The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1899-12-02
SECRETARY ROOTS
FIRST ANNUAL REPORT.


Continued From Page One.
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regulation furnishes the wise and proper
answer to the question"
River ana Harbor Estimates.
Under the head Of river and harbor Inn
provements the secretary. while character
ising the estimates as generally meritcri-
Gus. states that he has felt 1t necessary. in
view Of extraordinary appropriations for
military purposes, to reduce the estimates
Of the chief OF engineers from 81. so6.sN to
$14, ss3. IA.
Promotion Desired for shafteP.
Other recommendations are that Gen.
shafter should be retired with the rank
Of major general. and that statue Of Gen.
Grant be erected In the national capital
Army REORGANIZATION Needed.
One Of the most important chapters Of
the report deals with tho subject OF army
reorganization. and on this point the sec
rotary makes some most radical recon-
mendations, pointing out the inadeouacy
of the present system and insufiiciency Of
the force. Starting with the premise that
the real object of having an army Is to
provide for war. and that the regular
army would never be by itself the whole
machine with which war would be fought.
the secretary proceeds to outline q scheme
Of reform, supported at each stage by
sufacient argument to demonstrate its
necessity. He first lays down the neces-
sity Of q systematic study by responsible
officers of plans Of action under all con-
tingencies OF possible conflict. and points
out the lamentable disadvantage we are
in In this respect as shown by our past
experience. more especially with regard
to the mobilization and encampment and
training OF volunteer troops. Next there
should be ample preparation Of material
OF war, keeping pace with the progress Of
military science and avoiding the state
OF unpreparedness In which we were
found at the outbreak OF the last war.
This should be the business Of competent
men. There should be an adequate pro-
cess OF selection according to merit and
effectiveness among the ofYicers Of the
army. so that men Of superior ability and
power may be placed in position Of re-
sponsibility and authority. Fourth, there
should be ample experience and training
Of the army In the movements OF large
bodies approximating war conditions.
Army war College.
1t IL recommended that an army war
college be established, including the ma
jor-generaa Commanding and composed of
the heads of STAN departments and 4
number of the ablest high ranking off,
GERS In the army. and to this college
should be in.-rsted the execution of the
plans laid out under the above four heads
Every officer below the field officers not
graduate in the service schools, should
receive instructions at this college. All
stan appointments should thereafter be
made from the line of the army for only
fixed period of say four or five years, the
older to return to the line at the end of
that period, and these stan appointments
should be made on the war knowledge
records of efficiency and fitness, making
allowance for gallant conduct in the field
and excepting only the technical branches
OF engineers, ordinance and signal ser.
vice.
Changes i'm Rules of Promotion.
The present system of promotion by
seniority should be extended to officers be-
low field rank by dividing the promotions
between those based on seniority and thos,
based on efficiency and gaIlantry. STAFF
appointments and line promotions other
than those for seniority, should be made by
the board of officers based on efficiency ana
records. There should be active co-opera-
ton between the army and navy in the
matter Of their respective war colleges. TO
provide for Joint defense and action. The
artillery branch Of the service should have
head. member Of the war college. and
on the STAFF Of the major general COM
handing, and the inspection corps should
be increased.
National Guard system,
Turning to the volunteer element. who
must be relied upon to supplement the reg
ular army In case of war, the secretary
lays stress on the need of preserving the
same forms of discipline, using the same
arms and generally insuring that the unit.
ed body shall be homogeneous when as
sembled. This matter should receive the
especial consideration OF the war colIege.
which should invite the confidence and CO.
operation OF state and military authorities
and open its courses of instruction 70 ma
tional guard officers. In this way the sec
rotary foresees an elastic machinery will
be provided, SO that when war threatens
and long before 1t is declared the multitude
of men who are to do the work Of organ
ization may know, without waiting for an
act Of congress, what will be required of
them when the hour strikes, and may be
engaged in the quiet and deliberate prepa-
ration for necessity. In advance of action,
10 prevent confusion and mistakes
More Students Mt West Point.
The secretary declares that the faithful
and efficient services of the West Poiat
graduates since the declaration of war
with Spain have more than repaid the cost
Of the military academy since its founda
ton, and he asks for a considerable in
crease OF the capacity of the institution.
and the number Of It's graduates. TIE
report draws 10 q conclusion with srlen-
did tribute to the army as shown during