New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1902-12-01

conf,,sio, controversy and bad feeling arising
from this uncertain status were painfuiy ap
parent at the beginning OF the "ar WITH ~ SRa.a
and it must always be the same until congress
shall exercise its constitutional power over the
subject.
Almost every President, from Washington
down has urged the importance of TINS subject
upon the attention Of Congress Inc chlel rea-
why nothing has been done mas been that
nobody could agree upon any one system
Everybody was agreed upon the general prin-
ciple but majority of all the people interested
opposed to every particular concrete
method suggested to give it effect.
The capacity of the National Guard organiza-
tions in general to serve effectively as orsani@a
tions. either militia or volunteer IN the natiohai
army in of depends very largely upon
the aid which they receive from the national
government. The guard is now armed with a
variety of weapons Of different kinds and cali
bres, including two different calibreS of the
obsolete Springfield rife. the Lee. the Re!ning-
ton-Lee the Winchester and the krdg-Jorgen-
SEN In several instances different National
Guard organizations of the same State are
armed with different weapons of different cali
bres Among all the rs 900 National Guards
of the different States and Territories only
about 1000 have the modern service rife of the
United States army. With the exception q
these 1000 rifles the arms of the guard would
be practically worthless in time of war. not
merely because they are inferior, but because
the guard would have to look the United
States Government for their ammunition, and
the government will have ammunition for the
kind of rifles they carry; they would have to
look to the government to replace the arms lost
or broken in service, and the government will
De unable to supply the kind. The militia
and the volunteer National Guard organiza-
lions in general would, therefore, be obliged to
throw away their present arms at the begin
ming Of and get re-equipped with weap-
ons the use of which they had never learned.
STRENGTH OF THE ARMY.
The report opens with the following statistical
information:
On November 81 1901, the date of the last annual
report of the Secretary of War the army of the
had been received from the field insisted Of 325s
officers "a. and 76osa enlisted men 'dition there
surgeons appointed for duty in tn. 'ppiness
FabTna rRe @ @ n ot snn OF OF
mand Of ss officers in the Philippines and 25 rs
The continued Improvement Of conditions in the
Philippines made possible a further reduction In
dated May 81. 1902, was fixed follows:
G G4fiiI:iy: 1900
f fsa 1856 ssss
commissioner stan and bands $50. $2s
I E5asin5sr s:t,,i;a: and han; aass $50
Ad9itcRsl ;ensth FOR stasiSnsd at the Gen
ton and legation cHuaT Pein 9 China M App'.I no
Enlisted men. staff departments. etc...-........ 2Ts3
Total Sc teT
Since the ending of the insurrection and the COM
Philippines it has been possible to make a siI
further REDUCTION OF the army and on October "a
strength TO So SCI the minimum provided by the Act
OF FEBRUARY ;. lSl excepting as TO the organiza-
tons stationed at Fort Leavenworth, Fort Riley
and Peking), as follows:
tSValTT 1--3o
Artillery:
F2asf i sSsa
Non commissioned staff ana bands. ........ 32s
1T,I43
Engineer battalons band 2s2
Additional strength for stationed the
erai Service and Staff College, School of Appliea-
non and Legation Guard Peking China i24h
staff departments 2s77
90 seS