Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1901-10-19
REPORT OF GEN. coRBlN
ARMY LOSSES LAST YEAR WE'RE
OVER 41.OOO.
Reduction of Military Force in the
of Service and Merit Medals.

The annual report of Major General
Henry C.. Corbin. adtutant general Of the
army, reviews the work, condition and
needs Of the military establishment. He
submits a table to show that the army in
the Philippines Is to be reduced by expired
enlistments at the rate Of about 2,0oO a
month from now on until June, 1902. The
question whether the regiments thus de-
pleted in strength are to remain so or be
recruited to their full roster. he says is
one requiring the very earliest considera-
ton. for If the latter is contemplated 1t is
already time to begin special recruiting.
Losses of the Army.
The losses from all causes in the regular
army and the volunteers from July /, 1900.
to June 30 last totaled 1924 officers and
men in the former and 25.0O9 In the latter.
The casualties to the troops in the Philip
pines since the date of the first arrival,
June 80. 1898, to June 80 last were us Off
GERS and 3,3za men killed and 1872 officers
and 2.646 men wounded.
1t Is safe to predict says General Corbtn,
that haZing Of a brutal nature Is thing
of the past at the Military Academy. and
that 1t will not soon again be subject for
the consideration of the War Department.
General Corbin recommends that the CA
diets Of each graduating class be sent to
Fort Monroe for practice and instruction
He also recommends that the old law re-
quiring that each candidate from the ranks
for a commission in the army be mon
commissioned officer IN good standing who
has displayed an aptitude for command and
control of men, be revived.
Gen. Corbin's observations.
General CorbinS recent tour Of the Phil
ippine Islands and his brief visit to Japan
| and eastern China bears fruit In some IN
teresting suggestions. He believes that the
army transport service on the Pacific Is
costing the government considerable more
than the use Of commercial steamship ilhes
would for the latter would have the ad-
vantage, denied to the government, OF
transporting passengers, freight and mails
to the orient, both on outward and nome
ward voyages, and would meet the needs
for increasing American trade In the orient.
He therefore suggests that Congress with
safety could offer inducements to United
States shippers to install a line of steamers
| under charters that would permit them. in
time of necessity, to serve as reserve army
and navy transports.
A Cable to Manila.
An equally important need Of the service.
General Corbn says, is a domestic cable
from the Pacific coast to the Philippines.
The present cable communication through
Europe, Asia, China and Japan, he says.
for obvious reasons should be discontinued
at the earliest possible date. He urges
that more comfortable quarters for the
troops in the Philippines be provided as
soon as possible
He strongly recommends that Congress
authorize the retirement of not to exceed
two major generals on the active and cne
on the retired list with the rank of lieuten-
ant general. He points out that the ClS-
tinguished services of Major Generals Mer-
rift, Brooke and Otis fully entftle them to
that honor.
In the Matter of Medals.
Justice has been already too long delayed.
General Corbn says, In the matter Of the
medals for exceptional war service recon-
mended by the late President Mckinley In
his message to Congress FOR 1899, Tor the
volunteers, regulars, sailors and marines
on duty in the Philippine Islands. who vel
unfairly remained in the service after their
terms of enlistment had expired in order
to serve their country in an extremity,
and he urges that this matter be brought
to the attention of Congress with renewed
emphasis. 1890
General Corbin also cordially approves
movement to give service medals to all Of
ficers and men Of the regular and volun-
teerS troops who honorably served In the
war with Spain, in the Philippines and in
China.
Overcrowded Omces.
Regarding the clerical force of the adj
jutant general Office, General Corbin says:
1.-The legal organization of the regular
force of this office remains unchanged.
The conditions which made the employ
ment of temporary clerks necessary still
existing although modified, the temporary
force has been continued. The disadvan-
tage referred to in the last report, resulting
from overcrowded rooms. still retards the
prompt discharge Of business, and Is be-
coming worse by the constantly increasing
volume of files and papers. 1t is earnestly
requested, therefore, that Congress be
urged to an early consideration of the de-
plorable existing conditions. with view
to such action as that body may deem nee
essary. The statement is reiterated that
the safety load that may be placed on the
floors of this building has been unavoida-
bly, exceeded in some of the rooms aEot-
ted to this Office.
1.-The present clerical force Of this Office,
regular and temporary, will be as impera-
lively required in the future as 1t has been
in the recent past The increase of the
army involves great increase in the num-
Der Of promotions. each of which is based
on professional examination of the officer,
many of the reports leading to further Of
fetal correspondence. New appointments
in the lower grades. from late volunteer
officers. enlisted men. or civilians. involve
the classification Of the applications, many
Of these supplemented later by such letters
Of recommendation as the applicants can
secure These papers have to be examined
and listed, records examined. candidates
selected examination boards appointed.
I etc, making in the aggregate a vast
amount of work.