Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-11-30
ARMY REORGANIZATION
SECRETARY ROOT on HIS MILL
'TARl BILL.
Necessity for Legislation - Increased
Cost of Volunteers for Short
Term Service.

The House committee on military affairs
gave to the press last night letter from
the Secretary of War, transmitting the
draft of a new army bill. The letter says
that the army, as at present organized UNI
der the present law, will cease to exist
July /, 1901 and thereafter will consist of
total enlisted strength Of 29,025 men. With
out further legislation he says, the volun-
teers now in service must be discharged
July /. 1901. and the regular army reduced
from $1,000 to 29,G25 men. Continuing, the
letter says:
without leaving much. if any, margin
for sickness, such as the campaigns of the
last two years warn US must be counted
as an important factor in any occupation
by the army, peaceful or warlike, of many
of the islands which constitute the Philip
pine group, the strength thus fixed must
prove utterly inadequate, leaving out of
consideration the service in the United
States, in Porto Rico, and, for the time be-
ing, in the Island of Cuba.
The army is confronted with many seri-
Gus problems, the solution of which de-
mands not only intelligence and wisdom,
but a showing Of well-organZed force in
the new possessions. The history of our
Indian wars is replete with incidents show
ing the futility of sending an inadequate
force to bring into subsection hostile
tives, such as those occupying the Philip
pine Islands. 1t is presumed under these
conditions that Congress will provide a suf-
ficlenJ number of men to care for the coast
defense Notifications, to provide garrisons
for the more or less permanent posts on
the Canadian and Mexican borders, and
those scattered through the Indian country
small garrisons in Porto Rico and Cuba
and a sufficient force in the Philippine Is
lands to restore order and establish peace
full and stable conditions of government
In the preparation Of the present bill the
minimum number of men is fixed for each
organization. with proviso that the Presi-
dent may, in his discretion. increase the
number of enlisted men in any troop, bat
terry or company, provided that the total
number of enlisted men authorized for the
army by Congress shall not at any time be
exceeded. By the adoption of this plan
the absolute fixed strength of the regular
army can be shown at a glance, and any
Increase of numbers above the minimum
Will be limited by such authority as may be
conveyed from time to time by the Con-
gress. The peace strength of each troop,
battery and company is fixed in this bill
as now authorized by existing law. The
number of regiments has been increased by
five of cavalry, five of infantry, numbers
which would correspond TO five regiments of
artillery and two battalions of engineers
As the increase in the artillery is intended
for the seacoast defenses, the only increase
OF the regular army for field service viii
be the ten additional regiments of cavalry
and infantry, and the two battalions Of en-
gineers. Authority is asked in this bill to
raise a provisional force of natives in the
Island of Porto Rico and also In the Phil
ipptne Islands. The organization Of the ma