Daily inter mountain. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1881-1901, 1899-12-18
Inspector General Makes
His Report.
TRAINING OF THE MILITIA
Lessons That Have Been Learned
From the War With Spain-Ap-
prentice Ra;talions in the Army
Are a Necessity.

New York. Dec. ia special to the
Tribune from Wa --ington says: Inspector
General breckenridge, in his annual re-
Port says: 1t has been sufficiently
demonstrated historically without need
of argument how easy and effective is the
proper training and maintenance of an
, efficient militia as the hope and support
Of the nation when called to arms and to
protect the individual citizen from I'M
necessary suffering when rallying to their
cplors for the national defense. During
the last fiscal year we have been ex-
pending over $3.50, 900 a day, but this peace
practice, essential for the prcper nation
al defense and for the proper training,
of IL we'll cared for ana we'll armed militia
militia costs only about $1,000, 900 a year,
hardly TWO lays expense, even on a peace
basis, and would not add five per ct. to the
annual military appropriations and
4. would actuall" save large sums in the
long run.
But if our people prefer 20 conduct war
upon the recognized principle of main
strength and aWkWardnesS, though they
are so proverbially acute and energetic
in it and everything else when their at
tSIlt!ct Is dltIdClSu / VIII ulS lltt!OSillal
dissatisfaction and suffering in the early
stages of war will perhaps continue to
retur. such as shoddy clothing and it's
other features, well known to every SOL
der of the civil war. though less pro-
nounced. of course, when only a quarter
of ambition instead of 200, 0O0of unframed
men are suddenly called to the colors.
Practically WE have practiced our mobi-
liZation with %, O00 men instead of with
80, 1000. as they do in Europe. and much
needed and instructive military man
euvers have been largely omitted. We
have generally had only camps and trans
portation and reviews of any large masses
of men in This country were lacking ex-
cept at camp George Fl. Thomas. where
a separate army was repeatedly review
ed and corps of infantry was practiced in
battle problems, though the artillery and
cavalry hardly got into full participa-
ton frequently. 1t may be only JUST
to invite attention as a commendable
piece of professional work to how admir-
ably prepared and arranged the various
exercises were there, especially
when in large ma sses of men. Such gen.
erals commanding divisions as Wilson.
Frank, Poland, Sanger, Mckee and
Grant and such staff officers at the arny's
headquarters as Baldwin, Foote, Cecil,
Wheeler and Dockman, made things talk.
The brigade commanders and other staff
officers assembled deserve Individual
ilC ~AiiN ~ w AouN lli1 w -
sembled body of troops were found ex-
perienced and able n accomplished
general of the line, staff officers as well as
scientific supply corps, in the main or
CARNATIONS.
Neither troops nod commanders are
apt to wholly forget it's lesson and the
skill and enthusiasm displayed seem re-
markable and the nation in any future
e~Nigency may find reward in the quail
ties and experience here acquired and
displayed as a preparatory training for
war. The positive difference betWeen
a soldier and a citizen is that the for
mer is accustomed to act amid masses
and SO has learned how to carry food,
arms, shelter and water and reach the
foe and knows that walking about and
marching in mass makes a different
strain upon individual resolution and
endurance. 1t is evident that an army.
to be of the utmost efficiency, must be
able to maneuver and fight and adapt
itself readily to the enforced or adverse
conditions of life in the field. Ignorance
of such matters very frequently mean
unnecessary sacrifice of life and undue
suffering and enormous expenditures for
pensions in subsequent years.
Wars come swiftly, and there is little
or no time for preparation after they
have been declared. These matters have
been repeatedly mentioned in my former
annual reports. Occasionally we have
had some tentative experiments. as at
Camp Crook or Chilico. or in Arizona in
1877 and 1883, after the Geronimo cam
paign. but a systematic. progressive in
struction under campaign conditions
has never been ~inauEurated. The en-
campments held annually by some Of
the state guards have perhaps been very
instructive so far as guard duty, ont
posts, patrols, minor tactics and SINH
lar matters are concerned, bat fire..
quently they seem to AVE assumed the
IL nrn nns ~ m op,f1N~ ~ W.T. rit 4 -
hired cooks and paraphernalia of COM
fort, rather than that of a command in
tent upon preparing for the hardships
of the field.
A decade has passed since ! first en-
deavored to draw 20 the de-
STABILITY Of establishing q system CT
apprentice %battalions in connection with
the army, u as has been In practical
and successful operation in the navy for
many years. If a certain number Of APP
prentices were designated Ivy each rep
resentative we would be sure of getting
youths above the average mental, moral
and physical capacity, and absolutely
Anericanize our army, and their influ-
ence on the ran and file certainly would
elevate its military tone. The require
ments of the artillery, with It's modern
tactics and appliances, are exacting. and
a fair degree of education and technical
knowledge is pre-supposed for all SUBJ
ordinate positions. We need just such
trained young men as proposed for non-
commissioned officers, whether line or
staff, n they also could and doubtless
would win commissions. It is earnestly
recommended hat steps be taken Tor
the establishment Of an apprentice bat
talon for zach arm of the service, and,
i il it meet your approval, I would sug-
gestt that a board of officers be appoint
ed to arrange preliminary details. An
act; of congress is really not necessary
] fA~s H. 10 ~ ~NN~t- Ill.,.
The enlistment of minors is already au-
}khorized by the law, nj their assem-