Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-11-17
REPORT oFMGEN. MILES
NEED FOR PERMANENT INCREASE
OF THEaARMY.
Fortiacations Not Properly Manned-
Extension of Sea Coast Defenses
Camp al &e Capital.

The feature of the report of Lieutenant
General Miles, comtan1ing the army, is
chapter dealing with the need for a gen
eral reorganizatiorOohihe military service.
In regard to this question he says:
The events OF t4fe-Fast two years and a
half have resulted in condition that the
nation must prepare 70 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 wisely be avoided. There
are weighty reasons why such service as
Is now demanded of the army cannot be
performed by a temporary organization
There Is marked distinction between per-
manent and temporary organizations. The
officers and men of the latter do not sever
their connection with their vocations. and
prolonged service makes demand upon
them which should not be required. The
especial efficiency of temporary organiza-
tons is illustrated in the accomplishment
of some specific end. usually requiring
comparatively short time to accomplish.
One Soldier Per 1000 Population.
General Miles renews his. recommendation
that the permanent force of the army
should be man for each thousand of
population of the United States The re-
port shows that the. urgent demands 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 thrty-nine years
In fact. says General. Miles, the force has
been so much reduced that at the present
time there are not one-fourth enough troops
to man and properly care for the fortifica-
tons which have been erected on the sea-
coast at an expenditure Of nearly $oo0O0,Do. |
In addition to the artillery deficiency, the
present home force is not sufficient to prop |
erly occupy the interior garrisons or to
protect life and property on the western
frontier and what is still more serious, the
government is left without troops to re-
lieve those who have had too much tropical
service. The actual number of troops re-
patch of soldiers to Cuba, Porto Rico, Alas
ka and the philippines; is said to be 39S
officers and 1S.S3S enlisted men, the lowest
number since 1861.
. Praise Of the Army.
General Miles says that considering the
kind OF service called for during the past
year, too much credit cannot be given to
the United States army. Because of its
short duration, the Spanish war did not af-
ford full opportunity to demonstrate the
capacity of our army, but enough was ac-
cOmplished to satisfy those in the service
and those interested. in the army. During
the past two years the army has been en-
gagged in two hemiSpherrS, under all condi-
tions and hardShips, and the troops have on
all occasions exhibited courage. stability,
excellent craftsmanship and devotion to
duty. The long list Of casualties bears evil
dence of the severity of the service in
which the troops we're engaged and of their
heroism and fldelifySs
Touching upon The Chinese campaign.
General Miles compares the American con-
tingent in the Pekin expedition with those
of other nationalhfes;: and says: 1T would
be difficult to name any occasion on which
troops engaged ia ACTION were better COM
manded, were more steady under fire, or
where they made the soldiers sacrifice
with more unselfish patriotism, rendered
higher tribute to thei honor Of their couu-
try z9 Es III 10y DO
Expense Of Fortification.
In few short paragraphs the report
shows what has been. accomplished in the
officers, training. schools and toward the
extension Of the coast defense system. On
this 1ast' great wdrK' Ae says, 500 O0eD0O has
already been expended: For the7neset fiscal
year the sum OF, s11S2. 200 is sestir94ited as
ons 8 d m Of the eaaSts
The largest figure IS s., pa, 4s5 for New
York; next comes. California. with S1.417,-
796; Maine, 81 2S5'a25: Oregon and Washing
ton, S11O6,6O2, and Virginia, 500. $50 Por-
to Rico is assigned S:,32 100; while the ma
tional capital is set down for $4,000
General Miles claims that the fortifca-
tons board has developed high explosive
superior in effectiveness to all known safe
military explosives. 1t can be used in any
service projectilc; can be thrown any dis
lance within the capacity of any high-poWer
gun through steel armor plate, and explod-
ed with most destructive effect.
..- Development of Artillery.
Important action has also been taken by
the same board in the development of artil-
lery. and 1t is predicted that within the
next twelve, months greater advance will
be made in sea coast and field artillery
than has been accomplished during the last
two decades. Artillery service has now be-
come an intricate science, and the pay of
enlisted men should be increased proper
tionately. 1t is apparent that a change of
type and great improvements must be made
In small arms In the near future, and Cen
eral Miles says he Will again call attention
to this subject during the coming year. He
does not think it wise to longer delay the
practical application of self-movnR vehicles
to the military service
Camp the Potomac Flats.
A closing recommendation is that the
tract known as the Potomac flats be put in
suitable condition for the encampment of
regular troops, whenever assembled at the
national capital, and for state troops when
occasionally required.
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