The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1902-12-01
THE NEED OF A
GENERAL ARMY STAFF
Concluded from Page ~

of the workings of the act prohibiting
the sale of beer and light wines in army
post exchanges, Secretary Root is 'con-
vnced' that it's general effect is to
lead the enlisted men to go out of the
post. to frequent vile resorts which
cluster in the neighborhood, to drink
bad whisky to excess, and to associate
intimately with abandoned men and
more abandoned women; and that the
operation of the law is to increase
drunkenness, disease of the most loath-
some kind, characterization and deser
tion, and moral and physical degener-
alton" The secretary, however, makes
no recommendations on the subject,
merely saying that the department re-
ports OH the subject are ready to be
sent to congress whenever that body
desires to consider the subject.
The Army's Strength.
One year ago the American army
comprised 3,253 officers and 76,0S4 en-
listed men and cost $7S,500.000. Now it
is down to an enlisted strength of 59,S66,
the minimum under the law and will
cost about S6O.0O0, 900. 1t is divided as
follows: Cavalry. 1920; artillery, IT,
a.; infantry, 2i,4S0 engineer corps, l.
2S2: miscellaneous, 4.122. The distri-
button of this force is as follows: In
the Philippines. 34S0: coast artillery in
United States, cuba and Hawaii, 1928;
field artillery in United States, 1920;
bands, 800; cavalry in United States,
$40: infantry in United States, 16,645;
infantry in Pekin, 15O in Alaska 800;
engineers in United States, S66, staff
l.t, n,t, rl,. Il
forces now having to he maintained on
account of the war with Spain are the
Porto Rico provisional regiment which
Secretary Root advises should be dis
banded, and about 5000 Philippine ma
tive scouts.
Army Health Rate.
The health of the army has shown IA
continued improvement. The deaths
from all causes during 1901 amounted to
1894 per thousand, as against 22.74 dur
ing 1900. This large reduction of death
rate was in a measure due to improved
conditions in the Philippines, where the
rate was reduced to 1896 per thousand
in 1901, as against 29,42 in 1900. The
death rate from all causes during 1901
i'm the United States was $50 per thous-
and; in Porto Rico, ISL; in Cuba. 5.29,
and in the Pacific islands and China,
1896, The rates of admission to sick
report for disease and injury and the
rate of discharge for disability during
1901 agree with the reduced mortality
rate in being considerably less than the
corresponding rates for 1900,
The Army in Peace.
The increase of the army from $4,000
To a minimum of 10000 and the return
of large part of it to peace conditions
have necessitated enlargements in all
army post constructions. The policy
followed has been to increase the size
rather than the number of posts and to
locate the posts i'm the country rather
than in cities.
Seacoast Defences.
The continuing plan of seacoast de-
fenses has been augmented during the
year by the mounting of eight 12-inch,
three S-inch and twenty rapid-iire guns
ana thirty-four 12-inch mortars, max
ing a total of eighty 12-inch, one hum
dred ana twelve l0-inch, eighty-nine
S-inch, and one hundred and eight rap
id-ilre guns, and two hundred and
ninety-seven mortars. OF the work In
general the secretary says:
These facts make the kind of exercise
furnished by the joint army and navy
manoeuvres of last September of the ut
most importance. l urge that appropri-
ations 10 be made by congress shall be
such as to provide for continuance or