The record-union., 1899-11-02
Nineiy-nine Thousand Men at Pres
ent in the Service,
According 10 the Annual Report Of Adju-
tant General Corbin.
After the Regulars and Volunteers
Who Have Been Ordered to the
Philippines Have Arrived at
Their Destination the Strength
Of the Army in the Islands Will
Aggregate Over Sixty-Five
Thousand Officers and Men.


Aggregate Over Sixty-Five
Thousand Officers and Men.
WASHINGTON, Nov. 1.-The annual
report of the Adjutant General of the
Army, Brigadier General Corbin, to the
! Secretary of War was made public to-
day.
General Corbin sums up the military
| forces now in the service of the United
States as follows: Regular army, "a,
$50; volunteers, 4,574; total, SO, 100.
The regular establishment consists OF
ten regiments of cavalry, seven Of ar
tillery and twenty-five of infantry. The
volunteer establishment consists of one
regiment of cavalry, twenty -four regi-
ments of infantry and a Porto Rico
battalion.
The distribution of these troops up to
October1st last was as follows: In the
United States, "a 229; Porto Rico, 3,
1863; Cuba, II, ,1S7; Philippines, 32,315;
en- route to Philippines, 1909; Alaska,
499; Hawaiian Islands, 466.
General Corbin adds the following to
this summary: 1T is ordered that by
December lst next all the infantry reg
iments, United States volunteers, shown
as in the United States will have sailed
for the Philippines These, with the
troops now there, will give a total
strength of LII officers and 63, ,6OS en-
listed men, an aggregate of 65, 725'
The service of many of the troops
after their enlistment had expired
causes General Corbin to say in his
report:
The patriotism of the regulars and
volunteers who had enlisted only fer
the war with Spain by willingly and
actively serving after the expiration
OF their terms of service, calls for evil
dence of appreciation on the part of
the Department. To this end it is re-
spectfully recommended that each Of
ncer OF the several volunteer regiments
and each enlisted man who continued
IN service in the Philippine Islands
after the I'd of March, 1899, until hon.
orably discharged, be awarded a suita-
bly, inscribed medal
During the year there have been So. :
II5 enlistments and establishments. of
which 53,024 were native born and o.
1ol foreign born. In point of color
Of, ,154 were white, 5000 colored and
twenty Indians.
Inc following recommendation is
made for extra pay for the officers
serving in our new possessions.
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 Cuba or our new possessions
Most of these gentlemen have families
that they are unable to have with them.
and therefore are compelled to main
tain two establishments. Also, that
provisions be ma de that all officers he
low the grade of Major General who
retire by reason of age or wounds re-
ceived in action shall do so on the next
grade above the rank held by them in
the regular army on the date of their
retirement"
OF the criticisms on the staff organiz-
alton of the army General Corbin saws:
Much has been written of late con-
cerning a better staff system. Ours is
the result OF years of legislation born
or the best thought and labor of our
best military mea, and has stood sue
cessfully 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 departments. The SIG.
gestion that our staff officers are not
experienced in the duties of line Of.
GERS is not borne out by the facts"
The report dwells on the courtesies
shown our troops by the British Gov.
ernment officials, While stopping at Gil
braltar' and elsewhere, en- route to the
Philippines, and says this interna tiona,
courtesy will long live in the memories
of both parties to the spontaneous en-
| change.
The report speaks of the unsatisfac.
tory conditions in Hawaii in relation
to land for military uses, saying:
Sales Of government lands and leases
of crown lands have continued to tbs
present time, and there is very litt,e
of either class left in Immediate con.
troll of the Government. Should this
action be permitted to continue. if viii
result in embarrassment to the limited
States. 1t is urged, therefore. that cer-
tain tracts be taken without delay from
the control of the Hawaiian Govern.
ment and secured to the future uses al
the United States, or have them 1a.
clared as reservations for military nnr.
l poses."
Recommendation is made that mill.
tary officers serving abroad as militia ~
attaches be given increased rank and
pay.
AS the increased army calls for q,
additional number of military acade.
mey cadets to fill vacancies Il ;s roo,
commended that the President be an.
thorized to appoint ten annually. anf
that two be appointed at large fror
each State.
} Satisfaction is expressed that tht
army canteen embarrassment has heer
} removed from the War Department b,
the action of Congress in establishins
. certain restrictions.
Recommendation is made that NON.
commissioned officers be given addi
tional pay, in order to attract to thes,
places worthy class willing to sta,
Z in those grades and that twenty-fiv,
years service as an enlisted man shal
be sufficient to admit him to the retired
, list Of enlisted men.
The condition of the artilley service