New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-03-18
LINE AND STAFF.
A LINE OFFICER GIVES HIS VIEWS ON
SECRETARY ROOTS BILL
To the Editor of The Tribune.


Sir: IT seems to be generally recognized that
the proposals Of Secretary Root as to the Army
staff will be vigorously fought by the officers
now in the permanent staff corps.
The bill, ii will be remembered, provides for
filling future vacancies in the staff corps by the
detail of officers from any branch of the Army
for a period OF four years. the officers to be
selected by Board composed of officers of the
staff corps in which the vacancy exists
There is no doubt that the officers now in the
permanent staff corps will oppose the BILL but
1T is an error to think that they do this from
self-interest. They perfectly conscientious
in their opposition and honestly think that the
service will go rapidly to the dogs
There are in the proposed measure provisions
which will safeguard the interests of those now
in the permanent stafY corps; Furthermore, these
officers are men of high ideals and above
giving opinions that are dictated by self-nterest
as to so important public question
The very fact. however. that they do oppose
the measure so honestly. sincerely, so naivey
IN fact. Is to some people the best argument in
favor OF Secretary Roots plan. This shows of
Itself how already they have become completely.
and unconsciously staff" and not Army in
their sympathes
The theoretical arguments against the pro-
posed change be dressed up nicely and Will
have much weight with those who have not
seen the facts Nothing is simpler than to prove
how necessary it is to have a life tenure in order
to produce experts" and is not this the age of
"specialists?' Then. have fought many and
glorious wars, of course etc, and
1t is no doubt fine thing to have officers who
know all about engineering and ordnance work.
who are wise about subsistence quartermaster
business: but when you have your Army assem-
bled at Tampa it is not bad plan to have men
VINO know something about the Army also.
The real evil connected with the present plan,
which is at the bottom of the other evils that
flow from 1t and which will prevent the best
work ever being done under it, is the fact that
the permanent staff officers responsible not
to the Army. but to, their particular corps-their
syrpathies and loyalty go out in the same chan
nels; if what they do is satisfactory to the
corps they neither know nor care what the
Army THINKS about it. They no more get
away from this than they can keep from getting
old-you see the virus Of it work slowly and
surely in the best men and you can follow the
development of this feeling in the broadcast of
them without any difficulty.
1t is strange now to recall what in the
mind, and mouth, of all in May and June. 1898.
One heard all sides, We'll. this has
gone far enough now to kill the present staff
corps
1t may be we'll to recall some of the main facts
connected with our experiences OF $685. and to
compare them with some of the admitted facts
connected with the recent British war in Africa.
The following extracts from a recent Edinburgh
Review give what seems fair statement in
the fewest number of words. With reference to
the mobilization and embarkation of troops
for South Africa the following assertions are
made:
The reserves We're called out October I. On
October IA they reported themselves at the de-
pots. On October 16 they rejoined the colors On
October 20 the first transport ready to
ceive her freight The same evening she sailed.
AS fast the remainder could be fitted ana
coaed the stores and troops, at the rate of $500
men per diem We're put on nod board and by No
machine guns. 942 vehicles and 4.644 animals
had started on their voyage Of seven thousand
miles The Indian authorities, less heavily
taxed, were even more expeditions. A contingent
was asked for on September g. By the 18th
$500 men, IS guns, 1850 animals, $50 vehicles
and 100 camp followers had been embarked.
On October 10 the advanced guard landed
Durham 3 400 miles from Bombay.
glance at the regulations for mobilization and
embarkation would probably astonish those civil
ians who, accustomed to the conduct of large
undertakings, consider the dispatch of army
corps to South Africa a comparatively simple
operation; and, if proof were needed. how easily
it might be msmanaged. even in q pre-emi-
nently businesslike community. is to be found
in the story of the invasion of Cuba, told by no
prejudiced critics, but by American officers and
the American press.
The main features of General Skaters expe-
dition follows: On May 30 the day the
order issued for the capture Of Santiago
thirtysX transport vessels had been collected
for nearly month at Tampa and other Southern
ports. But it was not until June S. although
only 1000 men and 1900 animals were en-
barked, that the fleet ready to sail. Yet
invasion had been contemplated since the end
of April. Both men and animals had been as
sembled for several weeks. The facilities for
rapid embarkation great. Ample time had
been available for the accumulation of stores
and great part of the more bulky articles had
already been put on board
But this was not the worst. The general ar
rangements were SO defective that the whole of
the cavalry horses had to be left behind. The
accommodation for the troops insufficient
Sanitary consdera tons totally disregarded
On some of the transports the water supply was
inadequate; on many others the rations were I'M
eatable Regiments not told off to particu-
lar vessels but marched on to those which hap
pened to be handiest The gun carriages of the
siege train were lost in the confusion. and the
different units were separated from their stores
horses and baggage
Moreover. not only the amount of stores
insufficient. that during the greater part of
the campaign which lasted for twenty-five DAYS
the troops half rations and deprived of
proper medical assistance, but the TRANSPORTS had
been carelessly loaded that neither tents
baggage, camp kettles extra clothing nor hos
pital comforts arrived at the front until some
days after the surrender: while the heavy guns
OF the siege train, repOsing at the bottom Of the
hold, under tons of material. were never dis
embarked at all. 1t is little wonder that the
Army was almost annihilated by exposure and
disease.
They should have added other things, especial
ly the smoky powder, in order to make complete
this story of latest war test and experience
with the present permanent staff corps.
NeW-YOrk March rs, 1900. ARMY
THE PUERTO RTCAN TARIFF.
To the Editor of The Tribune
Sir: Under the proposed tariff for Puerto Rico