The Washington times., 1901-10-31
PRAISE FOR OUR SOLDIERS
Inspector General COmmends All
Branches of the Service.
Nntive-Born Eniistmcnts Largely In
crcnsed-SaEncity of Officers in
Conducting Civil Affairs Abroad "a
Source of Pride to the Nation

= source of Pride to the Nation
( The annual report of Brig. Gen. J. c.
BrcckinIidse, Inspector General of the
Army. to Lieutenant General Miles. con-
tanning statements comet rniug the inspec-
| tons of posts and commands the various
I branches of the service, the several de-
paItments of the army, and dealing also
with Other questions of Importance, was
made public last night.
The War Department has reason to
congratulate itself" says General Breck-
enridec. ''on the success which has at
tended the rccruitmen mt of the new or
Eani4atiOns. and it is high tribute to
III, training which has enabled the old
time army officers to turn out regiment
after regiment which. few months be
fore embarkation for foreign service, had
no existence whatever. The old organize
ti"ns were completely armed and
equipped for foreign service. The great
nect ssity for target practice in the Phil
ipFinos was apparent, even among the
Old organizations en- route thither. Some
of the new regiments had had only two
Or three days practice, while others had
had none Company D. Tenth infantry.
| sailed with 40 per cent OF the men not
having had any target practice whatever.
I
harmony and good will among the com
mssioned officers; and while the absence
has been noted of the expression, ALI
! officers are thoroughly Instructed and
| efhcient, so general prior to the Spanish
I war, which is due, no doubt, to the large
number of young and inexperienced Off
GERS. 1t is gratifying to be able to state
that many ave been favorably, and only
very few unfavorabI5. mentioned.
1t is certainly marvellous and will al
ways be a great source of pride and
pleasure to the nation, and especially to
the army, to contemplate the ability and
sagacity with which the army officers
have conducted the civil affairs entrusted
to them abroad The novel duties impos-
cd upon them as governors, school su-
perlntendents revenue collectors super |
lntendents of street departments, etc, |
"hlch nave been the test of their admin |
isuative abilities, have been well and |
faithfully done in that true spirit of pa !
triotic devotion which should always be !
the guiding star of the American soldier. |
Under the circumstances these duties !
were and are considered necessary by
proper authority. Nevertheless. the re-
ports show that they materially interfere
with the efficiency of commands, espe-
cialy at the small stations in the Phil
ippines where they consume much of the
valuable time Of officers that should be
devoted to the training and instruction
OF the troops. 1t is sincerely hoped that |
conditions now so promising of universal
submission and the restoration of peace |
may soon warrant the extension of Amer |
lean civil government. in alI-its suitable
entirety, to all parts of the archipelago |
and the return of all army officers to their
regular legitimate sphere of duty.
Ihe coveted prize of commission is
WI IA II .g a. 4
demonstrates his fitness therefor and on |
the whole. the inducement for a young
man to enter the army is strong But
what has been done for the man who |
stands by the flag and receives an honor
able discharge, accompanied with char |
acter excellent for duty faithfully per |
formed? Formerly his military record
would help him to a position at depart
ment headquarters or in one of the staff
departments depots: but these situa-
tions are now denied him unless he passes
civil service examination and awaits
his turn. Not long since a clerical va
cancy existed in a certain military office,
and II is reliably stated that two of the
applicants failed to pass the civil service
examination by few points through er-
ror in solving a schoochild's problem or
two, which could not in any sense be
considered practical test of qualifica-
ton for The position sought. Both appH-
cants were honorably discharged soldiers.
Of excellent character and. 1t is said, were
thoroughly competent as practical mill
|
served in the artillery and had performed |
the duty of a general service clerk at
headquarters for number ot years and
was at one time an inspector generals |
clerk in which capacity his services are |
known to have been entirely satisfac-
tory. The other had been first sergeant
of a cavalry troop. with considerable |
clerical experience in the army.
THE discipline and behavior Of the
troops are reported to be generally very
good. In Alaska the conditions OF the
h.aNr OH full md
accepted by the troops. Nevertheless, the
great amount Of labor required Of them in
the building of posts has to 4 certain ex-
tent stamped hem as workmen rather
than soldiers The department Of the
troops in Porto Rico is reported TO be ex-
cellent, and liz Cuba above the average
sert in Cuba, the percentage being about
l6 In the Philippines the commands are
so scattered and the officers so few in
number and burdened with iuiiumerable
duties that the conditions are not favor
able to a high standard Of discipline, and
he reports show a decided falling off in
the observance Of regulations regarding
dress, appearance, and saiuting. In otner
respects the discipline is unquestioned."
General Breckinridge says concerning
the China relief expedition: "
THE reports Of Major J. NJ. Lee and
Caut Grote Hutcheson show that the
American soldier compared quite favor
ably with the forces of the allies, and,
the fact that lighting Is the
business OF the soldier, the rem ark Of the
officer the American soldier is
he best soldier in fight and the poorest
soldier out OF fight that l have seen in
North China, referred to by Captain
iutcheson as aptly describing the i'm
preston Of other foreign officers regard
ng our forces, will not be found objcc-
ionable.
on the subject of clothing, several rec
are made, and the quality |
and color Of khaki cloth is said TO be
improving. The present cavalry boot il
S recommended, should be eliminated |
while the blue flannel shirt is said to be |
he best even for the tropics. The leather |
eggins are reported to be unsatisfactory. | =
AT the Joint of the centuries. says |
General Breckenridge, The old one gone
md the new one Just beginning, il may | !
,e well to give backward glance at :
ONE minor matters that have b6en ac- | (,
for the betterment and ad- | =.
of our military establishment,
experience being a good teacher The civil | d
var Interested the American people In |
heir army and made them acquainted
With IL in way unknown before. For in J
tance the detail from the volunteers G
L half a light battery in the regulars '
nd the re-enistment of many more in | l
SEA 1866 gave the required change to Il
he enlisted force. the reorganization
+ 1869 did in regard to the officers But @
L the beginning Of the last decade Of the !
nineteenth century the United States Is
army, as to enlisted men. was stil large
y composed of men Of foreign birth. the II
ercentage OF foreigners in the ranks be y
ng about 40 and many OF them, natives Z