The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1899-12-24
new METHODS REQUIRED.
NEEDS OF THE ARMY cANDIDLY
COMMENTED UPON.
Inspector General, I'm His Report,
Tells Of what In Essential to
Equipment and Preparation for
Modern war-National Guard.

NEW YORK, Dec. "a special to the
Tribune from Washington says: Secre-
tary Root has made public the last and
most important Of the reports Of stan
chiefs to him. that of the inspector gem
eral. who discusses the needs Of the serv-
ice with characteristic candor. From the
chapter treating of the transition of the
regular establishments from peace to war
the following extracts are taken:
The battles of San Juan and El Caney
opened the fiscal year, and the honors
universally accorded to the fighting force
have proved the efficiency of the meth
DDS employed for the military training and
discipline of the companies. and have
demonstrated the adaptability OF the
Americans to every requirement of MILF
tary life.
THE last year suddenly brought new
and unmeasured responsibilities, special
expenditures, extensive outfits and en-
forced familiarity with unwonted expert
ences In far distant fields and service,
with new Asiatic and tropical environ
ments. It has now become historical
record how the exigencies OF organiza-
ton, mobilization. campaign, battle and
military government have been met by
men who were hurried from the plains
to the battlefields.
I'm the broadcast view. the military re-
suits have been almost phenomenally sue
cessful. Almost revolutionary to the ma
tional policy and career, and perhaps not
less exacting and instructive on land
than the supremacy glorious achievements
of the navy.
Some day q careful and dispassionate
study of every detail should and prob
ably will be made of all that relates to
the soldier and his trade in this Span
ish war, by the men who were actually
on the firing line and in the forefront
~ hnt v1A hnu t,zoY oil nxyx roI.n
how the current of events and the meth
DDS of movement and care and supply
appeared to those who most pointedly felt
the effects Of either the excellence or
remissness displayed.
Burden Upon Omcers.
I'm the meantime, and without any
comparison with others who have played
their part so admirably 1t should be rec
ognfzed how largely the burden OF field
work fell upon the regular company Of
ficers, who not only had the duties of
their grade to perform, but were assigned
by the score to every type Of duty, both
of the line and STAFF and civil duties;
while the simply superb organizations
were subsequently swamped with I'M
trained recruits and indeed filled with
them, again and again, until 1t seemed
miraculous, though the recruits were
particularly admirable, that the charac-
teristics Of distinguished organizations
could be so long retained despite such
circumstances.
''How different this Is from calling to
the colors, as other civilized nations do,
reserves trained for war in the very organ
izations they rejoin. all perfectly equipped
at the outbreak Of hostilities, is evident to
every thinking mind.
Before this war regimental orgeniza-
tions were comparatively little recognized
in military administration. This radical
change from the habitual to the legal unit
Of supply, upon the outbreak of hostilities,
is noticeable feature, deserving atten-
tive consideration, and may be funda-
mental to our bureaucratic system and
overburdened force. Even the companies
may feel it's effects. But the regiment Is
universally recognized as the unit of adj
ministration for war and everything should
be done to insure efficient and experienced
regimental commanders and staff and con-
firm them in their legitimate duties and
accustom the men to their methods and
personal equation. especially in the first
swift stages of war. Though the calls
for officers are so great elsewhere that
the percentage must be quite small, few
regular regiments went to the assault on
the first day Of the last fiscal year under
their own colonies. This is one of the
many fruits of maintaining q merely
skeleton military organization without an
organized and prescribed system Of re-
serves and mobilization.
Should Practice Mobilization.
"If our army practiced the art of mobil-
ization annually, every feature and re-
qu.rement would he thoroughly prescribed
and organized and be as familiar char
acteristic of military training with us as
with foreign countries, and as perfectly
and easily done as company drill. The
only thing that prevented this fundamen-
tai preliminary practice in times of peace
was lack of money. 1t depends wholly
upon the appropriation bill. Within the
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