The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1901-12-04

peculiarly nt to do the duties chosen TO per-
form them.
Every effort should be made to bring the army TO
constantly increasing state of efficiency When
actual service work that directly In the line
of such service should I've required. The paper work
the army. in the navy should he greatly ie
,nced. What is needed Is proved power of command
and capacity to work well in the field. Constant care
is necessary to prevent dry rot In the transportation
and commssary departments.
our army is small aud much scattered that
1T is very difficult give the higher officers tas wc
the lower officers and the enlisted mem chance
to practice manueuvres in mass and on a compare
lively large scale. In time of need no amount of in
Ni1ua excellence would avail against The paralysis
which would follow inability to work coherent
whole, under skillful and daring leadership The con-
gtcss should provide means whereby Ii Will be possible
have field exercises by ut leas, division OF resu
lars and If possible also division OF national guards
men once year. These exercises might take the
form, o.! iicld nanoeuvres or. IL "n the Gulf Coast
OF the Pacific or Atlantic scaboard or in the region
of the Great Lakes tho army corps When assembled
could be marched trom some inland point to some
point the water there embarked. discnbarked after
couple Of days Journey at some other point, and
again marched inland. Only by actual handling and
providing for men in masses while they are marc-
ing. camping embarkine. and dscmbarkins, will ii
he possible to train the higher officers to perform their
duties well and smoothly.
\ great debt Is owing from the public to the incn
"f the army and navy Thcy should be so treated as
enable them to reach the highest point Of efficiency
that they may he able to respond instantly to any
demand made upon them to sustain the interests Of
the ration and the honor of the flag. The individual
American enlisted man is probably on the whole
Formidable fighting man than the regular of any
other army Every consideration should be shown
him. and in return the highest standard OF usefulness
should be eXactcd from him. 1t is wei! worth while
for the congress TO consider whether the pay of en-
listed second and subsequent enlistmenLs
should not be increased to correspond with tho in
creased value Of the soldier.
Much good has already from the act
organizing the army, passed early III the present ycd
The three primo reforms all Of them Of literally i'll
estinabe value. arc, first the substitution of four
year details from the line for permanent appointments
i'll the so-called staff divisons second, the establish
ncnt Of OF artillery with chief at The head:
third. the establishment of maximum and minimum
limit for the army 1t would be difficult
estimate the Improvement in The efficiency of our
army which these three reforms making, and have
in part already effected
The reorganization provided for by The act has
been substantially accomplished. The improved con-
'iitions in the Philippines have enabled the war le
partment materially I" reduce the military charge
revenue and to arrange the number of sol
,iicrs I" bring this number mitch TO the
minimum than TO the maximum limit established by
law. There is. however need of supplementary leeis-
lHtion. Thorough military education mast be provid
cd. and in addition to the regulars the advantages
this should be given the officers of the
National Guard and others in civil life who desire in
telecnty fit themselves for possible military dNty.
The officers should he given the chance perfect
themselves ny study in the higher branches of this
At West Point the education should he of the
Kind most apt to turn out men who are good in act0I
held service; too much stress should not he laid
mathematics should proficiency therein he held
establish the right of entry to corps helite. The
typical American officer OF the best kind need Dc
good mathematician: but he must be able
himself. to control others and show bo,lness and
fertility oi resource in every emergency.
Action should be taken in reference the militia
and to the raising OF volunteer forces. Our militia
law is obsolete and worthless The organZatio ion ond
of the National Guard OF the several states.
which treated militia in the appropriations i,y
,hc congress, should be made ID ntical with those pro-
ylcd the regular forces The obligations and
ties of the Guard in time of should be carefully
defined and a system established by law under which
the method of procedure of raising volunteer forces
should be prescribed in advance 1t is utterly mpos-
siblr in the excitement and haste Of impending
10 do this satisfactorily if the arrangements have
hoen made long beforehand Provision should be made
utilizing in the first volunteer organizations called
out the training of those citizens who have already
iad experience under arms. and especially for the
lection in advanc. Of the officers of any force which
be raised; FOR careful selection of the kind
silry is Impossible after the outbreak of
That tho army is not at all a. instrument of
destruction has been shown during the last three
Years. In the Philippines, Cuba. and Porto Rico it
has proved itself great constructive force a
potcnt implement for the upbu1in, nf peaceful
civil2a tion.