The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-11-08
Restoration of the Canteen Urged and
Early Marriage of Young Om-
GERS DeplOred.
VOCAL MUSIC BENEFICIAL
EVERY REGIMENT SHOULD HAVE ITS
SONG, THE REPORT SAYS.
Casualties During Last Fiscal Year
Army to he Reduced to 10000
by December 1.

adjutant general of the army, deals with
every feature Of the army and begins with
a statement showing the army is to be re-
duced by Dec. to 5000 men, of which 2,Sl7
belong to the staff departments. The re-
port shows that during the fiscal year there
were thirty-five officers killed in action or
died of wounds and disease, twenty-one
resigned and sixty-eght retired. OF the
enlisted men 1,227 were killed or died OF
wounds and disease, S5SOs were discharged
on the expiration of service, 5,49S were dis
charged for disability or dismissed by order
of court-martial. 4,667 deserted. two were
missing and 2O3 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 serv-
ice. While the number of attaches have
been decreased. the service has improved
because of the reciprocal relations that
have been established with the war de-
partments of several governments where
officers are stationed. He cites the two
cases where the military attache at Paris
secured the model of the Libel rife and the
French saddle from the French govern
ment General Corbin discusses the vari-
Gus schools of the army and points out the
advantages which will accrue through
them.
In reviewing the reports of officers who
participated in the army and navy maneu-
vers last September, General Corbin says
that much valuable information was &C
CURED He says: THE maneuvers have
proved that the rank and file OF our army
can be depended upon In every emergency
that apparently Impossible tasks can De ael
that there is an immeasurable gulf between
practice and theory. The lessons learned
by both officers and men were or more
practical value than years OF ordinary gar
rison routine and instruction" He strongly
recommends that similar exercises De con-
Quoted annually and made to embrace eacn
year a new theater Of operations, SO tnat
the benefit may be shared by the dinerent
garrisons in the several fields or defense,
and adds: Some system should be de-
vised by which the artillery defense OF
forts would not be rendered helpless py
heavy fog.
WORK OF SIGNAL CORPS.
''The wireless work, as conducted by the
signal corps, established the fact that wire
less telegraphy is an important factor In
the defensive operations of an artillery dis
trict, increasing by many miles the extreme
distance at which the enemy's approach
can be detected and his ships located.
thereby affording to the artillery COM
mander ample time in which to perfect his
own offensive operations.
1.-THE conviction expressed by the COM
manding general in charge of the land de-
lenses that every officer and enlisted man
of the army and official national guard
who took part in the maneuvers entertalns
a feeling of admiration for the splendid
manner in which the naval part OF the pro-
gramme has been conducted, whereby the
confidence in and affection for the sister
service. ever constant, have been renewed
and emphasized by this exceedingly agree
able association in prosecuting professional
work of great Importance to the Nation.
voices sentiment heartily concurreu III
by the entire army.
The adjutant general has obtained the
number and kind of arms In the hands OF
and finds less than 1900 United States mag
azine rifles in their possession. Of the
multitude Of other types he says: This
heterogeneous collection Of obsolete arms Is
a very serious detriment to the efficiency
of the entire National Guard, which, In or
ganization, drill. instruction. etc, assimi.
lates closely to the regular army ano
should be armed with the same arms as the
latter. II called into service under this de-
plorable conditions much trouble and vexa-
tious delays are involved in providing the
different kinds of ammunition required ant
in urgent or unforeseen contingencies may
lead to disastrous results.
General Corbin recommends Legislation
providing that Major Generals Merritt
Brooke and Otis, now on the retired list, b'
given the rank of lieutenant general, ant
that Colonies Gilmore and Williston b,
given the rank of brigadier general on thu
retired list.
EARLY MARRIAGES HARMFUL.
He has the following to say concerning
early marriages in the army: 1.-THE early
marriage of the younger officers of thu
army, many of whom are entirely depend
ent upon their pay and allowances for sup
port, is greatly to be deplored and should
be discouraged. A young officer should
have but one allegiance. and that should
| be to the service. Those without private
means must necessarily divide their pay
between the demands OF their once anS
! quired for service in the Phinpplnes, wher'
| living is expensive and the accomplishment
! ship to officers with families.
| He says that it is important that a mum
| Der of officers have a perfect knowledg'
! of French, German and Spanish. he say:
/ the detail staff system has worked wei
/ and believes that the scheme for genera
/ staff is the best solution for vexatious fric
ton that had been planned.
General Corbin has the following TO say
| regarding the canteen: THE restoration
| of the exchange as ii existed prior TO tn
| passage of the act of Feb. 2 1901, prohibit
| ing the sale OIL peer Is OtSIttu anu urStt
| by the great majority OF officers and men
and by none more than those of pronounced
temperance views. Numerous reports con
firm the views long held by this office tina
| the old exchange contributed TO sobriety
| health and contentment of the men. Tn
! increase of assertions and of trials for I'm
| fractions of discipline is, by those hes
informed. attributed to the abolition o
the former privileges Of the exchange"
In conclusion he says: THE instruction
/ of our men in vocal music would be ste
| i'm the direction of contentment and bette
| discipline Every regiment should have il
| marching song. Frequent practice in sing
| ing particularly during the long winte
| evenings, would do much to make our me
satisfied TO remain in quarters and ava
| from the baleful influence of the barroom
| that exist in too great numbers in tn
| vicinity of all our military posts. Thes
barrooms are under the protection of tn
| license and laws of the several States. an
are beyond the control OF the militar
| authority"