New-York tribune., 1900-11-16
PLANS FOR THE NEW ARMY
MINIMUM STRENGTH OF ONE HUNDRED
THOUSAND PRACTICALLY Gel. AIN.
REQUIREMENTS IN THE WAY OF OFFICERS
AND STUMBLING BLOCKS TO PROPER
INCREASE RE-
TIRED LIST
Try TELEGRAPH TO THE rnIBUSE.l

Washington. Nov 15-Piaus are being ma
tured in the War Department. for submission to
the coming session OF Congress. for the reorgan-
cation Of the Regular Army on an enlarged and
permanent basis. According to the report OF the
Adjutant-Genera on October l the Army con-
sisted of 2 535 officers and 6S,S61 enlisted men.
Besides these Regulars there were 1.54S officers
and 1O79 enlisted men Of the volunteers, or
grand total OF e9.023 officers and men, less
233 Regular officers holding commissions in the
volunteers.
The present status comes to an end on July
l next when all the volunteers will be mus
tered out and also all but about 10000 OF the
enlisted strength Of the Regulars The 1000
Regular officers however will all be retained
so that unless there be legislation mean
while the entire military force of the country
will on that date under the provisions of the
Cockrell law be reduced to $4,000 men and
1855 officers, to which may be added the 5OOo
new artilleryuen provided for by the last ses-
sion. 1t is absurd to suppose that 10000 men
are sufficient for the present military needs or
this country.
Nothing Official has been given out but 1T is
practically certain that a minimum OF loooVo
permanent enlisted strength will be the proposed
basis of the new army with about $500 officers
of all grades line and staff. This was substan-
TALLY the strength proposed in the Huh bill
which failed in the LVth Congress, and which
was indorsed by all the military authorities
Possibly some enthusiasts will press for a Regu-
lar Army Of 10000 or 100000 men, though the
chances are that the weight of opinion will pre-
vail and compel a compromise on about 100000
But the unexpected may happen.
POINTS IN FAVOR OF BIG ARMY.
Those in favor of a big army make some
strong points in its favor. They argue that
the country on square issue has indorsed ex-
pansion by large majority, and with it all the
concurrent res oonsibilities and dangers, ana
such being the case, army Of 2oo.OOO men Is
no more commensurate to our probable I'M
mediate future needs than were Zo'UOo prior 10
the Spanish war.
The present status OF affairs in the Philip
pines alone indicates the necessity for 100000
men at the very least to pacify the islands
Furthermore not less than 25,OOO more, and
perhaps $4,000. are needed in Cuba. Porto Rico.
Alaska and at home. Many Of the posts In the
United States are practically denuded OF troops
now TO supply the drain to China and the Philip
pines. The forts and artillery on the seacoasts
must be manned 1t is plausibly argued that
the empty posts alone will absorb 25,O0O men,
If this be the case. 100000 men are too few, and
probably 10000 should be provided for at
once Such are the arguments OF the ex-
treuaists
With the reverherations from China still ring
ing in the public ear and the Philippine war
still on, the friends Of the Army, inside and out,
are determined to strike while the iron Is hot.
They feel since election that the country is with
them. If that signif1ed anything. they say, it
! meant that the United States should have more
! than a mere skeleton military establishment to
prosecute an expansion policy which has been
| Endorsed by great majority. It is the drift of
| professional military opinion that to command
| fo~pe Of hrInS Sredt hon
| sand men a complement of six major-generals
! and twelve brigadier- generals will be necessary.
besides the acknowledgement commanding.
! Probably no additional staff generals will be
| asked for
GENERAL OFFICERS REQUIRED.
| Under the present law there lieutenant
general two major generals and six brigadiers,
| with one vacancy in the latter grade caused by
the recent retirement of General Joseph Wheeler
Then there are the eleven staff brigadiers here
| in Washington. In addition to these Regular
! generals there are now in the field six volunteer
major-generals and sixteen brigader- generals
| nearly all of whom are Regulars OF the lower
grades. In other words. an aggregate of less
! than 100000 enlisted strength now, Regulars
! and volunteers, in state of which is likely
! to continue requires thirty-one general officers
! in all grades Therefore, if all the volunteer
is apparent that nineteen general officers for ar
army of 100000 men, as heretofore suggested
will be few enough. If Congress should increase
the permanent establishment 10 10000 men
| which is not beyond the possibilities. then not
less than thirty general officers besides the lieu
! tenant-general will certainly be necessary.
With n view perhaps more to future necessities
| tIan the present, the measures for reorganiza-
! tion now being considered are the most com
prehensives scale. In regard to staff reorganiza
! ton there is likely to be an irreconclable dis
! agreement among the military authorities. Sec
! retary Root is on record in favor of complete
| change eventually from the present cumbersome
| and obsolete system, in which he is supported
J by the judgment Of Lieutenant-GeneralsS Scho
| field and Miles. The staff bureaus are nearly al
! o, posed to the proposed new plan of temporary
/ details from the line under precise statutory
! regulations. Congress has on several occasion:
mt infested Willingness to try 1t. but the bu
| reaus powerful that it has yet been i'm
| possible to get through a bill on the lines pro
posed by the Secretary and General Miles
RETIRED LIST STUMBLING BLOCK
One Of the great stumbling blocks to a proper
increase Of the permanent military establish
nent is the long retired list. Apparently the
President is in quandary how to reward certain
officers. 1t is said ne has promised to mak
General Leonard Wood a Regular brisadier-een
eral and behind Wood stand James H Wilson
and Adna R. Chaffee. also Of the volunteers
both Of whom he desires TO advance Genera
Wilson, on account OF his Civil War record
above all others deserves it. There is only on
vacancy to fll Suggestion has been made tha
the PRESIDENT appoint Wilson, the only one wh,
is nearing the age limit, and Immediately Great
a new vacancy by placing him upon the retire,
list. This process could be repeated in the cas
Of two or three others But the severe nub,
criticism which followed the adoption Of thi
endless chain" scheme of promotion in 1900 :,