New-York tribune., 1899-12-18
CRITICISM OF THE ARMY
RECOMMENDATIONS MADE BY 1NsPEC-
TOR GENERAL BRECKINRIDGE.
,,osr OF HIS SUGGESTIONS ADOPTED BY
SECRETARY ROOT IN THE REoR-

MOST OF HIS SUGGESTIONS ADOPTED BY
SECRETARY ROOT IN THE REoR-
GANIZATIoN PLAN.
Tpy TELEGRAPH THE TRIbuNEI
Washington, Dec. 1i-lnspector
Breckinridge's annual report TO the "ehei
Commanding is this year, as formerly sealoh-
ING review NJ the conduct OF the Army and an
EXPERT criticism OF its organization OF 'he ines'
interesting and valuable character IL IL an u'
usually volun1inous document, with many e."
cellent Photographic illustrations, and VIII prove
entertaining and instructive. not only 10 onlcers
in the service but to legislators who VIII DE
called upon TO consider needed reforms IN the
service II is notable that nearly all the In
spector Generals suggestions were adop'eo py
Secretary Root in his recommendations to Con-
gress The following extracts are taken from
General Breckinridge's conclusions:
All experience shows that We may perlodSea1ys any
have war, and late mere mobilization s,iow5 W.
what nexperence nay cost and cause us anu @ o ora
children 70 endure SO T. may seem S old choice be-
tween vaccination and the danger OF sfnanpo po or
siaeT sRs It to nh all its vrnGe
It has, perhaps. been sufficiently demonsI@aev @ and
9Ss without zsd nssd OF ebd f. for the
training and maintenance OF an emcen. cailed
the nope ana a1d to TPpGe poG q the he
unnecessary suffering when rallylng to the colors
fSP %e ns have been eapenang over but
this peace practice essential for proper NatVIa az "a
for and well armed militia costs only about $1,000
600 a year hardly two days expense even VI, tba
annual military appropriations and would actually
save large sums in the long run But u our PeTRe Dp
ciple of main strength and awkwardness: though
they SO proverblally acute and energetic IN at
tracted to war. the incidental dissatisfaction ana
suffering in the early stages OF war viii pernaPs. d M
continue TO recur; such as shoddy clothing ana us
other features well known to every soldier OF the
Civil War though less pronounced Of coursei whe9 en-
unframed men suddenly called to the colors
IMPORTANCE OF MANGUVREs
Practically we aave practised our mobilization
with 25O,O00 men instead OF with 5000. az they do
In Europe, and much needed and instructive mill
tary maneuvres have been largely omitted We
have generally had only camps and transportation
country were lacking. except Camp George II.
Thomas, where separate army was repeatediy
reviewed, and corps of Infantry was practised In
battle problems. though the artillery and cavalry
hardly got into fun pariicipaton frequently: 1t
mendable piece of professional work to how ad-
mraby PREPARED and arranged the Ss various as mil mill
masses Of men. Such generals commanding di-
visions as Wilson, Frank: Poland, Sanger; Mckee t;
Headquarters as Baldwin, Foote, Cecil. Wheeler
manders and other staff officers equally deserve In
dvidual mention.
And throughout the whole assembled body or
troops we're found experienced and nouceaby able
and accomplished general line and stafr officers. as
main organizations. Neither troops nor command
apt to wholly forget It's lessons, and the
remarkable. and the Nation in any future exigency
may find reward in the qualities and experieniGe Exp, iS
Ing for war. The positive difference between
solder and citizen is that the former is accus-
TO carry food, arms. shelter and water, and reach
the foe and knows that walking about and march;
Ing In mass makes different strain upon ihdlVnuai
~ 1t is evident that an Army to be Of the
night and adapt Itself readily to the enforced or or
sacrihce OF life and undue suffering and ultimately
Wars eome s% Sd there or no
time for preparation after they have been decared
my former annual reports
Occasionally we have had some tentative expert
in 1887 and 1888. after the Geronimo campaign.
but a systematic. progressive instruction under
The encampments held annually by some of the
State Guards have. perhaps been very instructive
tactics and similar matters concerned, but fire.
Quently they seem to have assumed the character
phernalia OF comfort. rather than that Of com
mand intent upon preparing for the hardships In
The diseases in some Of the camps last year at
tacted some attention, and experience proves that
the death rate in war Is generally far greater from
disease than from bullets. and may Indicate the
Importance OF preliminary training In such mat
ters. Sanitation. where there no family ties
modern conVeniences. is more difficult to teach
and enforce among greenhorns than the manual
of arms or musketry, and the more troops go
under canvas and learn tactics and tactical opera
tons the ground, and how to take care OF
themselves the better it will be for the Army. and
especially for the new organization called out for
the defence OF our country's flag. This is clearly
due to citizen soldiers and to their loved ones
who suffer when they die, and It is hoped the per
sistence with which II has been pressed upon the
attention of higher authority year after year will
be excused. the health of the individuals and
fitness OF the soldiers evidently depend upon IT,
especially among men to whom even Individual
cooking Of their own food unknown art.