The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1901-12-04
THE ARMY.
An Increase in This Force Is Not
Deemed Necessary Now.

7 UFT VTr~eTT ~
time, but IL IS necessary 20 keep Il az the
highest point of efficiency. The individ-
ual units who as officers and enlisted
men compose this army are, we have
good reason 10 believe, at least as eff
cient as those OF any other army in the
entire world. II IS our duty to see that
their training is Of a kind 10 insure the
highest possible expression Of power 20
these units when acting in combination
The conditions OF modern war are such
as 10 make an infinitely heavier demand
than ever before upon the indivicua!
character and capacity OF the officer and
the enlisted man and 10 make il TAR
more difficult for men 70 act together
with effect. At present the lighting must
be done in extended order. which means
that each man must act for himself and
at the same time act in combination
with others with whom he is no longer
in the old-fashioned elbow 10 elbow
touch Under such conditions a few men
OF the highest excellence are worth more
than many men, without the special skill
which is only found as the result OF spe-
cal training applied 10 men OF excep-
/ tional physique and morale. but nova
days the most valuable fighting man and
the most difficult 10 perfect IS the rifle
rider
The proportion Of our cavalry regi-
ments has wisely been increased. The
American cavalryman trained TO nanell-
yer and fight with equal facility on foot
ana on horseback. Is the best type OF
soldier for genera purposes now 10 be
found in the world The ideal cavalry
can fight on foot as effectively as the
best infantryman and who is IN addition
unsurpassed in the care and manage
fight on horseback.
Stan Department Needed.
A general stan should be creaeed As
for the general star and supply DEPART
ments. they should be filled BY details
from the line, the men so detailed return
Ing after awhile 10 their line duties II is
very undesira Die 10 have the senior ZraGes
OF the army composed OF men who have
Of seniority. A system should be adopted
by which there shall be an elimination
grade by grade CT those who seem unfit
TO render the best service IN the next
grade Justice 70 the veterans OF the
civil war VINO are still in the army would
seem to require that in the matter Of re-
tirements they be given by law the same
privileges accorded 10 their comrades in
the navy.
The process OF elimination OF the least
NJ should he conducted in A manner that
would render II practically impossible 20
apply political or social pressure on be-
half CT any candidate. 90 that each man
may he judged purely on his own merits.
Pressure for the promotion or civil off
Gals for political reasons is bad enough
but it is tenfoId worse where aDplied On
behalf Of officers OF the army or navy
Every promotion and every detail under
the war department must be made solely
with regard TO the good Of the service
and 70 the capacity and merit 81 the man
himself. No pressure. political. social or
personal Of any kind viii be permitted
20 exercise the least eject IN any Ques-
ton OF promotion or detail. and n there
is reason TO believe that such pressure IS
exercised al the instigaticn OF the officer
concerned II VIII be held 20 initiate
against him. IN our army We cannot az
ford 20 have rewards or duties distributed
save on the simple ground that those who
by their own merits are entitled 10 the r.
wards get them and that those who are
peculiarly At 20 DO the duties are chosen
TO perform them
Rednee she "Red Tape
Every effort should be made 20 bring
the army 10 a constantly increasing state
Of efficiency. When on actual service. 70
work save that directly in the lire cf such
service should be required The paper
work In The army. as 81 the navy. should
proved power Of command and capacity
70 work well in the field Constant care
IS necessary TO prevent dry rot IN the
transportation and commtssary depart
meuts
our army is so small and 80 much scat
tered that II Il very difficult 20 give the
higher officers (as well - the lower Off
GERS ard the enlisted mem q chance 70
practice mareuvrrs in mas and on com
paTstively large scale In time of need
no amount Of Individual excellence would
avail against the paralysis which would
follow inability 20 work zs q coherent
whole under skllful and daring leadsrsr %
The congress should provice meas
whereby 10 VIII ue possible 20 nave Nct1
exercises by AZ least a division % rssu-
lars and u possible. siso 4 division q Ia
tional gLarcsr2en once year l1ese ex-
erCises night take ire form q Ted ma
neuverz. ~ u on me gu coast q tlr "a
-ific or Atlantic Sea board or III tnr rcclcn
OF The great lakes the army e1rps H1er
assembled could be marched from SONS
bland point 20 some point on ~ wsfrr.
-here embarked. ciserl sarksd etteT = ceI-
BE o. dsys journey al Some otrer point
and again marched iriard- only oy actual
harding and providing TOT InrH q masses
while they are marching. camuluF- en-
barking and diseubsrkiUC ~ 81 - pfss-
bic 20 train tae higher of1csrs 20 perform
their duties wei ard succt7lE
Indebted TO soldier and sailor
great debt Is ovne from ~ pluc
10 TIRE men % TIE arm ard nav i1es
rnaul1 Dc So treated as 20 eGahis them
20 reach The highest point C etarterrF -
tn2f they nay - a0.r r.
81 81 stain TIRE lrfrrrz=s - ne r1fir1 era
IRE honor 81 TIRE rag Tee iu1-t11lsi
Au~rtesn rr'.sted man $ prchniT % ne
whole more form dahe rEaH7E ua1
fr1- ne regular o. any 0-Ee- zr-F
E,verv co-s. ae~4rf1n shcuif be eh1wn
lu. ard i7 return IRE n,Eaesi s-2ncarc
90 usefliresE sa7ui3 - fs1rte1 tf1-1
-u It ia well wc-rh wale i1r tae -
rress 90 -onG5er Whether che gas - 80
lts-ed -cn uuo0 eErJ1- ana ea1s en-
frlis.ucrts she1sl no. - Increased -
s1@ veteran scllfr
Progress Of Array EeerEsHiEaiion-
Melh eocl h4s slTe4-- If fr4r 20
st r-1reale te ~ ~ a -
forms u. - -asm ~ -raA
ale EHI1e rrt 1e
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