The times., 1899-11-02

faction created on account Of officers per
forming precisely similar duties under dI-
ferent rank and emoluments.
These we're the very trying and delicate
conditions that confronted mastering and
medical officers. That they proved equal
10 this duty is fully attested by the results
accomplished"
The withdrawal Of the volunteer troops
from the Philippines was commenced June
Il, 1899, and at this date all have returned
to the United States for muster-out Of SER
vice and return 10 their homes except me
troop of Nevada cavalry, which sailed
September % and due at San Francisco
October %. 1899 and the First Tennessee,
which sailed October S and due at san
Francisco November s, 1899 Likewise the
men Of the Regular Army who enlisted lot
the war with Spain have been discharged
the service.
The patriotism of the regulars and vol
unteers who enlisted only for the war with
Spain. by willingly and actively serving
after the expiration of their terms Of ser
vice, calls for evidence of appreciation on
the part of the department To this end
IL IS respectfully recommended that each
officer Of the several volunteer OrganiZa-
tions and each enlisted man who contin-
ued in service in the Philippine Islands af-
ter the ID Of March, 1899 until honorably
discharged, be awarded a suitably inscribed
medal"
Permanent Camp Grounds.
/ In speaking Of the necessity of maintain
/ ing permanent camp grounds, the report
says: The necessity for fully equipped
! camp grounds one each for the North,
South, East, and West, is very great. These
should be large and fitted with all the ap
pIiances known to modern civilization. and
I kept in constant repair ready for occu-
pancy at any time. The experience of the
last two years makes this necessity ap-
( parent and should receive the favorable
consideration of those charged with the
care and instruction of our military forces.
/ Special appropriation 10 this end should
be made at an early day
General Corbin recommends an increase
/ in the pay of officers on duty in the colonial
/ possessions and defends the present staff
! system. He says:
The pay Of all officers below the grade
/ Of brigadier general should be increased at
\ least 80 1-3 per cent, while on duty In
4 Cuba or our new possessions. Most of
! these gentlemen have families that they
are unable to have with them, and are,
| therefore. compelled to maintain two es-
| Establishments, difficult undertaking when
/ the amount of their pay is considered. The
/ increase would meet in a measure their
actual living expenses. This legislation
| is urgently recommended. Also, that pro-
| vision be made that all officers below the
! grade of major general, who retire by
/ reason of age or wounds received in &C
ton, shall do so on the next grade above
the rank held by them in the Regular Army
on the date Of their retirement
Much has been written of late con-
/ cerning a better staff system. Ours may
4 be and doubtless is, open to improvements,
! but il should be borne ia mind that the
Z present organization is the result Of years
/ Of legislation, born Of the best thought and
! labors of our best military men, and has
/ stood successfully the test of all our wars.
/ The criticisms of our system are too often
/ the result OF disappointment Seldom has
] there one appeared in print whose author
/ has not been a long standing applicant for
/ a place in one of the staff corps or depart
ments. The suggestion that our staff Off
/ GERS are not experienced in the duties Of
( line officers is not borne out by facts
/ The average length of service in the line
I Of the Army. prior to their appoint
ment to the staff, by the officers
/ of the Adjutant Generals Department
/ is twenty-one years; Inspector Generals
/ Department is twenty-one years: the
/ Quartermaster's Department IS seventeen
years; the Subsistence Department is
! twelve years; the Ordnance Department is
/ three years and six months, and the Signal
/ Corps is twelve years.
With these facts before you, II is a
question if they have not been required to
( give too much time in company duties
/ before transfer to the staff. One remedy
for this would be TO have an extra first
/ lieutenant in each troop, battery, and COM
pany for temporary duty in the several
4 staff departments, and thus fitting more
Z officers for appointment to The permanent
: staff departments. at the same time giving
/ the department sufficient officers for duty
at the Military Academy, colleges, and in
/ strUctors Of the militia, etc, without i'm
. pairing the efficiency Of the line Of the
Army. which has been too often done by
making details for detached service of va
riCus kinds, the department having been
forced to decide between the lesser of two
evils"
Great Britain's Courtesy.
The report, in speaking Of the courtesy
OF Great Britain extended to our forces
while passing through the Suez Canal, en-
route to the Philippines, says:
The first expedition Of troops to the
distant field Of operations in the Philip
pines sent forward through the Mediter-
ranean Sea and the Suez Canal gave occa-
sion for a demonstration Of kindly feel
ings by the British Government that will
long live in the memories Of both partici-
pants in the spontaneous exchange Of in
ternational courtesies.
The United States transport Sheridan
left New York February 10, 1899 having
on board under command Of Col. Jacob II
Smith, Twelfth Infantry, the Twelfth Regi-
ment United States Infantry and four com.
panies a. c, z, and F. of the Seventeenth
United States Infantry-57 officers anC
i 790 men The transport arrived at tht
port of Vallate. Malta, on the morning o.
March s. with all on board In good healtf
and spirits although the men were badly
in need Of exercise after their uneventfu
sail Of over TWO weeks duration Witt
thoughtful consideration of the well beinl
OF our troops and in anticipation of thu
arrival Of the transport, the American
Consul at that port John H. Grout, jr.
esq, requested the Governor of Malta L
permit the troops TO land. This reques
Of our Consul was made with full knowl
edge OF the fact that since the Crimeal
War, at which time a few allied troop
were permitted to land there, no foreigl
troops had ever been permitted to Ian
7 under any circumstances, the British au
thorities Of the island having always strict
ly guarded against establishing a preceden
in this respect
IN due course of time, his excellency
the governor general Sir Francis Greenfield
advised the American Consul that after ful
consideration. he had decided TO permit TIA