The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1899-12-02

number of inspectors general for the
sanitary, artillery, ordnance, and en-
gineering inspection, selected for their
special qualifications in those several
branches and specifically assigned to
those duties. Thorough inspection Is
essential to thorough work, but no in
spector can be expected to know every
thing, and inspection of these matters
which require special training made by
man who has not received the train
ing is necessarily perfunctory and of
little value.
Volunteers.
The second proposition which l stated
as underlying the consideration of this
subject-that the regular establish
ment is not the whole machine with
which a war will ever be fought-has
been too signally illustrated both in the
Civil war and in the war with Spain
and the Philippine war to require
further demonstration. Our method is,
and always will be, Immediately upon
the outbreak of war, to create an
army OK which the regular army on its
peace footing forms but part and
usually but a small part. and the great
body of which is composed OF volun-
teers.
That the relations between the regu-
shall be such that 1t constitutes q
homogeneous body. using the same
arms, familiar with the same drill,
answering to the same ideas OF disci-
pline, inspired by the same spirit, and
capable of equal and even performance.
and that the preparation of the regular
army in time of peace for the event of
war shall to the greatest possible ex-
tent inure to the benefit of the whole
army, both regular and volunteer, and
make it easy to put that body in a
state OF preparation, is an end toward
which the best military thought of the
country may well be addressed.
1t should be a special subject of con-
sideration by the war college, and upon
1t that body should invite the confer
ence and cooperation of the military
authorities Of the several states AS
one step toward attaining the end,
courses Of instruction in the college
should be oDen to officers of the Ma
tional Guard of the states, and the
efficiency records of such officers I'm the
college, and by written papers and re-
ports after their terms of instruction
have ended, should be made d part of
the records of the War department as
the authorized and accented basis ef
appointments to office in any volunteer
force which may be raised.
Permanent Plan Needed.
Following these lines and working
through the methods which 1 have de-
scribed, permanent plan ought to be
wrought out with the concurrence OF
the military authorities of the several
states, and enacted by congress, for the
creation of a war army COMPOSED OF
both regulars and volunteers whenever
such an army is required. The part 20
be taken by the regular army in the
new organization and the part to be
taken by the volunteers should be pre-
scribed, and the parts should be so as
signed that the new organization shall
have the fullest possible benefit of the
preparation of the regular army. r.
The form and the machinery for the
organization of the new army and the
part to be taken in the raising of the
army by the military authorities and
organizations of the several states
should be indicated, so that whenever
war threatens, and long before II is de-
clared, the multitude OF men who are
to do the work of organization may
know, without waiting for an act OF
congress, what will be required of them
when the hour strikes, and may be en-
gagged in the quiet and deliberate prep
aration so necessary in advance OF ac-
tion to prevent confusion and mistake.