The Atlanta constitution., 1901-12-09
THE ARMY: 1t is large enough.
Create q general staff; keep out
dry rot; stop politics; drill.

"I, Is NOT necessary to increase our
army hcvond its present size at this time.
But il is necessary to keep it at the
highest point of efficiency. At present
the fighting must be done i'm extended or
der which means that each man must
act for himself and ut the same time act
I'm combination with others. NOWADAYS
the most valuable fighting man and the
most difficult TO perfect is the riiiemah
who is also q slllful and daring rider.
The proportion of cavalry regiments
has wisely been increased. says the preSi-
dent ana adds that he is the best type
of soldier for general purposes to be
found i'm the world.
"A general STAFF should he created. As
for the present staff and supply depart
uepts they should be filled by details
fro,n tbo line. the men 50 detailed re-
turning after a while to their line du-
tics II is very undesirable 10 have the
senior grades of the army composed 81
mon who have come TO iili the p"S'tl'"9
by The mere fact Of seniority. >! =,
should bo adopted by which there shai
be- am elimination grade by Sr''ue OF '""S'
who seem unfit to render the pest S'i
vice i'm the next grade. Justice To lhe Ne'-
,,,re Of the civH war who are stiil IN the
army would seem 10 require thal IN 'i'e
matter of retircments they pe given -
~ tbe same privilege accorded to their
comrades in the navy.
pressure for the promotion o. CIV
oHciaIs for political reasons Is "''"
cnou.-b. but il is tenfold worse Where af-
,.l.d an. bfhaIf OF officers of the army or
navy. Every promotion ana ever! u''t4
under the war department must pe 'i'''0
solely with regard To the good oil IN" ser
vice ana to the capacity ana merit ol the
49,, himself. No pressure. political. So
l.
nittcd 10 exercise the least effect IN any
,,,,,stion of promotion or detail, ana Il
,t.r.. is reason To- believe that such pres
.,,ro is exercised at the lnstGau"h "l
tbc nncer concerned. il viii be Eelu TO
initiate against hlm.
..t.vtrv effort should lac MADE 70 ".ihs
tb,. army TO "A constantly increasing stl'e
of efficiency The paper work III ti'e
army. as ~ the navy, Should be sieduS
i'uDy, .i';C <(sTANr CARE Is NECESSARY
TO PREVENT DRY ROT IN IIif'
TRA\-PORTATION AND toMNi9-
SARY DEPAKfM ~ > ....i,. ,,.,r.
t.'ha cougrtSS should pfoNlde Aht't.1
whereby il viii be possible To nave h'ld
exercises by at least "a DIVISION ol 'e7'
lars. and II possible also nlNISlou 81
national guardSmcu. once "a year. u -
v-rU worth while for the ConSit IS To COR
sid,.r whether thu pay ol tEhSleu NJ III
uuau second and subsequent chll7'iu''l1,
with the increased value OF the veteran
soldier. ~,
President Roosevelt touches on me
work Of The reorganization act ana theh
strikes a little fire from higher mathe-
matlcs. saying; .,
at West Point the education Shou'I
lc of The KIND most apt 10 turn out men
1yho are good i'm actual field service; TOO
r,urh stress should not he laid on mdtl p
mates. nor should proficiency therein he
hold to establish the right OF entry 10
corps 1'chtC. The typical American 9ll-
c.r Of the best kind need not be good
Mathematician: but no must he able 10
master himself. to control others, and to
show boldncss and fertility of resource IN
/ every emerge ncy.
action should DE taken IN reference
to the militia and to the raising of vol
tntecr forces. our militia laW Is OBJ
eoletc and worthless. he organization
and armament of the national guard OF
tho several states. which are treated as
militia in the appropriations by the con-
prcss should be made Identical with
those proviCed for the regular forces.
,Thp ollicati,ns and duties OF the guard
il, time of war should be carefully de-
nncd Ynd a system established by lay
under which the method of procedure ot
raising volunteer forces should ne pre-
scribed IL aCVanCe.
Tho message then alludes 10 the civil
war the heroic struggle between mem
hers of the same family. and states:
mo other citizens deserve SO well OF