El Paso daily herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1881-1901, 1901-02-19

file there were a few thousands OF
hardened. disciplined. experienced sol
diers. There were some three hundred
officers who had seen civil war service.
There was headquarters staff whose
life in Washington had been taken up
largely by petty squabbles, and whose
best men were necessarily at once re-
moved from the inspector general S
bureau and the commissary bureau to
take positions of command in the line.
where there were not nearly enough
generals to go around. The result was
a totally demoraliZed staff, with the
provisioning of the army and the in
spection, two vitality necessary depart
ments of the organization of dcfen-
sive or offensive force. left almost en-
tirely to either antiquated line Off
GERS, inferior staff officers, civilian ap-
pointees in the volunteer establish
ment, or civilian clerks in the depart
ments.
1t is not necessary to go over all the
history of that unfortunate experience
Everybody remembers it too well. 1t
ought to be a lesson to the country, go
ing to show that we need some sort
of permanent. thoroughly organized,
thoroughly equipped, thoroughly
drilled body of men from which to
draw in such an emergency.
General Anderson gives full credit
IN O,1r vOlunfeerS for their high jpdi-
vidual efficiency, their usually good
close order drill, their Workmanship
at short range and their general good
conduct. He points out, however, that
the field officers were as a rule lacking
in field experience, and the officers of
all grades were apt to be men of theor-
es. their lessons learned from books. |
without the actual contact with prob |
ems of the camp and the march. He |
shows how state control. inadequate |
accurate training. theoreti-
al and practical, and the lack of any
lational system, have operated to make
he militia system far from adequate
o the present day needs of the Coun-
~.
General Anderson's plan is most
Xcellent one. He advocates the es-
ablishment of standing army large
nough for the immediate needs of the
ountry, and as a part of the army or
anization a reserve force of citizen
oldiery. The artillery and cavalry
hould be permanent, since they can
OF be improvised. and intermittent
would not bring efficiency.
he infantry should be brought close
= into cooperation with the local or
for purposes of drill and
The higher officers should
e regular army officers. or national
olunteer reserve officers appointed by {
ne president upon recommendation of
ne regular officers in command of the ,
Is
There should be a permanent staff.
of the men best suited to
lie work of the commissary and in :
,ection bureaus. This staff should not v
= drawn on for general officers of the L
ne. the staff being really a separate |,
1reau. with its own provisions for v
'omotion and retirement. This staff s
ould be in control of a we'll organ
ed. we'll instructed, well disciplined, 9
ell equipped militia, a national vol O
lteer reserve, supported by national
preparations, free from state politi-
l or personal influence G.
General Anderson believes that in W
is way it would be possible to COM e
ne our regular and volunteer estab- -
hments so as to gain increased eff
,ncy of both. and be both popular W
d effective as a military system.
n 81
, L, TILE KITHENC i ~