New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-11-17
ARMY'S NEEDS SET FORTH.
GENERAL NILES MAKES A PLEA FOR
REORGANIZATION
AGAIN RECOMMENDS A PERMANENT FORCE
OF ONE SOLDIER FOR EACH THOU
SAND OF POPULATION

AG<AlN hECOMMENDS A PERMANENT FORCE
OF ONE SOLDIER FOR EACH THOU
SAND OF POPULATION.
Washington, Nov. 16-The feature of the an
nual report of Lieutenant General Miles, COM
manding the Army is chapter dealing with
the need for general reorganization of the mil
itary service. In regard to this question: he
says:
The events of the last two years and d half
nave resulted in condition that the Nation
must prepare to meet. The need for eff
Gent and we'll organized land force for in
ceflnlte period in the future is most obvious.
and the organization of such force cannot be
wisely avoided. There weighty reasons why
such service is demanded Of he Army
cannot be performed by a temporary orSaniza-
ton.
General Miles points out that the practical
limitation of service of the volunteers to one
year in the Philippines makes this a most ex-
pensive practice, compelling double transfer Of
troops and adding enormously 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 reg-
ments that have far served more than two
years at unhealthy stations should be relieved
General Miles renews his recommendation that
+ the permanent force of the Army should he one
man for each thousand OF population of the
United States. In any increase of the Army. he
urges that appointments of officers he made
with due regard for the principle of seniority
/ and that each case be passed upon by a board
of the highest officers. was done in the re-
organization following the Civil War. He sub
+ mits a draft of bill embodyng his views and
recommendations
SHORTAGE OF TROOPS AT HOME
The report shows that the urgent demands
for troops for remote stations have reduced the
number in the United States to a much smaller
force haS at ttroe in
the last thirty nine years. In fact, says Cen
eral Miles. the force has been much reduced
that at the present time there not one
fourth enough troops properly to care for and
, the Qualifications which have been erected
on the seaCoast at an expenditure of nearly
$1I00000 In addition TO the artillery de-
ficienCy, the present home force is sufficient
TO occupy the interior garrisons property to
protect life and property the Western frontier
and, what is still more serious. the Government
Is left without troops to relieve those who have
had too much tropical service. The actual num-
Der 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 1S,S9S enlisted men. General
Miles says that In the last two years the Army
has been engaged in two hemispheres under all
conditions and hardships, and has all
casions exhibited courage, stability, excellent
craftsmanship and devotion TO duty.
PRAISE FOR THE SOLDIERS IN CHINA
Regarding the Chinese campaign General
Miles compares the American contingent in the
Picking expedition with those of other nationali-
ties and says:
1t would be difficult TO name any occasion on
which troops engaged in action were better COM
manded, were more steady under fire. where
they made the soldiers sacrifice with more
selfish patriotism. or rendered a higher tribute
10 the honor of their country.
Great reverence is said to be due the memory
of Colonel f. s. Liscum who fell while leading
his troops with unda courage and marked
ability. Major Jesse NJ. Lee of the 9th In
fantry. is also commended as having sustained
the honorable reputation acquired by him in the
Civil War and since taking up the command
of the American forces at Tien-Tsin after Colo
mel Liscum's death Captain. Reilly Is also
named ideal soldier without fear and
without reproach who by his death in China
again demonstrated the zeal and courage OF the
American soldier
General Miles calls attention to the fact that
under the law the volunteers in the Philippines
must be withdrawn and discharged before July
l next; wherefore he says. 1t will be necessary
70 begin their return home almost Immediately.
THE COAST DEFENCES
In a few short paragraphs the report shows
what has been accomplished in the officers
training schools and toward the extension Of the
he says. Sl5.n00.OOO has been expended already
and at least SO 900 900 will be required carry
out the present project For the next fiscal year
alone 81 sd 900 is estimated necessary to
defray the cost of fortihcations, barracks and
sites on the The largest figure is s.. IN,
4S1 for NewYork: next comes California. with
I4I7, 1856; Maine, 81 ,2S5 925: Oregon and Wash
ngton, ST. 1O6GO2 and Virginia, $955,4J0. To
Porto Rico 1892 400 is assigned while the Ma
tional capital is set down for $4,000
General Miles says the Fortifcations Board
hjtrh HnlAci Of
fectiveness to all other known safe military
plosives. 1t be used in any service pro-
jectile can be thrown any distance within the
capacity of any high power gun through steel
armor plate and exploded with most destructive
effect Important action has also been taken
by the same Board in the development OF
tiIlery, and II is predicted that within the next
twelve months greater advance will be made in
seacoast and field artillery than has been ac-
complished in the last two decades Artillery
service has now become an intricate science. and
the pay of enlisted men. he says should be in
creased proporticnately. General Miles does not
think it wise longer to delay the practical appli-
cation of self moving vehicles TO the military
service.
known the Potomac Flats, menace to
campment Of Regular troops whenever assem-
bled the National capital and for State
troops when occasionally required.
WORK OF THE SIGNAL CORPS.