Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1902-11-13
Adjt. Gen. Corbin Finds That They
Are Poorly Armed in
Most States.
RESTORATION OF CANTEEN
Urged by Great Majority of Officers and
Men-Shows How the Army Is to Be
Reduced to sc, 900 Men-Dscour-
ages the Marriage Of Young
Ofncers.

Washington, Nov. THE annual report
OF Maj. Gen. Henry G. Corbin, adiutant-
general of the army deals with every fca-
ture of the army, and begins with state
ment shooin: how the army is to be re-
duCed by December 1 to 10000 men, OF
which EST belongs to the staff depart
mcnts.
The report shows that during the fiscal
year there were % officers killed in action
or died OF wounds and disease, y resigned
ana Is retired. OF the enlisted mon l,2I
were killed or died OF wounds and dis
ease, 1896 were discharged on the cX-
piration Of service, SOS were discharged
for disability or dismissed by order Of
court martial, 1867 deserted, two were
missing and no3 retired.
General CUrbin, in calling attention TO
his former recommendation that the rank
and pay Of military attaches abroad
should be Increased, suggests that re-
tired officers OF high rank might be Sc
loCtcd for this service.
The adjutant general has obtained the
number and kind of arms in the hands of
the National Guard in the several States
and finds less than 1000 United States
magazine rifles in their possession. OF
the multitude of other types he says
This heterogeneous collection of obso-
lete arms is very serious dctriment to
the efficiency of the entire National Guard
etc. asssimilates closely to the regular
army and should be armed with the same
arms as the latter. If called into service
under this deplorabe condition much
trouble and voXations delays are iuvolv-
cd in providing the different kinds Of
ammunition required and in urgent or un-
toreseen contingencies may lead to disas-
trous results"
Gon. Corbin recommends legislation pro-
viding that Ma jor- Generals Merritt.
Brooke and Otis, now on the retired list,
| be given the rank Of lieutenant general
and that Colonies Gilmore and Willis
ton be given the rank of brgadier- gcner-
! ais on the retired list He has the follow
ING to say concerning early marriages in
the army:
The early marriage of the younger ON
GERS of the army many Of whom are en-
tlroly dependent upon their pay and al
iowances for support is greatly to ~ de-
plored and should be discouraged. \ Young
officer should have but one alleciance and
that should be to the army. Those with
out private means necessarily divide their
pay between the demands Of their ONCE
and family. A considerable number ar.
| required for services in the PHILIPPINES
where living is expensive and the accom-
/ pliShmcnt Of this tour of duty results in
actual hardship to officer. with families '
General Corbin has the following 10 say
regarding the cantcen:
Tho restoration Of the exchange AS il
existed prior to the passage of the act OF
/ February >, 1901, prohibiting the sale OF
beer, is desired and urged by the great
me JortY Of officers and men and by none
more than those Of pronounced temper
auco views. Numerous report. confirm
tie views long held by this o1ce that the
old exchange contributed to sohricty
health and coutcntmeut OF the men. The
Increase of dcScrtons and OF trials for in
fraction OF discipline is. by those best in
formed attributed to the abolition OF the
former privileges of the exchange"