The Birmingham age-herald., 1902-11-17
Fl nWING TR|RIITE ss stv@ sszS
 TOTHE us. ARMY
General Breckenridge Turns in
 His Annual Report
RESeNTS LATE CRITICISM
says the Men In the Philippines Have Fought NobIy and BraveIy and Have Borne the hardshlps
 Unoomplainlnaly.

Washington. November 16-The annual report of Gen. J. c. Breckinrtdge, in- spector general of the army, is a volumi- | nous document and covers every phase Of the military establishment and each department bureau and command In the army. There are more than fifty recom- mendations and suggestions relating to Improvements in the army, most of which pertain to technical matters and minor conditions. Much of the report necessari- ly has been covered in the reports of bureau chiefs and commanding officers. General Breckinridge finds much to com mend in all branches of the service, and reports progress and improvements every where.
 The most serious criticism is fin regard to absenteeism where officers are on de- tached duty, leaving the regiments short of officers. In the Philippines, especially, it Is found that many companies are with out captains, and the companies in com mand of new and untried officers. He att tributes this to lack of officers in the army to fill the details and detached as- signments.
 General Breckinridge shows that in- struction in the army Is progressing sat- isfactorily. He recommends the fortif- cation of Pearl harbor in the Hawaiian islands as strategic point. He says wa- ter transportation in the army is rapidly assuming stable and economical methods.
 In the Philippines.
 He has the following to say regarding his inspectpn in the Philippines:
 During my tour in the Philippines 1t was evident on all sides that the army, as whole, was laboring patiently and faithfully to solve the many vexing prob lems continually presented to it. The diff faculties encountered and the hardships endured never can be fully appreciated by any one who has not been on the ground, and observed the daily life of of- ficers and men, miles away from home influences and associations, living in com munities either openly or secretly hostile depending almost entirely for their sub sistence upon the commissary, where one is always afraid to take even an ordinary drink of water without ascertainlng first whether it has been cooked.
 Critics at home may search for epithets to apply to our general officers, but these officers are no less kind heart ed than their critics, and were anxiously mindful of the sufferings which necessar- fly fall upon the innocent in warfare as well as the guilty and were devising means by which the poor might be cared for and fed. There Is reason for grati- f1cation that our fellow countrymen have confidence in their army and many know what war Is; and the reaction has not been sluggish.
 Performed Duties We'll.
 That the army performed its duties well and bore It's hardships uncomplain- ingly, is well known to all who have kept in touch with 1t, since the opening of the Philippine instruction. In fact, 1t has done only these things which we expect of 1t and which we will continue to expect of American soldiers
 ''The crying need of the soldiers now in the Philippines Is quarters; and noth- ing will add more to the discipline and efficiency of officers and men serving in that division than the construction of as rapidly as possible, commodous quar- ter5 and barracks for our troops on sites which will afford ample room for proper instruction of large bodies of men in drill and target practice"
 Discussing the American troops and the Filipinos. General Breckinridge says:
 '"There has been a good deal of discus sion in the public press and elsewhere concerning the treatment of the native Filipinos by the American troops and some rather serious charges have been brought against the army, which charges have not been substantiated. The con ditions of war in the Philippine Islands have been. perhaps, unusual and from reasons arising from the conduct of the Filipinos themselves, who, as the au- thorities agree, are sometimes extremely cruel and treacherous. In the conduct of the army toward them the exercise of unexampled patience is claimed and | the humanity of the troops engaged has no parallel in the history of dealing with Asiatics.
 Novel Duties. with what novel duties In both civil ai=A- l...a