The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1899-12-23
THE EDROPEAN PLAN
Is Recommended For Adoption In
American Military Matters.

New York, Dec GA special to the
Tribune from Washington, D. C, says:
Secretary Root has made public the
last and most important of the re-
port of staff chiefs to him, that of the
inspector general, who discusses the
needs of the service with characteristic
candOr- From the chapter treating of
the transition OF the regular establish
ments from peace to war the follow
ing extracts are taken:
The battles of San Juan and Ell Caney
opened the fiscal year and the honors
universally accorded to the fighting
force have proved the efficiency or the
methods employed for the military
training and discipline of the cOmpan-
les and have demonstrated the adapta-
bility of the Americans to every re-
quirement of military life. The last
year suddenly brought new and un-
measured responsibilities, special eX-
penditures, extensive outfits and en-
forced familiarity with unWonted eX-
perienceS in far distant fields and ser
vice, with new Asiatic and tropical en-
Vironments. It has now become his
torical record how the exigencies Of or
ganizatiOn, mobilization, campaign,
battle and military government have
been met by the men who We're hurried
from the plains to the battlefield In
the broadest view the military results
have been almost DhenOmenaly sue
cessful, almost revolutionary to the ma
tional policy and career, and perhaps,
not less exacting and instructive on
land than the supremely glorious
achievements of the navy.
Some day a. 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 TINS
Spanish war by the men who were ac-
tually on the firing line and in the fore
front of battle and 1T mas been
clearly known how the current OF
events and the methods of movement
and care and supply appeared to those
who most pointedly, and not unintell1-
gently, felt the effects of either the ex-
ceIlence or remissness displayed.
In the meantime and without any
comparison with others who will have
played their part so admirably, II
should be recognized how largely the
burden of field work fell upon the regu-
lar company officers, 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 STAN
and civil duties; while the simply su-
perb organizations were subsequently
swamped with unframed recruits ana
indeed filled with them again ana
again until it seemed miraculous,
though the recruits were particularly
admirable. that the characteristics OF
distinguished organizations could be so
long retained despite such clrcum-
stances. How different this IS from
calling to the cOlOrs, as other civilized
nations do, reserves trained for war IN
the very organizations they RECON-, all
perfectly equipped at the outbreak OF
hostilities, is evident to every thinking
mind.
Before the war regimental organiza-
lions were comparatively little recog-
nized in military administration rms
radical change from the habitual to the
legal unit of supply upon the outbreak
of hOStilitieS is a noticeable feature de-
serving attentive consideration ana
NAV be fundamental to our bureaucra-
tic system and Overwhelmed force
Even the companies may feel It's Ell
fectS. But the regiment IS universally
recognized as the unit of administration
for war. and everything should be done
to insure efficient and experienced regl-
mental commanders and staff, and con-
firm them in their legitimate duties and
accustom the men to their methods and
personal equation, especially in the nrst
swift stages of war; though the calls Tor
officers are so great elsewhere that the
percentage must be quite small of reg
llar regiments which went to the as
sault on the first day of the last nscal
year under their own colonels rms IS
one of the many fruits OF maintaining
q merely skeleton military OrganlZa-
ton without an organized and pre-
scribeG system Of reserves and moDlIlz-
alton.
If our army practiced the art of
mobilization annually, every feature
and requirement would be Thoroughly
prescribed and organized and be as
familiar a characteristic of military
training with us as with foreign coun-
tries, and as perfectly and easily Done
as company drill The only thing that
prevented this fundamental preliminary
practice in times of peace was lack OF
money. 1t depends wholly upon the
appropriation bill. Within the decade
all that could be done simply. at the
posts has been carefully and 1nstruc-
lively carried out.
Our wars have been habitually fought
nv the volunteers and the Spanish war
was not an entire exception to this rule,
though the percentage of regulars
among the first to reach the front dur
ing this last struggle was perhaps as
great or greater than in any of our
T1rpXiOnS wars.
The mobilization of so large a force.
which by the close of May numbered
nearly 10000 men and received an in
crease of over 100000 more during the
next three months was no un1mportant
task even though under the well prac-
ticed mobilization of Europe they can
turn out millions of men perfectly
equipped in the same length of time
without any undue sacrifice or dlscom-
fort and its successful elimination I'M
der such adverse conditions seems no
less marvellous than our glorious
achievements on land or water, when
overshadowed all other events.
From legislative action to the final mus
ter out every step was comparatively new
to the participants and an experiment ana
armed. or of regiments needing clothing
and other supplies. was one feature and
to tropical islands in different oceans was
another, illustrating the d1f1cultles that
seemed almost insurmountable and much
that was accomplished may have appear
ed to be done under telegraphic or hurry
orders. meeting every eXigency.
American ingenuity and energy and per
severance triumphed then, and will again
whether we profit by the past or begin
all over again in the next emergency
But no matter how large our resources.
our duty in the premises is plain The
foremost powers of the European contln-
ent have every step thought out before
hand for every possible emergency and
we should do less
The habit of concentrating tneXper1enc-
ed soldiers in large camps or requiring
new legislation for every important step
may entail serious delay or unnecessary
suffering
more to be dreaded and guarded against
I1ar hT71I