Omaha daily bee., 1899-11-16
TIE ARMY REPORTS.


The reports Of General Miles and OF
Adjutant General Corb.n, the latter Civ
ing complete details of the military es-
tablishment, pay high tribute to the
courage, efficiency and discipline Of the
soldiers, making no distinction in this
respect between the regulars and volun-
teers. The adjutant general warmly
commends the patriotism of the men
who, having enlisted only for the war
with Spain, continued to serve after the
expiration of their terms of service, and
recommends that each officer of the vol
unteer organizations and each enlisted
man who continued in service in the
Philippines after March 2, 1899, until
honorably discharged, be awarded
suitably inscribed medal. Undoubtedly
this recommendation will receive the ap-
prevail of congress as 1t certainly will of
the country. These soldiers. whose pat l.
otism and fidelity were put TO the sever
est test, merit special recognition from
the government. They had an unques-
tionable right to demand their discharge
and many of them were urged by rela-
tives to do so. They had faithfully per-
formed their duty and were anxious to
return to their homes. But with fidel-
ity to the government and the flag be-
yond all praise they waived their right
to q discharge, resisted the earnest i'm
portunites of kindred and remained in
the fighting line, enduring every hard
ship without murmur. No greater de-
votion to country was ever shown.
The abstract of the report of General
Miles makes no reference to what son.
military men regard as of prime i'm
portance, a better staff system, but this
is discussed by Adjutant General Cor
bin. He says that our system is doubt
less open to improvements. but points
out that the present organization is the
result of years of legislation, born of the
best thought and labors of our best mill
tary men and has stood successfully the
test of all our wars. He asserts that the
suggestion that orr staff officers are
not experienced in the duties of line Of
fcers is not borne out by facts. 1t is
unOuestionable that the war with Spain
disclosed defects in the army organiza-
ton which seemed to justify the. pHblic
criticism it received but it must be
shown that our system is not so bad as
it was thought to be. The record Of
work done in equipping, transporting
and supplying the Philippine forces Is
entirely commendable. The difficulties
we had at the beginning of the war with
Spain were no greater than England is
in sending troops to South
Africa and the British military estab
lishment was supposed to be always pre-
pared for any emergency. Nevertheless
the admission of General Corbin that
our staff system can be improved should I!
suggest to the military committees of
the duty of giving attention to !
the matter.
General Miles is in favor of main
tanning the regular army at its present |
he having repeatedly urged |
an increase since he became commander |
Of the army. 1t will undoubtedly be |
found necessary to maintain a larger |
military force than we had before the |
war with Spain, but it is quite posh-
BILE that after peace has been restored
in the Philippines and civil government
established there the regular army can
be somewhat reduced from the present
standard. Perhaps not to exceed 10000
roops will be sufficient to preserve peace
and order in the Philippines when the
shall have been suppressed
and 1t is not likely that IL larger force
will ever he needed in Porto Rico than
IS now there, numbering a little over
5000. Allowing the same number as
for the United States, it ap-
pears probable that within the next two
years II standing army of from 10000
10 $4,000 will be ample.
PENSION Law REVISION
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