The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1901-12-04

To Improve 1t is necessary ncrcas.
Our Army. army beyond it's present size at this
time. But il is necessary to keep il 1T
the highest point of efficiency. The individual units
who officers and enlisted compose this army,
have good believe. least efli-
cient those of any other army in tho entire world
1t is our duty to see that their training is OF kind
insure the highest possible expression Of power
these units when acting in combination
The conditions OF modern are such make
infinitely heav vicr demand than before upon
the individual character and capacity of the officer
ana the enlisted man. and to make il far more dill
cult for men to act together with effect AT present
the fighting mast he done in extended order. which
means that each man must act for himself and at
the same time act in combination with others with
whom he is longer in the old fashioned cbow-to-
elbow touch, Under such conditions Il few men of The
highest excellence worth more than many men
without the special skill which is only found as tn"
result of special training applied of eXcep
onal physique and morale. But nowadays the most
valuable lighting and The most difficult to perfect
is the reman who is also skilIiu and daring rider
The proportion of our cavalry regiments has wise
~ been increased The American cavarymaN on foot
horseback, is the best type of soldier for
cli purposes to be found in the world The ideal
eavaryman of the present day is Il man who can fight
foot effectively as the best nantlyman. and
who is in addition unsurpassed in the care and man
ascmcnt of his horse and in his ability To fight on
horseback.
general staff should be created. As for the pres
staff and supply departments they should be filled
by details from the line, the men detailed returning
after Il while to their line duties. 1t is undesr
able to have tho senior grades of the army composed
Of who have come to fill the positions by thc
al seniority. a system should he adopted
by which there shall he elimination grade by grade
those who unfit render the best service
the grade. Justice to the veterans of the civil
who still in the army would seem to require
that III the matter OF retirements they be given ly
law the privileges accorded their comrades
in the navy,
The process OF elimination of the least 1T shodld
be conducted in manner that would render it prac-
tcaly Impossible to apply political social pressure
un behalf of candidate, that each may Be
Judged purely his merits. Pressure for the
promotion civil officials Tor political is bad
enough. but it is tcn-fo,l where applied he
half of officers Of the army navy, Every promotion
aud every detail under the war department must he
riadr solely with regard To the good of the service
and the capacity and merit OF the himself
80 pressure, political, social, personal, of any
kind, will be permitted to exercise the least effect in
any question of promotion detail. and il there is
believe that such pressure Is exercised
the nStgation Of the officer concerned II will be held
to initiate against him. In our army We cannot at
ford to have rewards duties distributed the
simple ground that those who by their own merits