to population and wealth of country than
fixed by any other act of Congress.
THE natives of Cuba. Porto Rico and the
Philippines do not understand our purposes
and ways of government sufficiently TO adj
NIT of their being made part of our MILL
taTy establishment to the extent Of organ
tZing them into companies. battalons and
regiments at once Our officers of greatest
experience with them are of this opinion.
In time this could doubtless be done, but it
Will require education. BY degrees a COM
pany could be given to regiment to be util-
lied as scouts and guides: further on, "a
battalion could De added, and i'm time, things
working well. regiments could be organized.
but il viii take time. so much time that for
the uses of the immediate present and some
time in the future they could not be wisely
counted affording any considerable
strength to the service however many might
be provided for by a congressional act.
They are a possible even probable. factor
of the future, but not for the present