The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-10-19
GEN. CORBiN'S REPORT
CONDITION AND NEEDS on THE MIL
ITART SERVICE.
LOSSES of the ArmS-CaSuaItics ia the
PhiiippineS-Result of ObscrNR-
tiOns in the FRr East.

WASHINGTON. oct. 1S.-The annual re-
port of Major General Henry &. Corbin.
adiutant general of the army. comprehon-
sively reviews the work. condition and
needs Of the military department.
General Corbin submits n table 10 show
that the army i'm the Philippines is To bs
reduced by expired cnlistments N the rate
OF about 2,oco a month from now on until
June, 192. The question whether the resi-
ments thus depleted in strength are 10 re-
main SO, or be recruited 10 their fun roster.
he says, is one requiring the very earliest
consideration, Tor il the latter is contem-
plated it is already time 20 begin special
recruiting. The losses from all causes In
the regular army and the volunteers from
July l, 1900 to June 80 last totaled 1924 Of
fcers and men in the former and S,19l in the
latter
The casualties TO the troops in the Philip
pines since the date OF the hrst arrival.
June %, 1898, to June 90 last, were Us Of
ficers and 1873 men killed and Is officers
and 2,646 men wounded.
General Corbin dweIls at some length ON
the subject of the volunteer army IN the
Philippines, and calls attention 10 the
promptness and dispatch with which these
regiments were brought home and mus
General Corbin invites special attention 10
the remarks of Colonel Mills, superintend-
ent of the West Point Military Academy.
on the improved discipline and generally
excellent condition of the cadet corps. IL
is safe TO predict, says General Corbin, that
hazing of a brutal nature Is a thing OF the
past at the academy, and that II viii not
soon be again a subject for consideration
OF the War Department General Corbin
recommends that the cadets of each grad
uating class be sent TO Fort Monroe Tor
practice and instruction in SeacoasI gun
merry.
He devotes special attention to the ques-
tion OF instruction OF the army. He be-
l!eves the system Of training for the OFF,
GERS should begin with the elementary
technical instruction at each post and
terminate in the higher training which
would be provided at a war college the
speedy and complete organization OF which
he considers most desirable.
The general says that il has been report
ed to him that retired army officers, de-
tailed at full pay as military instructors in
some instances do not even live at the col
leges and only occasionally visit them.
This state or affairs, he says, should be cor
rected.
General Corbin recommends that the old
law requiring that each candidate from the
ranks for a commission in the army be a
'noncommissioned officer in good standing
who has displayed an aptitude for com
mand and control of men" be revived.
While a great many excellent young men
have come into the service as officers under
the present law, which opens the way Tor
commissions TO enlisted men VINO nave udu
two years service, General Corbin SAYS
there have been a number or others VINO
have entered the army as officers In this
way who are not up TO the requirements OK
their rank.
General Corbin's recent tour Of the Phil
| ippine islands and his brief visit 10 Japan
| and eastern China bears fruit IN some in
teresting suggestions. General COr5in be-
lieves that the army transport service on
| the Pacific is costing the government con-
| siderably more than the use OF commercial
ST ms lines would.
have the advantage, denied 10 the govern
ment of transporting passengers, freight
and mails 10 the Orient. both on outward
and homeward voyages and would meet the
needs for increasing American trade in the
| Orient. He, therefore. suggests that Con-
eress with safety could offer Inducements
TO United States shippers 20 install a line
OF steamers under charters that would per-
init them, in time OF necessity, TO serve as
reserve army and navy transports. BY this,
says General Corbin. the government inter-
ests would be far more economically and
Just efficiently administered. 1t would
be particularly benenclal 10 the mail serN-
ice. ne continues. which has been very un-
satisfactory 10 the military and civil gov
ernment in the Philippines ever since the
| OCCUPATION of the islands.
An equally important need of the serV-
| ice, General Corbin says, is q domestic
cable from the Pacific 10 the Philippine.
| The present cable communication through
Europe, Asia, China and japan, he says,
for obvious reasons should be discontinued
at the earliest possible date. The rates
eXOrbitant, S2.3S per word being the regular
tariff on messages between Washington
aud Manila. This excessive rate, he de-
clares, practically prohibits any really
efficient service. and the cipher code OF
the War Department has had 10 be ad-
justed 10 better cope with the high rates.
He urges that more comfortable quarters
for the troops in the Philippines be pro-
Vided as soon as possible and that an
appropriation be made for the erection Of
StOrehOuses in and about Manila. where
the government now pays S3o0OU0 annually
for the use of rented buildings. III the
suggestions are adopted. General corbn
says, the cost Of maintaining the army iu
the Philippines viii be- scarcely more than
! II the. troops were On home stations He
suggests the need of many changes in the
uniforms OF officers ana urges that the
matter have the early consideration OF a
competent board
During the recent military operations in
China the good name and discipline o. Cen
| eral Chanee's army several times
| called into question by the r0Wdyism OF
| nOncombatants dressed generally la the
uniform OF soldier General corbin there
! fore urges that farriers, teamsters and the
! like should have uniforms different from
says that officers i'm active service should
be provided servants enlisted as SUCH and
with uniforms TO distinguish them from the
rank and file. Tie strongly recommends
/ that Congress shall authorize the retire
| ment of not 10 exceed two major generals
/ on the active and one on the retired hst
! with the rank OF lieutenant general lie
points out that the distinguished services
I of Major Generals Merritt. Brooke aud
/ Otis fully entite them 10 this honor.
Justice has been already TOO long de-
iayed. General Corhin SAYS. in the matt r
of the medals for exceptional war service
I recommended by the late President Nc
i kinlcE in bis message Co Congress ln 1874
! Tor the volunteers. REGULAR. sailors and
marines on duty in the Philippine. who
I voluntarily remained in The service after
/ their terms OF enlistment had expired in
l order 10 serve their country in an extremity.
ana he urges that this matter Doe brought
4 10 the attention of Congress with frsnrW ID
emphasis. General Corbin also cordially
/ approves movement 10 give service med
ais 20 an officers and men of the regular
| and volunteer troops who honorable served
| i'm the war with spain, in the Philippines