The times., 1899-05-29

tne teeth with toothpick or an inflated
bladder could not be gravely regarded.
Good rifeshots are not born such; they
are made by training and intelligent prac-
tiee. 1t is an obligation of the Government
to give to its regular soldiers the best and
latest model OF firearms Of projection.
The majority of the men now in the
ranks do not know the names of their
equipments; do not know the number of
their squad, or who is in charge of it;
do not know the condition of their cloth
ing accounts; do not know what the SOL
dier's handbook imparts; do not know the
component parts of the ration; do not
know how properly to care for their own
equipments; are not imbued with the spirit
of military traditions do not know the eX-
tent OF their own ignorance upon matters
considered elementary a year ago The
men are willing enough, but willing is
hardly being ready.
The Army is now in a transition stage
between the old and the new. The Eighth
United States Regiment suffers from alb
senteeism. 1t is to be overloaded with
raw recruits. The officers now with it need
reinforcement. More officers are needed.
This regiment now has serving with the
colors only four captains. The average
length of military service OF the nineteen
line officers now serving with the regiment
is less than ten years, counting in cadet
the permanent or volunteer establishment.
Trained company officers only can teach
the important lesson in its details of how
best to meet the requirements of the new
life. With the passing and discharge of
old-time soldiers. there also passes the
old-time discipline, which formerly could
be relied upon in any emergency. l doubt
If any foot regiment, composed as the
Army will be in two months from now
live Al
haversacks, or ten days from wagons.
In order to make the Army representa-
tive of the nation recruiting officers should
be instructed to elevate the type and
standard by enlisting only men of special
qualifications or military experience. No
man inexperienced in military life shodil
be enlisted for the permanent military es
tablishment unless he is an American cit
izen, or has legally announced his intention
of becoming such. combined with ability
to read, write. and speak tie English Lam
guage. considerable proportion o. our
citizens are now taDitultsd to haLilin.;
firearms. and are possessed OF some eA-
perience in field s-IviCe. Some ontnusIasm
for soldering prevails; our small array is
recruited UQ nesriy to the limit. Ine
faithfrlEezs and cisceI nnfent of our r.
cruiting officers can nov be measured 0y
the character and abilities of the recruits
sent to the regiments.
During the incumbency of Joseph B.
Doe, jr., as Assistant Secretary of War,
the depot system was abolished and CO.
lumbus Barracks and David's Island eeas-
ed-as Carlisle Barracks ceased-to be the
foealizing points where recruits were
congregated for preliminary instructions in
| the A, B, Cs OF a soldiers duty prior TO
assignment to regiments.
Officers differed in opinion as to the wis
dom of the abolition of recruiting depots.
Major Thomas Fl. Barry and Capt Francis
Michler were exponents. respectively. OF
the infantry and cavalry arm of the service,
| advocating the abandonment of the depot
| system. Without attempting to make a
| resume of the arguments pro and con,
the then Secretary of War ordered the
| breaking up OF recruiting depOts.
I'VE now are confronted by a condition.
| Scores and hundreds of recruits are now
being dumped upon commanders OF regi-
ments, upon whose company, troop. or bat
| terry commanders falls the onus of instruc-
| tion OF raw recruits in details that might,
| and in my opinion should, be impaired
| before assignment.
The stores found to be OF inferior quail
ity are onions, potatoes. beef. 'Reau b.anl
of -four. canned tomatoes, salmon; also
smoking tobacco and hard bread. Boards
of survey have acted in every case of sub
sistence stores unfit for issue or sale and
causes ascribed to climatic or special
causes not chargeable to the original con
dition of the stores. While the food now
furnished is generally excellent in quality
| and quantity. justifable complaints are
made regarding onions, potatoes and beef
Climatic conditions here cause onions tC
sweat, sprout. become soft and rotten. 70
/ tatoes, too, deteriorate more rapidly than
in the North. Refrigerated beef has to bs
trimmed before being cooked. The residue
is tender and excellent, but tine soldier
sustains a loss in the daily quantity tC
which he is entitled. Numerous boards o
survey and food inspections sustain this
assertion. Texas corn-fed beef cattle that
are slaughtered here are not comparable
in quality with the refrigerated beef. a
proposition 10 substitute canned roast beef
would not meet with general concurrence
Fish aad dried fruit componants in liey
of the ordinary beef ration are desired"