The Minneapolis journal., 1903-12-07

There were also in the service 26 Of
ficers and $40 enlisted men Of the
Porto Rico regiment, 80 officers and
4,S05 enlisted Philippine scouts, and
2,S07 hospital corps men.
These figures show a total net de-
crease during the year of 1 ,97S.
The total number Of enlistments in
the army during the year ending June
80, 1908 (not including hospital corps
and Philippine scouts), was 1921: OF
these, 6,906 were enlistments and
1885 were new enlistments; 1851
were native born, 2,737 were Of for
eign birth, and II were born in Porto
Rico. Of those enlisted in the United
States, 17,469 were white, 793 colored,
and 12 Indian.
The aggregate of all enlistnrents and
re-enlistments during the year, includ-
ing the hospital corps and Philippine
scouts, was 1917.
Discipline, Health and Morals.
The health Of the army has been
good, except during IAN epidemic of
cholera in the Philippines, which oc-
Cured in the early part Of the year,
and is now ended.
The reports of the generals COM
manding and Of the inspectors-gene
show that the food and clothing fur
nished have been satisfactory, and the
arms and equipments of good quality.
The transportation of troops and sup
plies has been promptly and effectively
accomplished.
The officers charged with maintain
| ing the discipline and morals of the
| army have had to contend with the re-
| taxation of orderly habits, which
always results from active military
operations, and with the injurious ef-
fects produced at a large number of
posts by the abolition Of the canteen;
land the burden of the older and more
experienced officers has been increased
by the fact that SO large a proportion
| of the junior officers brought in upon
essarily without much military eX-
perience.
/ General Staff.
| The important military event of the
| year affecting the regular army has
been the reorganization of the system
of military control under the general
staff act approved Feb. IA, 1908. This
act abolished the separate office OF
general commanding the army, pro.
/ vided for military chief Of staff to the
4 president, who, acting under the di-
! rection of the president, or of the
| secretary of war representing him
should have supervision not only of al
troops of the line but of the specia
staff and supply departments which
had heretofore reported directly te
| the secretary of war; and it created
for the assistance of the chief of staff
a corps Of ferty-four officers, who
were relieved from all other duties.
Il OF equal importance with the gen
eral staff act in it's relation to the gen
eral military efficiency Of the countr!
4 is the act to promote the efficiency O.
! the militia, approved Jan. 21, 1903
supplemented by an appropriation O.
So, 100000 in the army appropriation
act Of March 2, 1903.
) State Encalnpments.
i Hitherto the entire expense of state
encampments has been charge which
the states have had to meet. A ;specia
inspection Of the entire organized
militia Of the country was prompt.
made after the passage of the law
| This inspection was thoroly and eff
!, fectiVely conducted by 81 selected Off
GERS of the army who in the aggregate
visited /, ,196 towns and cities and in
a spected 1876 regiments, separate bat
talions and squadrons and 1,943 com
Z panies, troops, batteries and staff or
/ ganizations
The total number Of the organize,
militia, including officers of everytranl
and grade, was ascertained to b
! 6,542, of which 1910 were officer
: Of the line and 1,510 officers of tn
j, staff, making total of 9,120 commits
: stoned officers and 107,422 enlisted
: men; of this number $685. officers an
81, ,007 men were present at inspection
Militia Organization.
Distributed by organizations, ther
are 1862 companies equivalent to 13
regiments) of infantry, with a total Q
t 6,7S2 officers and 93,314 men; 8
t troops equivalent to Z regiments) o
, cavalry, with $50 officers and 4,74
men; "a companies of coast artillery
with 145 officers and 1882 men; Z
batteries Of field artillery, with 80
officers and 4,422 men, manning "a
pieces of field artillery; Il enginee
!, organizations, with a total of 63 off
GERS and 1,011 men; 20 signal corp
+ organizations, with a total of 81 off
! GERS and $50 men, and Is hospital
) corps organizations, with a total Of /
+ officers and 923 men.
This force would form five arm
!. Ecorps Of three divisions and three bri
! gades Of three regiments of infantr
each. with a tactical complement @
4 cavalry and artillery.
: Militia Strength.
e The total strength of the organize
i militia by states is as follows:
4 Alabama Z. 81 Montana 5s
Z | Arizona tS2 Nebraska ..s.... li0S