Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1900-11-22
NILES ARMY REPORT
The General Commanding Urges a
Reorganization Of the Service.
He SUBMITS "A DRAFT OF A BILL.
Not Enough Troop, to Care for and Man
the FOrtincationa Of the Country A
High Explosive Developed by the
Qualifications Board.

htGu ExplOstvd Dosei"pru W tho
Qualifications board.
Washington, Nov 1.-THE feature
of the annual report of Lieut.. Gen
Miles, commanding the army, is 4
chapter dealing with the need for a
general reorganization of the military
service. In regard to this question
he says: "The events of the past
two years and u half have resulted in
q condition that the nation must pre-
pare to meet. The need for an eff
cient and well-organized land force
for an indefinite period in the future
is most obvious and the organization
of such q force cannot be wisely
avoided. There are weighty reasons
why such a service as is now de-
manded Of the army cannot be per-
formed by a temporary organization
Gen. Miles points out that the prac-
teal limitation of service of the vol
unteers to one year in the Philippines
makes this most expensive practice,
necessitaiing double transfer of
troops and adding enormously to the
cost of the organization. He also
points out the need of a reserve force
for the relief of the soldiers who
serve ia the tropics, declaring that the
regiments that have so far served
more than two years at unhealthy
stations should be relieved. Gen.
Miles renews his recommendation
that the permanent force OF the army
should be one man for each 1000 of
population of the United States. In
supplying any increase of the army
he urges that appointments of officers
be made with due regard for the
principle OF seniority and that each
case be passed upon by board Of
the highest officers of the army, az
was done in the reorganization fol-
lowing the civil war. He submits a
draft Of bill embodying his views
and recommendations on army reor-
ganization.
The report shows that the urgent
demands for troops for remote sta
lions has reduced the number in the
United States to much smaller force
than has been maintained at any time
during the past 80 years. In fact,
says Gen. Miles, the force has been
SO much reduced that at the present
time there are not one-fourth enough
troops properly to care for and man
the Notifications which have been
erected on the sea coast at an expendi-
ture of nearly $55,OO0,0O0. In addition
to the artillery deficiency, the present
home force is not sufficient to occupy
the interior garrisons properly or to
protect life and property on the west
ern frontier and, what is still more
serious, the government is left with.
out troops to relieve those who have
had too much tropical service. The
nctual number of troops remaining in
the United States after the dispatch
OF soldiers to Cuba. Porto Rico, Alas
ka and the Philippines is said to be
pos officers and tS,s0S enlisted men.
Gen. Miles says that during the past
two years the army has been engaged
in two hemispheres under all condi-
tons and hardships and has on all oc-
casions exhibited courage, stability.
excellent craftsmanship ana uevo-
ton to duty.
Touching upon the Chinese cam
palgn Gen, Miles compares the Ameri-
can contingent in the Pekin expedi-
tlon with those of other nationalitics
and says. at would be difficult fol
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