The record-union., 1899-02-13

1 CGtlOu, WatSA supply o1i0 S1AAlaAy al :
rangements.
THE weak spots I'M the first arrange
ments in camping troops were soon
discovered, and it was learned that
| with proper system and little expense
they could be camped under favorable
sanitary conditions. The present camps
are models, the hospitals adapted TO
| the comfort and care of the sick, the
grounds clean and the sanitary condi-
tions greatly improved. The troops are
now moved with promptness, without
friction and with more rapidity than
in the beginning of the war. These
| improvements have come from exper-
ience, and the new army now is far
advanced in facilities for feeding, equip
ping. camping and transportation
| A recommendation looking to the fu-
ture then follows:
| Zone of the lessons taught by the
| war is that the country should hereaf-
ter be in a better state of preparation
| for war. Suggestions have been made
that large supplies of all the material
not liable to deterioration should be
kept on hand, to be continuously is
sued and renewed, so that in any emer-
| SClIIy tuCy lIl6iil DS dNd1ldOlS. IASP(-
cially should this be the case with sup
plies which cannot be rapidly obtained
| in open market"
DIVIDED AUTHORITY.
Perhaps the most significant utter
ance in the whole document, so far as
concerns the discipline of the army,
comes next.
For many years the divided author
ity and responsibility in the War De-
partment has produced friction for
which, in the interest of the service, a
remedy, if possible, should be applied
The Constitution makes the President
the Commander-in-C Chief of the army,
and he cannot transfer that authority
to any other person. The President Sc
lects his Secretary of War, who has his
confidence, and who is his confidential
adviser. The Commanding General is
assigned to duty as such by the Presi-
dent, and, under the military laws of
the United States, his duties are de-
fined as follows:
1.-The command exercised by the Com
manding General of the army, not hav-
ing been made the subject of statutory
regulation, is determined by the order
| of assignment. 1t has been habitually
composed of the aggregate of the sew
eral territorial commands thai have
been, or may be created by the Presi-
dent
1.-The military establishment is under
orders from the Commanding General
of the army in that which pertains to
its discipline and military control. The
fiscal affairs of the army are conducted
| by the Secretary of War through the
several staff departments Par. 1877, A.
R. 1889
s'All orders and instructions from the
President or Secretary of War relating
to military operations or affecting the
military control and discipline of the
army will be promulgated through the
Commanding General. (Par. 1SS, A. R.
1880. Lieutenant General Schofield
who has probably had as much expert
ence and given the question as much
thought and study as any one in our
country, says in substance:
Recent experience has served to con-
| firm all the results of my lifelong
study and large experience that the
proper position for the senior officer of
the army on duty at Washington is not
/
which is practically impossible, but that
of General in Chief, which means, in
fact, Chief of Staff to the President
| The title of General in Chief was a
permanent one during the entire history
| of the country up to the time when
General Grant became Lieutenant Gen
| eral.
! when I became the Commanding
| L. I.
letter in which I pointed out to him
what had been the result of my study
and experience and saying that the
| only way was to abandon entirely
which 1 did during my seven years OF
| service, all pretense of being the
Commanding General and to content
myself with acting as the Chief of Staff
of the army under the Secretary OF
War and the President. The result
was that perfect harmony prevailed
| during my time and I did not exercise
legitimate influence in command of
the army, because I did not claim to ex-
ercse anything which the law did not
give me.
1.-The President must have the same
power of selection of his General in
| Chief as he has of his Secretary of
War; without this there can be no
guaranty that he will give or that the
Secretary of War will place in the Gen
eral in Chief that confidence which is
necessary to perfect harmony. Neither
the President nor the Secretary of
War should have in the command of
| the army an officer who is not working
in harmony with him.
| The report now takes up the War De-
partment and it's various chiefs of SUBJ
divisions, beginning with the Secretary
| of War
| THE records of the War Department
which have been laid before US, show
| that the Secretary of War extended to
| all Chiefs of Bureaus cordial and full
support and promptly responded to
every proper demand made upon him by
commanding officers.
mo testimony has been presented
showing intentional neglect of duty nor
any attempt to serve personal inter-
ests. The charges made that the Sec
retary of War was privately interested
in the contracts. purchases and other
| transactions of the War Department
have been thoroughly examined and
| found baseless.
I LII 1uC JuNSiuCHt VI lfe cO1lIIllSSlOD
there was lacking in the general ad-
| ministration of the War Department
during the continuance of the war with
Spain that complete grasp of the stu
alton which was essential to the high
est efficiency and discipline of the
army
THE commission has refrained from
criticising certain of the heads of bu-
| L.
sight in preparing their various depart
| mo active hoe =