The Washington times., 1901-10-14
LACK OF ARMY OFFICERS.
General Otis Comments Upon This
Fac: in Annual Report.

Department of the Lakes INSULT
ciently Supplied, He says-Recent
Additions Expected to Meet Urgent
The annual report of Mai. Gen. Elwell
S. Otis, commanding the Department
of the Lakes, with headquarters at Chi
cago, has been made public by the Ad-
| lutant General. General Otis says:
The posts were very lightly garrisoned
during the Spanish war and Philippine in
surrection, and garrisons might be con-
sidered transient because of the movement
of troops constantly passed out of the
country. Recently more permanency has
resulted. The united garrisons of the five
department posts numbered last Novem-
Der 3S officers and ,460 enlisted men. They
began gradually to increase last April.
and now aggregate 45 officers and 1850 en-
listed men, and during the period 5Sl en-
listed men of the Fifth Infantry at Fort
Sheridan were sent to the Philippines and
1856 recruits were passed through Column
bus Barracks, mostly to the Philippines,
and to organizations in other territorial
departments. A new regiment of infantry
Cthe Twenty-ninth) has been fully recruit
ed and equipped and the recruitment Of
field battery of artillery is approaching
completion.
Until the present month all post gar
rise. have labored under the difficulty
of having too few officers present to per-
form satisfactorily even post routine
duties. At one of them, consisting of
single company with its non-commis-
stoned staff. only one commissioned Of
ficer was present At two. composed of
IL.
sible. a portion of the time. to collect a
minority membership for a general court
martial and some of the officers com
manding companies were without former
military experience and knew nothing of
staff administration. Absolute require
ments as to numbers for the execution
Of special duties such as those pertaining
to general courts martial and conducting
joUrneyinE detachments, have been made
by detach!ng, from time to time, members
of my personal and Of the departmental
stan. Now officers are joining those post
commands and soon, it is believed, a suf-
ficient number will be in attendance to
meet all urgent necessities.
THE chief supply officers Of the de-
partment staff show in their annexed re-
ports very large money expenditures
The great bulk of these expenditures is
not connected with the expenses of this
military department but has been paid
out on contracts executed in Chicago. in
Kansas City, Mo, and in Akron,
Ohio, for the delivery OF clothing and
eGuipage, and of subsistence shipped to
troops engaged In service in our lately
acquired island possessions
Target practice has been or is now be-
Ing held at most of the posts and a few
practice marches conducted. Lyceums and
schools have been maintained at all posts
except Columbus Barracks, where the !
transient character of the garrison has
made II impracticable, and the former or |
ders regarding instruction a!e again be- |
coming operative.
Some $4,000 has been expended in the |
repair and construction of post buildings, !
of which only $4,000 can be charged 10 |
This latter indicated amount |
was applied to the erection of a clothing |
at Columbus Barracks and ad- /
dltions to the guard house and gun shed !
at Fort Sheridan; 100000 has been con- |
sumed In general repairs. All post build
ings have been maintained in fair condi-
uo9, although many have been without oc-
eupancy and show disintegration from eli
matte influences. With increased garri-
sons. considerable additional repairs. and
doubtless. new construction. Will become
secessary. A decided want is greater ac-
for general and garrison !
prisoners. With the loss to The army of
the Fort Leavenworth prison as a place J
Or confinement for soldiers found guilty /
OF grave military offences, post guard
houses have become overcrowded, and re
sort must be had TO the means adopted
1t Fort Sheridan-namely, increased pris-
IN facilities There are in confinement at |
present in the post guard houses in this
department. 135 prisoners. a majority of
whom are general prisoners serving SEN |
ence for the crime of desertion. This ele-
nent, with our recent rapid recruiting. APP
)ears to be on the increase. These central
states, from which a large portion of the
army Is drawn, seem to give great ad- |
'antages In the way of concealment and
TO the absconding soldier, and /
,ur post guard houses contain representa-
ives of many military organizations serv-
ng beyond department limits. The en-
arged reward now paid for their arrest
and delivery has very much decreased