New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1902-11-17
PRAISE FOR THE GENERALS
THE REPORT OF INSPECTOR GEN
ERAL J. c. BRECKENRIDGE.
re TELLS OF THE WORK DONE IN THE
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES EVERY
WHERE.
WHERE.

washington Nov. 16.-The annual report OF
General J. c. Breckenridge, inspector general OF
,be army. IS a voluminous document covering
every phase Of the military esta blishment and
each department. bureau AMI command in the
amy Il contains more than fifty recommenda-
,igns and suggestions relating to improvements.
--ost OF which pertain TO technical matters and
minor conditions. General Breckenridge finds
much 10 commend in all branches Of the service
ard reports progress and improvements every
where.
The most serious criticism is in regard 70 alb
senteeisul. where officers are on detached duty,
leaving the regiments short OF officers. Thus.
IN the Philippines especially. il is found that
many companies are without captains and in
command Of new and untried officers. The fault
IS attributed 10 lack of officers in the army 10
N the details and detached assignments.
General Breckenridge recommends the forti-
scstion Of Pearl Harbor in the Hawaiian Is
lands. as strategic point He says that a
srsble and economical system Of water transpor-
ration Is rapidly being introduced.
He has the following TO say regarding his
inspection in the Philippines:
During my tour in the Philippines it vas evident
on az sl1es lat tS S I'M = Wnoe, vas laoor
ing problems continually presented 70 it, Critics
at home may sometimes search for epithets TO
supiy 70 cur general officers but these officers are
no less kin6hearted than their critics. and We're
anxiously mindful OF the sufferingS which neces-
ssry fan upon the innocent in warfare a. well as
the guilty. and we're devisng means by which the
there has 1een good deal of discussion in the
5-1snt ~ The native F-iIfplnos by he Ar,eriCs n
troops and some rather serious charges have been
,o3 beer slbstantiste5 The Conditions Of var in
The Philippine Islands have been perhaps unusual.
80 soT9e-i-,es sxrre-77I,, or,laI sr5 trsshsyo,I=
II a. I'd her
the exercise 81 uneXsmpled patience is claimed
and the humanity Of the troops engaged has no
With whar novel duties in both civil and military
and environment OF the war on the opposite side OF
tact2 TIE word mas felt the current Of those dis
tant affairs. and our nation may not he fully con
fav 81 the battle OF Manila Bav were familiar win
The names Of men who had faithfully devoted long
land and sea-and non how the character Of the
nall2n nes neh Welste. u M naaeee accoralne
fame in The Shenandoah and the great plains. SQ-
pears In his maturity on this last scene: Otis. Of
honest judgment. far reaching insight and a cor
nOrant for work, bearing his honorable wounds
Tta al al moaesfy Bates he genenaa and solder
gene: Wheaton. the thunderholt and embodiment
geoUs. uastertul and broacninded: Hughes. acute
The rugged places OF Sanar and the middle ISLANDS
Funston. who Won his fame amid the hardshl ps
and seeking the vttsls Il the enemy: smith. tire
less and aggressive Ben courteous and reek4esSly
ton. ''Droit LoyaIe who baptized that land with
his blood and wrought famouslv and kindly on
both hemispheres. doing easily and without undue
sacrifice whatever was most needed or most DIM
cult Chaffee, whose sterling worth has been dis
PLAYED IN the old and new worlds. wherever
American have brought her principles. and
either III the "A hirl Of repellng deadly
rvranny from the Antilles or in bringing safety
the beleaguered legation from the bloody
NanchIs Of the Forbidden City; Davis. whose
on1rivorous industry and knowledge have wrought
memorable monuments in the form Of city govern
mert and great memorial structure as well as IN
his profession. Grant carried from Porto Rico 70
the Far East. & name Americans regard as the
erft0rnR Of Enpreteurlous and admirable service.
and has shown unWearIed work and fairness III
Nors1ing the enemy in fierce tight, IN career nlleG
FOR soldieTlv courage 70 him alone. When the re-
wards OF service 20 10 men Ike these the heart or
army Is elate.
These are not half the names. nor are all 81
them Is well known 70 their fellow CouutryTnen as
they deserve. But these among those whom
met or the results Of whose work witnessed dur
ing the last year Famous regiments which fought
endured amid those scenes will cherish the
occasion IN their reginenral traditions. And young
men who hereafter take the oath n serve their
p0untrv Will recall how faithfully and well she
won't 10 be served when the old regiment first
down 70 the sea n great ships TIE army OF
The past again proved here the Uetrle of which
& IS made. where The navy and civil authorities
have writ their names IN bold characters amonS
The trn0r1als and the army Of the future IS TAX
ing step and the spirit viii 20 marching on stu As
always. loyal and true and "steadiast 20 the end