The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1902-11-08

army 70 NC ASuucoo ny DeCrhbcE ~
5000 Men-Losses During the Year
Increased Pay for Military Attaches
Abroad Again Ursed-The Army aud
Lisutenant-GsneraIsh for Merritt,
Brooke and Otis Recommended Early
Marriage of Young Officers DepIOred-
The National Guard.
Washington, Nov. THE annual re-
port of General Henry C. Corbin, ad-
jutant-general of the army, begins with
statement showing how the army is
to be reduced by December l to 6O,O2O
men, of which 2,S77 belong to the staff
departments.
The report shows that during the fls-
cal year there were thirty-five officers
killed in action or died of wounds and
disease; twenty one resigned and sixty
eight retired. OF the enlisted men 1927
were killed or died of wounds and dis
ease, 35,S06 We're discharged on the ex-
piration of service, 5,69S were discharg-
ed for disability or dismissed by order
of court-martial, 1867 deserted, two
were missing and 203 retired.
General Corbin in calling attention
to his former recommendation that the
rank and pay of military attaches
abroad should be increased suggests
that retired officers of high rank might
be selected for this service. While the
number of attaches have been decreas-
rr~I of
the reciprocal relations that have been
established with the war departments
of the several governments where Off
GERS are stationed. He cites two cases
where the military attache at Paris Sc
cured the model of the Lebel rifle and
the French saddle from the French
government.
General Corbin discusses the various
schools of the army and points out the
advantages which will accrue through
them.
In reviewing the reports of the Off
GERS who participated in the army and
navy manoeuvres last September Gem
eral Corbin says that much valuable
information was acquired The general
says:
1.-THE manoeuvres have proved that
the rank and file of our army can be
depended upon in every emergency;
that apparently impossible tasks can be
accomplished under the spur of neces-
sity and that there is an immeasura-
BILE gulf between practice and theory.
The lessons learned by both officers and
men were of more practical value than
years of ordinary garrison routine and
instruction"
He strongly recommends that similar
exercises be conducted annually and
made to embrace each year new the
ater of operations, so that the benefit
may be shared by the different organi-
cations in the several fields of defense,
and adds:
''Some system should be devised by
which the artillery defense of forts
would mot be rendered helpless by
heavy fog.
THE wireless work, as conducted by
the signal corps, established the fact
that wireless telegraphy is an import
ant factor in the defensive operations
on an artillery district, increasing by
many miles the extreme distance at
which the enemys approach can be de-
tected and his ships located, thereby
affording to the artillery commander
ample time in which to perfect his own
offensive operations.
1.-THE conviction expressed by the
commanding general in charge of the
land defenses that every officer and
enlisted man of the army and of the
National Guard, who took part in the
manoeuvres entertains feeling of ad-
mira ton for the splendid manner in
which the naval part of the programme
has been conducted, whereby the conf
dence in and affection for the sister SER
vice, sver constant have been renewed
and emphasized by this exceedingly
agreeable association In prosecuting
professional work Of great Importance
to the nation, voices a sentiment heart
lily concurred in by the entire army"
The adjutant general has obtained the
number and kind Of arms in the hands
of the National Guard in the several
states and finds less than 1000 United
States magazine rifles in their possess
sion. OF the multitude of the other
types he says:
1.-THE Heterogeneous collection Of obso-
Iete arms is a very serious detriment to
the efficiensy of the entire National
Guard which in organization, drill, in
struction, tc., assimilates closely to the
regular army and should be armed
with the same arms as the latter. If
called into service under this deplorable
condition, much trouble and vexatious
delays are involved in providing the diff
ferent kinds of ammunition required
and in urgent or unforeseen contingent
cies may lead to disastrous results"
. General Corbin recommends legisla-
ton providing that Major Generals
Merritt, Brooke and Otis, now on the
retired list be given the rank of lieu
tenant general and that Colonels Gill
more and Williston be given the rank of
brigadier generals on the retired list
He has the following to say concerning
early marriages in the army:
1.-THE early marriage of the younger
officers of the army, many of whom are
entirely dependent upon their pay and
allowances for support, is greatly to be
deplored and should be discouraged. A
young officer should have but one alIe-
glance, and that should be to the ser
vice Those without private means must
necessarily divide their pay between
the demands Of their office and family.
"A considerable number are required for
service in the Philippines where living