The Washington times., 1902-12-21
Address Made Last Night
Before the Cleveland
Chamber of Commerce
Secretary ofWar Eulogized
Proposed Law Described as
a Solution of Unhappy
NotCOntrary
to Republican Principles.

duCed the distinguished Visitors. lheE
we're both heartily received.
General ChaFee discussed China, and
told much from his personal experiences.
General Corbin's speech dealt with
United States greatness and the army.
The attendance a, the banquet was
large aad consisted or the leaders OF this
city's commercial and Industrial life.
An informal reception followed the
speech making.
Both generals were visitors at tine
tomb Of President Mckinley today, and
the guests OF Mrs Mckinley.
In the course Of his speech General
Corbin authoritatively announced that
Maj. Gen Adna r. Chaffee. at present in
command Of the Department of the East.
has been selected to succeed General
Young in command Of the army. when
that officer retires in January, 1904.
Lieut.. Gen. Nelson A. Miles will retire
for age on August S. 1903 and will be
succeeded IN command OF the army by
Gen S B. ". Young. who. in turn. will
retire for age five months later. It is
not announced how long General Chanee
vii remain at the head OF the army. but
he will not reach the retirement age un-
til 1906. Al the War Department it is
believed that he viii ask for retirement
at an earlier date in order TO make a va
Honcy TO which General Corbin could be
appointed before he retiges.
General Corbin's Speech.
General Corbin responded to The
Army. He said:
The text given me is as broad as the
coratry's history. II suggests the strug
gle for freedom in the campaigns from
Lexington 70 Yorktown. the battles on
the frontier OF Michigan and Of New
Orleans: from Palo Alto to Chapultepec.
Fort Sumter TO AppOmattoX. from San
tiago and Porto Rico TO the Philippines
and 10 Pekin. and a long list Of Indian
wars. all rich in valor and far-rCachinE
results OF benefit 10 the country and civ
iiization. But 20 is not to the past I
shall address myself but rather TO the
present and future inviting your par
ticular attention TO the pressing needs
Of the military service We have much
that Is satisfactory; our officers and men
are Of the kest-sOber. brave. and in
telligeut.
-We are fortunate In having a perma-
nent military establishment of volun-
teers. What is known as the regular
army Is in the highest sense a volunteer
army, every officer and man takes ser
vice of his own motion. and be a said
that from the beginning of the Govern
ment 70 the present day there has never
been a conscriptlon for the regular army
The only conscription We have ever had
was to an the quotas for some OF the
States during the war OF the Union. But
10 our needs. II is perfection ot organ
ization that is demanded harmonious
and intelligent method Of coordination
and direction.
For a century we have nursed the
hope that radical defects would adjust
themselves. In the past century we have
had many statutes aiming 10 promote the
efficiency 0f the army, and enacted with
good intent. but they have as a rule re-
lated 20 some particular department. and
not always with intelligent relation 70
what had Eone before. In other words
laws for the administration of the army
have been grated on the statute books
IN many parts. without a continuity Of
legislative thought so that starting out
with the constitutional provisions that
the President shall command the army
and navy. you soon 0vertake conditions
which hafHe and bother those charged
with responsibilities connected there
pith.
Secretary Roots Recommendations
THAT these unhappy conditions OBJ
tain is largely due 20 the fact that no
one has heretofore offered a satisfactory
solution. Secretary Root now presents
one. lie recon mends that a board Of
military ezperts shall be created, az the
head OF which there shall be ar officer
of highest rank. who shall be the chief
military officer or the War Department
and known as the CHIEF OF staH-subordi-
nate 10 the President and Secretary OF
war. yet clothed with authority 10 con-
troll all the stan corps and departments.
and who. through the Adiutant General.
shall make orders in tho name Of the
Secretary Of War. the constitutional
representative and spokesman Of the
President.
''The Law now requires all the chiefs
% stan departments 20 report to the
Secretary Of War To make myself
clearly understood cannot do better
than 10 quote from the bill now pend
ing before the Congress. defining the
duties OF the Chief OF STAFF. HIS duties
shall be TO prepare plans OF national
defense and for the mobilization Of the
military forces IN time OF war to in
NtaNAtAAL anu AhRltA Alluu ulA lute| IONS
Affecting the efficiency OF the army and
its state Of preparation for military
operations. TO render professional aid
and assistance 20 the Secretary Of War
and 10 general officers and other SUI
perlor commanders, and to act as their
agents ia informing and co-ordinating
the action OF all the different officers
engaged In carrying out their orders,
and 10 perform such other duties as
may be from time 20 time prescribed
by the President
This. in brief. covers the administra-
tion Of the army and the War Depart
mem. The President is authorized 10
detail the Chief Of stan from the general
officers Of she line or stah thereby
giving him = large number from which
20 make the selection. and while per
forming this important duty the oficer
detailed shall have rank commensurate
with this important duty AT the ex-
piratiou OF the detail as Chief OF stan
tho oflcer returns 10 his rank IN the
line or the corps or department from
which be was selected
"The bill does not increase the num-
Der OF officers but continues the num-
Der and rank now provided for the army.