The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-11-17
He Says Events of the Last Two Years
and n Half Have Demonstrated
Necessity of Changes.
RECOMMENDS LARGER ARMY
PERMANENT FORCE SHOULD BE ONE
MAN TO 1000 POPULATION.
Submits a Draft of Bill Emb ying
His Vfews-Chief Signal OIL
Ger Greely's Report.

WASHINGTON, Nov. 16.-The feature of
the annual report of Lieutenant General
Miles, commanding the army, is a chapter
dealing with the need for a general re-
organization of the military service. In re-
gard to this question he says:
'The events of the past two years and a
half have resulted in a condition that the
Nation must prepare to meet. The need
for an efficient and well-organized land
force for an indefinite period in the future
is most obvious and the organization of
such a force cannot be wisely avoided.
There are weighty reasons why such
service as is now demanded of the army
cannot be performed by a temporary or
ganization'
General Miles points out that the prac-
teal limitation of service of the volunteers
to one year in the Philippines makes this
a most expensive practice, necessitating
double transfer of troops and adding enor-
mously to the cost of the organization. He
also points out the need of reserve force
for the relief of the soldiers who serve
in the tropics, declaring that the regiments
that have so far served more than two
years at unhealthy stations should be re-
lieved. General Miles renews his recon-
mendation that the permanent force of the
army should be one man for each thousand
of population of the United States. In
supplying any increase of the army he
urges that appointment of officers be made
with due regard for the principle of senior
fly, and that each case be passed upon by
board Of the highest officers of the army,
as was done in the reorganization fol-
lowing the civil war. He submits a draft
of bill embodying his views and recon-
mendations on army reorganization.
The report shows that the urgent de-
mands for troops for remote stations has
reduced the number in the United States
to much smaller force than has been
maintained at any time during the past
thirty-nine years. In fact, General Miles
says, 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 seacoast at an ex-
penditure of nearly s55O0O,OOO 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 Western frontier and
what is still more serious, the govern
ment is left without troops to relieve those
who have had too much tropical service.
The actual number OF troops remaining in
the United States after the dispatch of
soldiers to Cuba, Porto Rico, Alaska and
the Philippines is said TO be 99S officers
and 1885 enlisted men. General Miles
says that during the past two years the
army has been engaged i'm two hemispheres
under all conditions and hardships and has
on all occasions exhibited courage, stabil-
ity, excellent craftsmanship and devotion
to duty.
Touching upon the Chinese campaign,
General Miles compares the American con-
tingent in the Picking expedition with those
of other nationalities. and says: at would
be difficult to name any occasion on which
troops engaged in action were better COM
manded, were more steady under fire. or
where they made the soldiers sacrifice
with more unselfish patriotism, or rem
dered a higher tribute to the honor of their
country"
Great reverence Is said to be due to the
memory of Col. Il. S. Liscum, who fell
while leading his troops with undaunted
courage and marked ability. Mai Jesse
NJ. Lee. of the Ninth Infantry. is also COM
mended as having sustained the honorable
reputation acquired by him I'm the civil
war and since upon taking up the COM
CONTINUED ON PAGE ., COL. a.