New-York tribune., 1899-12-23
THE NEEDS OF THE ARMY.
Continued from first page.


United States. they too were rapidly concen-
trated at the same points, and at Camp Alger'
Virginia, and San Francisco, and together win
the Regulars formed into seven Army corps.
The mobilization Of so large force whlch py
the close of May numbered nearly lio,oo men,
and received an Increase OF over locVo more
during the next three months was no unimpor-
tant task (even though under the we'll practised
notifications Of Europe they can turn OUT mlil-
ions Of perfectly equipped In the Same
length Of time without any undue sacrihce OF
discomfort and its successful elimination unuer
adverse conditions seems no less marvellous than
our glorious achievements on lane or water
which oversna dowed all other events
From legislative action to the final muster out
every step was comparatively new to the partici-
pants and an experiment, ana the arrI|dl VI
regiments unarmed half armed. or OF resI-
ments needing clothing and other supplies, was
one feature. and the organization OF expeditions
by water to tropical islands in dinerent oceans
was another illustrating the difficulties that
seemed almost insurmountable, ana inuch ina a.
was accomplished may have appeared 10 pe
done under telegraphic or hurry ORDERS, rneetns
every exgency. American ingenuity ana eheI ~
and perseverance triumphed then, ana VIII
again. whether profit by the past OF oesIh
all over again in the next emergency. but 10
matter how large our resources, our duty IN tne
premises is plain. The foremost Powers OF tne
European Continent have every step thougnt
out beforehand foT every possible emergency,
and we should do less our experience haS
been varied covering wars fought on land ana
on sea at home and abroad. and doubtless soIle
day the wisdom OF the axiom Isl Wis paeem'
l
fore anticipate and be prepared in time
CAMPS OF INSTRUCTION.
The habit OF concentrating inexperienced SOL
diers I'm large camps or requiring new eglslaloi'
for every important step may entail serious de-
Law or unnecessary suffering from camp diseases,
which are more 10 be dreaded ana guaiueu
/ against than bullets. The past has now liui-
Gated what preparatory practical instruction. 10
essential for war and also the aDsolute neCte9
sity OF continuing beyond the DAY Oh sish.ue
I
point Of contact with the enemy TO MAINTAIN
order and clear up the debris OF war II !. taKes
more than q fortnight 10 prepare the mus
/ papers the trying time at the close OF service
should not be made more disorganizns oy tne
uncertain and unsettled questions or soluleriy
duty about the date Of discharge. How sIroIsas
this condition bore upon some or the orsahlLd-
tions sent upon the Texas expedition az the
close OF the Civil War may be remembered SUN
by some who were there. -.
To discipline and teach man 10 take care Vi
and be kind 10 himself requires far more eIIoIt
than to learn the manual OF arms or oattdi'Vn
drill. especially when the Whole lesne" gun cap9
green without previous experience, one can
not be expected to learn in minute now 10
overcome natural obstacles as merely natter
OF instinct and habit, especially while nasteiI
ing the heart and rudiments OF new uaue, anu
living in such crowds and inconvenience az 10
seem almost an exaggerated state or natuIe'
with such unfamiliar words as sanltauoh
caetrametation OF logistics. recurring ana
pressed upon the attention OF each sepaIate
command until at last the sickness ol iioIiy
/ y
find they seasoned TO new Dusiness "i ne
instructed veterans in the soldiers trace. II
under the military law, general driii resuta h1
tions and the annual Appropriation Dill tnIs
mobilization and practice were regularly pro,
vided for in times OF peace much misery anu
expense would be guarded against IN the oi'iS
practicable way. Now that the need Is Ielt Is
perhaps the only time that the attention OF Con-
gress can be attracted TO such questions, pur, 9,
Ike the Arkansas Traveller IL may pe . Ieio
that war is no time for it. and in peace there
is no need OF It.
1t seems almost an anomaly 10 muster ou.
regiment after regiment OF trained men anu az
| tho same time endeavor to create new regiments
| not wholly from the material thus dlscarueu'
From the two hundred thousand state ana SIX,
teen thousand United States volunteers en!steo ,-
for the Spanish II seems enough men WeIe
| NOT secured for the twenty-five new regiments
recruited under the act Of March :, lSJ9 l9o 9o
service in the Philippines; but as only ABOUT ~
per cent Of the men in these new reg slmehts
! have served previously, the per cent oi mus
! tered out volunteers re-enlsting must fail oeIow
s This subject may deserve further STUDY ana
! consideration in future legislation affecting the
military establishment. @.....a
VALUE OF MILITARY TRAINING.
We should endeavor to send only trained men
| TO the front: and how accomplish Ii with the
! best results is Of the problems oetore US
! But when everything s considered. II is hard
| N SEE how our Army whether Regular or Volun-
| teer. could have done better And In the en-
! thusiastc desire to serve their country the
! splendid young and not least the college men,
| who left their books and associations TO race
! unknown dangers, should not be forgotten.
! The military instruction so wisely fostered by
the Government served them and the country
| we'll over one-1ftn Of the fifteen thousand or
| more young men under military instruction AT
! our one hundred colleges throughout the United
| States abandoned their pursuits and joined the
| Army almost every one Of them competent to
| perform the functions OF officer. SO far as
! reported ninety-seven graduates OF these col
! leges were commissioned in the Regular Army
| and over seven hundred received commissions
! in the Volunteers during this war-enough TO
/ officer seventeen regiments.
Under peculiar military system IL is our
/ duty 10 disseminate military instruction and
! knowledge among the masses; but our first at
/ tention seems due the National Guard and these
! colleges which furnished about half the volun-
.eers or other officers and should do for
them the best we can-far better than We ever