The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-12-02

members of the community. In States
where the sale Of intoxicants is permitted
by law, soldiers will drink outside the camp
cannot be prevented except by combining
them to the limits of the camp or post.
This would not only be unjust and fnJur-
i0us, but would REFUGE enlistment 10 I'M
prisonment. and Immediately put an end
to enlistments. The practical question TO
be considered IL not whether soldiers snouid
drink or not drink. but whether they should
be permitted to drink beer in the camp:
surrounded by the restraining influences of
discipline and good asSoci9tlar. or Wnetner
they should be driven TO drInk bad whisky
in the vile resorts which cluster around
the limits of every military post and camp,
and especially around those in which pro
hibition is maintained. j have no DOUBT
that the present regulation furnishes the
wise answer to this question i present
the subject thus fully i'm order that. if con-
gress takes a different view, the matter may
be fully before IL for action"
ARMY REORGANIZATION.
One of the most important chapters Of
the report deals with the subject of army
reorganization and on this point the sec
rotary makes some most radical recon-
mendations. pointing out the inadequacy Of
the present system and insufficiency of the
force. Starting with the premise that the
real object of having an army is to pro-
"a ~ wal aAQ lAAal III 1C00AoA ANA
would never be by itself the whole ma
chine with which war will be fought, the
proceeds to outline a scheme of
reform supported at each stage by sue
cinct argument TO demonstrate its neceS-
slty. He first lays down the necessity of
a systematic study by responsible officers
or plans or action under all contingencies
OF possible CONNECTS, and points out the
disadvantage We are at in this
respect, as shown by our past experience,
more especially with regard to the mooIil-
Zation and encampment and training or
troops. Next there should De
preparation of material of war keep
ing pace with the progress of military
science n avoiding the state or unpre-
paredness In which we were found at the
outbreak or the last war. This should be
the business Of competent men. There
should be an adequate process Of selection
according to merit and effectiveness among
the officers OF the army, so that men OF
ability and power may be placed
in positions OF responsibility and authority.
Fourth, there should be ample exercise and
training of the army in the movements or
large bodies a~prOxlmating war conditions.
1t is recommended that an army war col
lege be established, including the major
general commanding, and composed OF The
heads of stan departments n a NUMBER
of the ablest high ranking officers IN the
army, and to this college should be in
the execution of the plans laid out
under the above four heads. Every offlcer
below the field officer not a graduate OF
the service schools should receive inStruc-
ton at this college. All staff appointments
should hereafter be made from the line OF
the army for only a fixed period, OF say
four or five years, the holder TO return
to the line at the end of that period, and
these staff appointments should be made
on the war college records of efficiency
and fitness, making allowance for gallant
in the field, and excepting only the
ooh ~ 1rn nhnG ~ Dtnna 100
and signal service. The present system of
by seniority Should be modified
as to officers below field rank by dividing
the promotions between those based on
seniority and those based on efficiency and
gallantry. Staff appointments and line pro-
motions other than those for seniority
should be made by boards of officers based
on efficiency records. There should also be
active cooperation between the army and
navy in the matter of their respective war
colleges to provide for joint defense and
The artillery branch of the sd"vice
should have a head, a member or the war
college and on the staff of the major gen
eral commanding, and the inspection corps
should be increased.
Turning to the volunteer element, which
must be relied on to supplement the regu-
lar army in case of war, the secretary lays
stress on the Importance of preserving the
same forms of discipline, using the same
arms and generally ~insuring that the united
snail be homogeneous when
This matter should receive the especial con-
Sideration of the war college, which should
invite the conference and cooperation of
state military authorities and open its
courses OF instruction to National Guard
In this way the secretary foresees
an elastic machinery will be provided,
so that when war threatens and long be-
fore 1t is declared the multitude of men
who are to do the work of organization may
know without waiting for an act or Con-
gress what will be required of them when
the hour strikes and may be engaged in the
quiet and deliberate preparation so neces-
sary in advance of action 10 prevent con-
fusion and mistakes.
The secretary declares that the faithful
efficient services of the West Point
graduates since the declaration of war with
Spain have more than repaid the cost of the
Academy since its foundation, and
he asks for a considerable increase In the
capacity of the institution and the number
of its graduates. The report draws to a
conclusion with a splendid tribute to the
army as shown during its operations dur
the past two years, and also gives
credit to the officers OF the volunteer force
for a large share In this achievement.
Under the head OF river and harbor i'm
provements the secretary, while character
izing the estimates as generally meritorious,
states that he has felt 1t necessary, in view
of extraordinary appropriations for military
TO reduce the estimates of the
chief engineers from 81, 906, S21 to S14. 993, 741.
Other are that General
Shafter should be retired with the rank of
Grant be erected in the national capital;
that the memorial bridge should be built
across the Potomac at Arlington, with a
broad avenue connecting Arlington with
be constituted over the battlefields Of Fred
erickSburg, Salem Church, charlottesville,
the Wilderness and SpottSylvania Court
mouse at a cost or about $1,000.