The St. Louis Republic., 1901-11-27

Washington. D. c.. Nov. 26-The annual
report of Elihu Root. Secretary of War. to
the President has been made public. The
Secretary succinctly reviews the operations
of his department for the last year. enter
ing more elaborately into the development
OF conditions in the Philippines and Cuba,
and making lengthy recommendations on
the subject of general military education.
This. the Secretary says, is matter of
primary Importance at the present time.
He continues:
The imperative demand for the service of all
our officers since the spring OF 1888 has caused
practical cessation Of all systematic education
Of commissioned officers for nearly four years
In the meantime. the ordinary additions To the
number of Second Lieutenants have been. rough
ly speaking. about one-third from West Point
and about two-thirds from the ranks and civil
life. In the reorga nization of the enlarged army
about leo new officers have been added from
the volunteer force. that more than one-third
Of all the officers OF the army have been without
any opportunity whatever for systematic study
On the otner hand. the rapid advance Of mill
tary silence; changes OF tactics REQUIRED by the
changes IN weapons: our own experience IN the
dtnculty Of working out problems of transporta-
sponsibilities which We have seen devolving upon
officers charged with the civil government Of
constantly arise between military and civil au-
thority; the manifest necessity that the soldier.
tory and imhued with the spirit Of our inst'tu-
tions-ali indicate the great importance OF thor
Sccretary's scheme of Instruction.
After careful consideration and study Of the
subject general scheme Of instruction has been
provisions OF which are as follows:
There shall he besiGes the Military Academy
at West Point; the following schools for the in
struction Of officers in the army:
L Al each military post an officers school for
elementary instruction In theory and practice
2. Special service schools:
ta) The Artillery School at Fort Monroe. Va.
%, The Engineer School OF Application. Wash
lnSto l5artacks. - =. C.-,--.. r,... ,-o-,
i5 o. The school Of Application for Cavalry and
tej The Army Medical School. Washington. d.
5. A General Service and STAFF College at Fort
Leavenworth. Kas.
= 4 Wa. College for = the most advanced an. In
This order If loysIy and persis,ensly Us S followed
tieally esu university R sit system Of military educaton
Militia and Volunteers.
Discussing this subject. the Secretary
says:
The present provisions Of law relating to the
militia and to the raising Of volunteer forces are
quite imperfect and unsatisfactory The militia
in l7s2 and is practically obsolete 1t is very de
sirable that Congress should now exercise the
provide for organizing. arIning and disciplining
the militia The organization and armament of
the national guards of the several States. which
treated militia in the appropriations made
by Congress. should be made the same as those
provided by Congress for the regular and rolun-
teer forces.
Army Establishment.
Discussing the present establishment OF
the army. the Secretary says that at the
date Of his last annual report the army
consisted of $3.50 officers and 80. 800 enlisted
men. The volunteer force. then existing
was raised under the provisions of the act
of March 2. 1899. and was. therefore, neces-
sarily mustered out in the United States
before July i, 1901.
scriptive lists and a thorough medical ex-
animation, with a view to aid In the set
uement of future applications for pensions
The regular establishment now consists OF
1858 officers and 76,Os4 enlisted men. OF
these 1922 officers and I.S52 enlisted men
were on September p in the United states;
pines: 166 officers and 4,74s men In Cuba,
and the balance were distributed through
out Porto Rico. the Hawaiian Islands, Chi
eThe recruitment Of the new organiza
tions and the maintenance of the DID," says
Mr. Root, was accomplished without DIFF
ficuIty. and the material obtained appeared
to be of the best quality
Comfort and Health.
Under this heading, Secretary Root says:
The reports show that the food and clothing
furnished TO the army durins the year have been
Leen good and the death rate low: The death
rate per thousand of troops IN the United States
Porto Rico 80 and among the troops serving
in the Philippines and China it was reduced from
Iast year In the opinion Of tho Medical Depart
merit, when permanent arrangements have been
forced the health Of the troops stationed in the
tropics will be quite good IL stationed in
our own Gulf States.
Pacific Cable.
The Secretary proceeds to the discussion
of other subjects in which his department
is concerned, as follows:
The chief of the Signal Corps again urges at
tention the great Importance of American
Transpacihc cable. The requirements for the use
of such cable by own Government
Hawaii and in the Philippine Islands so great
that either II should be constructed and owned
by the Government, or il constructed by a pri- |
vate corporation the landing rights should be
granted upon such conditions that the owners (
shall always remain. in fact, American cor
poration and shall be subject to control and reg
ulation by Congress.
The Cuban Republic.
A Republic will begin its independent |,
career with the hearty friendship and sincere |
good wishes Of all the officers and soldiers Of !
the United States who have fought and laboted !
for the good Of Cuba, and who have learned to !
appreciate the many admirable and attractive I,
qualities of her people. think that the perio1
there is more appreciation by the Cubans of what
the people of the United States have done for
them During the recent severe illness of the
Military Governor the manifestations Of esteem
and affection for him were especially gratifying;
and the lamented death of President Mckinley /
was followed by general expressions of sympathy /
and throughout the island
The chief apparent obstacle to the future pros
perty Of the island is to be found in its CONNER
cial relations to the United States. and the noces