New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-08-28
MITES'S ARMY ROAD PLAN.
T7NFOLDED TO MR. ROOT.
Last Official Report of Army Chief
an Interesting Document.

washington. Aug. 1.-THE last official utter
100 NJ Lieutenant General Nelson A Miles be-
.ors his retirement has been made public
.,-oncb unofficial sources IN the War Depart
.-e,t II is In the form Of a letterFo Secretary
Of War Root
General Niles makes q number of sugges-
.,ons for the remodelling Of the army organiza-
tion He proposes TO minimize the cavalry
s~.ncb and q equip q strong corps Of war
,,o+or cycles and armed automobiles in Its
r1eoe He favors mounted rihemen. but says
- t3-se IS far less important than formerly,
- .bst tre automobile will take its place in
- ,e.t war. One of his novel recommendations
:, rho Establishment OF a road building corps
- ave thousand men nucleus to construct
,;,ttarv roads in time Of peace and to cooperate
-rs,b the state authorities in the movement
pa would have the corps fully equipped with
modern road building machinery and oegln at
80 the work Of improving the principal high
--a-s mat have military Importance. General
,rrss.s letter is as follows:
Hsad 6r Z c Of A the AFT g isu
The Honorable the secretary or ~ al; cav ~. min
ST mn Of the army wnerever ii has been serv-
ing have carefully inspeGtso, ne few months have
iTsosc1ed some OF the principal torohcauons on
The atlantis s so1oe eatGres concerning the army
,faT deem II my duty to lay before the anthoIl-
ne views concerning the organization of the army
have beer presented IN onciai comm -
o. selco+ornendation as the strength Of the
-tts-..5 force in proportion TO the infantry was,
noe' Inc the extreme limit that felt justified
~ - would have advocated but for certain
circumstances existing at that Iine: ygs 9ee ve re
80 80 ESWn and the cavalry force was increased
MIN now the latter is entirely out OF proporuon'
useless and enormously expensive. - ,,
Al the commencement 81 J-T 9p S,i1a5 harSrned
~ ar7erce5 cavalry. portion of II was oollgeo
70 remain at Tampa ana f rs I@oS Snyy that was
I-f.T III wrong or the present organization OF t9e
ay % ana ihudicions and This subject requires
n rv Judgment the serious attention OF the gov
e Tbere is 10 country with the possible exception
Of Russia that has Sc aTse s eadie and are exo
Seriencfd ard expert horsemen as the Cnlte1
{T5ousspds Of men in our country who are in the
saddle every day. who are sklheo N %
into a most formidable corps Of mounted rlnenen.
country at least ten times as many mounted men;
many Of whom have had military service as coaId
ernnents within any reasonable time. We have
hundred thousano men accgs'onefp 10 oterrI,1
either Canada or Mexico: hence the dlspropoT uoR
lie army is unnecessary and injudiclous; IN EURO.
pean armies the PROPORTION OF nounts9 CooPs 10
FngFh army II is one-seventh, while in our army
there one-hah as many cavalry as lnlalClS
Tie marvellous development in modern arms
rifles machine guns and quick firing field aItlleTy
renders the cavalry. as formerly used on the pat
tlehed obsolete. while the wonderful deVelopIneht
IN the use Of motor power and electrical appliances
has rendered the horse far less inportant. tha9
formerly. These facts are doubly slgnincahL eno
should be recognized by the military authorities
There IS however corps OF force required in
our army that could be rendered OF great utlniy
rot oulv TO military but to the people OF this
country. This power IS being recognized by Euro
pean governments, and have several times recon-
nended Its use By ours. II VIII be utilized In me
next war and preparation for its use by our army
should no longer be neglected. have reference 20
he bicvcle MOTORCYCLE and the automobile. which
have been developed 70 that extent that they ne
and transportation. Five regiments OF cavalry
ueuts should Be organized thoroughly tralneo ano
OF corps Of observation to open the way for the
advance % army, TO obtain informa tion. 70 re-
and bridges Of7cers and men Of the cavalry; arti,
lery and infantry. and OF the ouaFterTnas ana
should serve two four years with this corps
The modern aQpl anoes Of road building are vast
work is now done principally by machinery and
this CORPS should be supplied WITH all the recent
should he constantly moved about through diff
fere1t parts Of the country. where II would nave
Toads sUitab { for the movement OF an army max
tnC c7T-fui study Of The Topography surveying ana
them, making both officers and men familiar with
this most important work. and AT the same time
be operating. IN fact. such a corps would be or
mora important practical and direct oenent 70 ne
e--nv. am in tine Of war would be invaluable
expended FOR ore-ttird II the mounted force could
r. this wav be utilized IN brincing about great
;u1rroveTnent In the army conferring , a grFat
ing most frnro-tant CORPS for military service.
and authorized ~ CONGRESS-. Very respectfully
NELSON A. MILES. Lieutenant General