The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1900-11-17
Ne D Of A Larger army
LIEUT.. GEN. MILES SAYS THE PRES
ENT FORCE Is TOO
SMALL
FINE RECORD OF THE TROOPS
During the Last Two Years In the
Wars Carried on by tIhe United
States in Two Hemi-
spheres.

WASHINGTON. Nov. 16.-The feature
of the annual report of Lieut. Gen. Miles,
commanding, the army, is a chapter deal
ins with the need for q general reorgani-
zatiCn of TIE military service. In relation
TO this question he says: The events
OF the pas two years and a half have
resulted II q condition that the nation
must prepare to meet. The need for an
efficient and well organized land force
f,r an irleA-' te, period in the future is
most oovluus ami the orsanizat ton OF
such q force cennot be wisely avoided.
There are weigthy reasons why such 4
service as is now demanded Of the army
cannot be performed by a temporary
organization"
Gen. Miles points out that the practi-
cal limitation of the service of the VOL
unteers to one year in the Philippines
makes this a most expensive practice,
necessitating double transfer OF troops
and adding enormously to the cost of the
organization. He also points out the
need of q reserve force for the relief Of
the soldiers who serve in the tropics,
declaring that the regiments that have so
far served more than two years at uIl-
healthy stations should be relieved. Gen.
Miles renews his recommendation that
the permanent force of the army should
be one man for each 200 OF population
of the United States. In supplying any
increase of the army he urges that APP
pointments of officers be made with a
due regard for the principle Of seniority
and that each case be passed upon by a
board Of the highest officers of the army,
as was done in the reorganization fol-
lowing the Civil war. He sum1ts
draft of a bill embodying his views and
recommendations on army reorganiza-
ticn.
FORCE TOO SMALL.
The report shows that the urgent dee
mands 70 rtroOps for remote stateions had
reduced the number In the United States
e. n much smaller force than has been
maintained at aay time during the past
tE:rty-nine years. In fact, says Gen.
Niles, the force has been so much re-
duCed that at the present time there
are not cne-fourth enough troops TO care
for and man the Notifications which have
been erected on the sea coast at an eX-
pendituEe Of nearly $55, 00O, 900. In addi-
ton to the artillery deficiency, the pres
ent home force IS not sufficient to occupy
the interior garrisons properly or to pro-
tect life and property on 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 number of
troops remaining in the United States
after the discharge of soldiers to Cuba,
Porto Rico, Alaska and the Philippines
Is said to be soS officers and Is, S98- en-
listed men. Gen. Miles says that dur
ing the past two years the army has
been engaged in two hemispheres, under
all conditions and bardships and has on
all occasions exhibited courage, stability,
excellent craftsmanship and devotion to
duty.
( RECORD IN CHINA.
Touching npon the Chinese campaign
Gen. Miles compared the American con-
iingent in the Pekin expedition with
those of other nationalities, and SAYS:
1T would be difficult to naf1e any oc-
easion on which troops engages in ae-
lion We're better commanded, were more
steady under fire, or where they made
the soldiers sacrifice with more I'M
selfish patriotism, or rendered q higher
tribute to the honor of their country"
Great reverence Is said to be due the
memory Of Col r. 8. Liscun, who fell
while leading his troops with undaunted
courage and marked ability. Mai Jesse
M. Lee, of the Ninth infantry, is also
commended as saving sustained the hon.
orable reputation asQuired by him in the
Civil war and since. upon taking up the
command of the American ofrces al
Tien Tsin after Col. Liscum's death
Capt. Reilly is also named as an ideal
soldier, without fear and without re-
proach, who, by his death at Pekin,
again demanded the zeal and courage
of the American soldier.
Gen. Miles calls attention to the fact
that under the law the volunteers in the
Philippines must be withdrawn and dis
charged before July r next, wherefore,
he says, 1t will be necessary 70 begin
their return home almost Immediately.
COAST DETE31sE.
In few short paragraphs the report
shows what has been accomplished in
the offices training schools and towrds
the extension of the coast defense sys-
tenn. On this last great work he says
SOS, 100000 have been expended already,
and at least $45,000,000 will be required
to carry out the psesent project. For
the next fiscal year alone the sum Of
Sil,S27O00 is estimated as necessary to
defray the cost OF fortifca&Ions, bar
racks and sites on the coasts. The
largest figure is $2.724,4S5 for New York;
next comes California, with y AZ, 1876;
Maine, Sl,2S5925; Oregon and Washing
ton S,1O6,e:2, and Virginia 1896, 450. Porto
Rico is assigned 1892 400, while the ma
tional capital Is set down for $4,000
Gen. Miles claims that the fortHca-
tiDns board has DEVELOPED a high eXplo-
blNe, superior IN effectiveness to all
known safe military explosives It can
be used in any service the projectile
can be thrown any distance within The
capacity of any high power gun through
steel armor plate and exploded with
most destructive effect Important ac-
ton has also been taken by the same
board in the development of artillery.
and VI is predicted that within the next
twelve months create advance will be
made in sea coas and field artillery
Than has been accomplished during the
last two decades. Artillery servE<e has
now become an intricate science and
the pay of enlisted men. he says, should
be increased proportionately. Gen
Miles, does not thirfK II wise to longer
delay the practical application OF self
now - vehicles to the military service
closing recommendation is that the
tract known as the Potomac flats, now
a monaco to health. be put in suitable
condition for the encampment of regu-
lar troops whenever assembled at the