The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1900-12-04
MILITARY.
Concerning military EstablIa

Concerning Military establishment
More than sixty millions Of dollars
have been invested in great number
Of forts and guns, with all the cOmpIi-
Gated and scientific machinery and c e.
trical appliances necessary for their use.
The proper care of this defensive ma
cninery requires men trained in IT'S use.
The number Of men necessary to perform
this duty alone is ascertained by the
war department at q minimum allow
ance TO be is, 40.
There are ffty-efght or more military,
posts in the United States other than
the coast defense Notifications.
The number Of these posts is being
constantly increased by congress. More
lnan 81 100000 have been expended in
building and equipment and they can
only be cared for by the regular army
Inc posts now in existence and others 10
De built provide for accommodations for.
and II fully garrisOned, require 5000
troops Many Of these posts are along
our frontier or at important strategic
points, the occupation Of whlch is nee
essary.
We have in Cuba between 5000 and 5000
troops For the present our troops in
that island cannot be Withdrawn or ma
terially diminished, and certainly not IN
constitutional convention now in sess,o
and a government provided by the new
constitution shall have been established
and It's stability assured.
In Porto Rico we have reduced the
garrisons to 1886, which include S96 ma
tive troops There is no room for fur
Their reduction here. We win be required
to keep a considerable force in the Phil
ippine Islands for some time to come.
From the best information obtainable
we shall need there for the immediate fu-
ture from $1,000 to $1,000 men. am
sure the number may he reduced as the
insurgents shall come to acknowledge
the authority Of the United States Of
which there are assuring indications.
Hundred Thousand wen Needed.
i must be apparent that we win re-
quire an army Of about $1,000 and that
during present conditions in Cuba and
the Philippines the president should
have authority to increass the force 10
the present number of 10000 Included
in this number authority should be given
to raise native troops in the Philip mes
up to 1900, which the Taft commission
believe win be more effective in detect
ing and suppressing guerillas, assassins
and Ladroues than our own soldiers.
The fun discussion Of this subject b.
the secretary Of war In his annual report
is called to your earnest attention.
renew the recommendation made In
my last annual message that the con
gress provide special medal of honor
for the volunteers, regulars, sailors and
marines on duty in the Philippines who.
voluntarily remained in the service after
their terms Of enlistment had expired
I favor the recommendation Of the sec.
rotary of war for the detail of officers
from the line Of the army when vacan-
cies occur in the adiutant generals de-
partment. Inspector generals department
generals department. sub
sistence department, pay department,
department and signal corps.
The army cannot be too ghly com
mended for its faithful and effective SER
vice in active military operations in the
field and the difficult work of civil ad-
minis tratOn