The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1900-12-03
REORGANIZATION OF THE ARMY
Recommendation That the President
May Incrense It to 100000.

II
May Increase 1t to 100000.
The present strength Of the army is 100,-
600 uen-e5, 600 regulars and %, 600 voIun-
teers. Under the act of March 2, 1899, on
the goth of June next the present Yclun-
teer force viii be discharged and the
Regular Army viii be reduced TO :. Al Of
fcers and g. 025 enlisted men.
In 1883 board Of officers convened By
President Cleveland adopted a eomprehen-
sive scheme of coast defence fortiications.
which involved The outlay of something
over SI00. 900. 600. This plan received the
approval Of the Congress, and since then
regular appropriations have been made
and the work Of fertilization has steadily
progressed
More e~5q So, Goo. 600 have been invested
in great number of forts and guns, with
all the complicated and scientific ma
chinery and electrical appliances neces-
sary for their use. The proper care OF
this defensive machinery requires men
trained in It's use The EUmber Of men
necessary TO perform this duty alone is
aseeTtained by ire War Department, at q
minimum allowance, TO be Is, 420-
There are ffty-eight or more military
posts in the United states other than the
coast defence Notifications.
The number Of these posts is being con-
stantIy increased by the Congress. More
than So. COS. 900 have been expended il
building and equipment, and they can
only be cared for by the Regular Army
The posts now in existence and others to
be built provide for accommodations for,
and if fully garrisoned require, 26 coo
troops Many of these pests are along
our frontier or at important strategic
points, The occupation Of which IS aeces-
sary.
We have in Cuba between 5, 060 and 5000
troops For the present cur troops IN
that island cannot be Withdrawn Or ma
teri2ily diminished, and certainly not
until the conclusion Of the labSrs Of the
constitutional convention nov n session
and a government provided b. the new
constitution shall have been established
and its stability assured
In Porto Rico we have reduced .kc ear
risons to ], 636, which includes S.s-aa i've
troops There is no room for further re-
duction here.
We viii be required 70 keep consider
able force in the Philippine Islands for
Some time TO come From the best inf0F-
nation obtainabIe We viii need there fer
the immediate future from 10 .66o 10 $1,000
men I am sure the number may be re
dUced as the insurgents shall come 10 aG-
knowledge the authority OF the United
States, OF which there are assuring indi-
cations
1t must be apparent that We viii re-
quire an army Of about 50, co., and that
during present conditions in Cuba AID the
Philippines the President should have au-
thority to increase the force TO the pres
ent number of 100, GEO. Included IN this
number authority should be given TO raise
I native troops IN the Philippines up to
1900 which the Taft Commission believe
viii be more effective IN detecting and
s.ppressing guerriIIas, asssssins, and la
drones than our OWL soldiers
The fun discussion OF this subject By
the Secretary of Var in his annual re-
port is called to your earnest attention
I renew the recommendation made IN
my last annual message that the Congress
provide special medal OF homer for he
volunteers, regulars, sailors, and marines
! on duty In The Philippines who vvIan-
taTiIy remained in the service after heir
terms of enlistment had expired
I favor the recommendation OF the
! Secretary of War for the detail Ct officers
from the line CT the army when vacancies
! 0ccur in the Adjutaat Generals Depart
me3t, Inspector Generals Department,
! GuartermasteT Department. Subsistence
! Department, Pay Department, Ordns nee
! Department, and Signal Corps
The army cannot he too highly com
mended for its faithful and effective ser
/ vice in active military opera ti0as in the
! field and The difficult work OF civil admin
! isTatioH-