Omaha daily bee., 1902-12-01

secretary Of war, in his annual report
mentions the reduction Of the armed forces
to 66,711 and an order which will result
in further reducing the number by Feb
ruary next to SO, sec. OF these Il, 4sO will
be in the Philippines.
The organizations stationed at Fort
L~eavenworth and Fort Riley have been ex-
empted from the reduction for purposes
Of instruction, so that at the general serv-
ice and stan college and the school of
application for cavalry and light artillery,
student officers may become familiar with
the handling Of troops at full war strength.
Islands Need Little Defense.
The report continues:
The only armed forces which will then
remain TO be maintained on account of the
islands ceded by Spain will be the Porto
Rico Provisional regiment and the Philip
pine scouts.
the discontinuance OF the
Porto Rico regiment, and that at the same
time the right Of enlistment in the regular
army be extended to citizens OF Porto Rico.
There ie no longer occasion for maintaining
a special and peculiar force In the island,
outside of the coast defense Notifications.
The Philippine scouts, on the other hand,
should be continued. They enable us to
reduce the force of American troops in the
Philippines more rapidly tnan we could
without them, and their knowledge of the
country makes them especially valuable In
hunting down ladrones, which for a good
while to come will be an urgent business.
The relations between these scouts and the
insular constabuiary will have to be worked
out hereafter when we have had longer ex-
p%erlence and know better what revenues
can be relied upon by the insular govern
ment. Both forces are now useful agents In
maintaining order.
Many Recruits Rejected.
During the year ended June 80, 1902, there
were l24,542 applications tor enlistment in
the army, not including the Hospital corps
and Philippine scouts. OF these 37,46l, or
about 30 per cent, were accepted and S7,OS1.
or about 20 per cent were rejected. OF the
number accepted 32, 249 were natives of the
United States, 4,726 were of foreign birth
and 4S6 were born in Porto Rico; 34,6I7 were
white, 2,2S4 colored, IA Indians and 1856 Porto
Ricans (color not speciied). The re-en-
listments numbered 1l,4S5 and the new en-
listments 6,O26. OF the applicants rejected
1872 were rejected as aliens and S,SS as IL
literates.
The health Of the army has shown a con-
tinued improvement; Deaths RON all
1000 of mean strength, as against 22.74 per
1000 of mean strength during 1900. This
great measure due to improved conditions
in the Philippines, where the rate was re-
duced to 1876 per 1000 in 1901, as against
90 AZ in 1900. The death rate from all causes
during the year 1901 in the United states
was $50 per 1000; in Porto Rico, iSl; IN
/ China, 1876. The admissions to sick report
for disease and injury and the discharges
for disability agree with the reduced NOR
tality rate in being considerably less,
A further Improvement of health In the
philippine may ne S warfaPre' With the e X
posture incident to II.
Full returns have not been received COW
ering the period of epidemic cholera in the
Philippines, but Geographic reports indi-
cate that the army mas suffered but little.
The principal military events OF the year
nave been the end OF the military occupa-
ton Of Cuba and the end OF the insurrec-
ZION in the Philippines.
The report, proceeding, details the Amer
lean evacuation of Cuba and the estab-
lishment of the insular government, and
the pacincatIon of the Philippines.
1t continues:
Moros Need Care.
In the meantime the close general anal
ogy to the relations of the North Amer
lean Indians indicates a duty, for the pres,
ent at least, of limited supervision and
4 control operating upon the tribal govern
ments of the Moros, rather than an at
tempt TO substitute an American or Phil
ippine government acting directly upon the
Now that the insurrection has been dis
posed Of we shall be able to turn our at
tention, not merely to the slave trade, but
to the already existing slavery among the
Moros. We cannot Immediately free the
slaves by a single act n Tst;Im 5esaEse n II
which a large part of the slaves would
probably be found fighting against us; and,
second. because a large part of them would
have Nowhere to go and no way to live
IL deprived of the protection and support
of their present masters; believe, now
gradual and steady reduction, resulting ul-
timately in the extinction of the practice
The task of improving the Moros is by
no means hopeless. General. George w.
Davis. who commanded IN Mindanao' ana
FHWhatever may be the number Of Moros,
whether a few or many hundred thou-
sands. all, and many times more than. all,
of these people will be needed as agrlcul-
tural and mechanical laborers and helpers
IN the cultiya tim of the aOil and the util-
izatton of it's productions for the benefit
OF themselves and mankind. They are
| corn, cattle, beautiful woven fabrics, and
thrusting and cutting weapons; they manu-
give surprising proofs Of their ingenuity
and industry. Their Moro boats are fash
Toned and rugged and sailed with the ut
ers.s
The restoration Of the normal conditions
part OF the army TO the United States have
made II possible to resume with increased
activity the work of preparing for future
The increase Of the army from 5000 to
5000 has made necessary a great increase
the constructions which go 10 make up an
army post. The accommodations which had
been provided before the war with Spain
are now quite inadequate and require to
be more than doubled.
Urges More neu
The rapid increase of inexperienced men
make the kind of exercise furnished by
the joint army and navy maneuvers OF last
September of the utmost Importance. l urge
that appropriations be made by congress to
provide for a continuance Of the same prac-
tice, and for the most liberal allowances
Of ammunition and projectiles for general
target practice in which the entire coast
artillery can take part.
An examination of the sources from
which are Drawn the officers of the army,
as now constituted, shows how important
1t is 10 go on with the military education
OF officers In some general and systematic
way. OF the $500 officers OF the line, ISIS
have been appointed since the beginning
Of the war with Spain. OF these 276 were
supplied by the West Point academy; the
remaining 1,H2 come-414 from the ranks,
52 from civil life and SIG from the volun-
teers of the war with Spain and in the
Philippines.
The volunteers and enlisted men have
acquired useful experience and were all
selected on the ground of their military
| conducf and inteliRence. Yet IL is Ran-