Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1902-07-23
REDUCE PHILIPPINE FORCES
In Connection with Event Secretary Root
Issues q Statement
DISCUSSES NEED OF MILITARY COLLEGES
Says Every Effort VIII BE Made 10
Give New Omcers Advantage
of the Schools to BE
Established.

WASHINGTON, d. c.. July 22-secre-
tary Root. before leaving Washington today,
issued the following:
with the reduction OF the Philippine force
and the withdrawal from Cuba, the army
is called upon to resume its most tmpor-
projecting itself in military science and
skill and of promoting the preparation OF
the United States against future wars l
wish to call your attention to matters
which require special effort on your part.
Since the declaration of war with Spain
in April, 1895, there have been appointed
in the line of the army 1,542 lieutenants in
addition to 276 appointed from the military
from officers of the volunteers; il4 were
appointed from the enlisted men OF the
regular ana volunteer armies, and OH were
The abandonment of the military schools
for commissioned officers, which followed
tive military operations, has left these
1872 new lieutenants substantially without
means of @c|plTns The military farmc
officers of volunteers have acquired the
most valuable experience by active service
to them ~ as weil a as ! to the unframed ap-
pointees from civil life and from the ranks
broad and thorough training, both prac-
teal and theoretical, under the competent
master In the art of war whom our army is
able to supply.
Provision for schools.
Congress has now with wise nberality
made provision for the reopening OF the
army schools, has given Its sanction to the
general system of military education en-
bodied in the general order of November
q last, including the enlargement and de-
velopment of the Fort Leavenworth school
into a general and staff college, the es-
tabllshment of the war college at WASH
ington with suitable buildings and the
rebuilding of the engineer school and has
made ample preparations for these pur-
poses.
Every effort will be made by the war col
lege board, which has general supervision
and charge of the whole system, to bring
its advantages to the new officers OF the
ganize officers schools at all the consid-
erable posts without delay. ask for
hearty and effective cooperation with
them on 1.-THE the part Of every officer S Of the the
military academy now holding commits
sions. They especially have an opportunity
to demonstrate their loyalty to the prin-
clples of that institution by helping to
diffuse throughout the service the benefits
which have come to them from their four
years OF hard study.
The newly appointed officers should re-
alize that there is much to be learned, and
that the way to qualify themselves for the
high and independent command for which
they should all hope is by constant in
tellectual exercise and by systematic study
of the reasons of military action and the
materials and conditions and difficulties
with which military commanders have to
deal.
Careful attention to the instruction of
the newly appointed officers is enJoined
on all regimental troop. battery and COM
pany commanders, They should be I'M
pressed with the Importance of the faith
full performance of every duty, however
with their responsibility for such conduct
and bearing In all their relations as shall
do honor to the service.