Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1901-12-05
MILITARY MATTERS.
The Secretary Of Wars Report
Given 10 Two Sections.
FORTS LEAyEyW0RTH and RILEY.
Every Effort to Place Them Upon Proper
Footing for Schools Of Instruction
Recommendation on the Ma
tiOnal Guard.

Washington, Nov. 27.-The annual
report of the secretary of war is to be
given out in two installments this
year. The first section was made
public yesterday. 1t shows that the
regular establishment now consists
of $3.50 officers and 76,0s4 enlisted
men. There are also 1885 men Of
the hospital corps, 172 volunteer sur
geons in the Philippines, 1878 ma
tive scouts under the command of 98
officers in the Philippines and rs Off
GERS and S15 men of the Porto Rico
provisional regiment.
Under the head of military educa-
ton Secretary Root thus refers to
the schools Of instruction at Fort
Leavenworth and Fort Riley: 'The
government possesses in Forts Leav-
enworth and Riley, Kan, two fine
reservations of about 1000 and 10000
acres, respectively, and with large
plants in the shape of barracks, quar-
tiers, stables and other buildings,
The officers school for cavalry and
infantry was located at Fort Leaven-
worth by Gen. Sherman aftet mature
consideration of the advantages af-
forded by that site. In q similar way
the cavalry and field artillery school
at Fort Riley was recommended by
Gen. Sheridan, whose ideas were en-
acted into law by congress. Every
effort is being made to place these
two establishments upon a proper
footing to carry out the scheme of
instruction which existed prior to the
war with Spain and to carry forward
the designs of those great soldiers
to meet the increased needs of the
army as organized under the act of
February 2, 1901.
"The provisions of law relating to
the militia and to the raising of vol
unteer forces" says the secretary,
fare quite imperfect and unsatsfac-
tory. The militia law stands to-day
practically as it was enacted in 1902,
and is practically obsolete. 1t is very
desirable that congress should now
exercise the power conferred upon it
by the constitution to provide for or
ganizing, arming and disciplining the
militia.
81 recommend that the war depart
ment be authorized to arm the ma
tional guard with the present service
small arms used by the regular army,
navy and marine corps; that the ma
tional guard of the several states be
treated as q first reserve, to be called
into the service of the United States
to execute the laws af the union,
suppress instructions and repel in
Vasions, the term Of service under
any call to be limited to nine months;
that the president be authorized, on
the request of the governor OF any
state, to detail officers of the regular
army for instruction, staff and in
specton duties with the national
guard of such state; that the war de-
partmcnt be authorized to furnish
transportation, rations and tcntagc
to officers and men Of the national
guard organizations, who shall take
part with the forces of the regular
army in annual encampmcnt and
maneuyers at national military
camps That the department be au-
thorized to allow travel pay, commu-
tation of r0tions and quarters. or
communication OF quarters, to officers
of the national guard attending and
regularly taking part in the courses
of instruction at the general service
and star college at Fort Leoyen-
WORTH
The secretary highly praises the
work of the army in the Philippines.
A great portion of the report is de-
voted to Cuban affairs, most of the
facts which ii sets forth having al
ready been published The second in
stalment of the seeretary's report
will be devoted to government in the