Arizona republican., 1904-08-29
PHOENIX. ARIz., AUGUST 29, 1904.
The General Staff.

The Army and Navy Journal in its latest issue calls attention to the fact that the general staff of the army came into being just a year ago and expresses the belief that most of those who have a knowledge of what It IS doing feel that its existence is fully Justified by what it has already accom- plished. Much of what has been done has been effected so quietly as to be almost unknown to the general pub lie. yet have been marked by by thor oughness and diligence which have caused its results to be felt in nearly every branch of the military admin istration. It is pointed out that the structural changes made necessary by the law which created the general staff have been effected and that these with others of importance have, it is believed, simplified methods and resulted in improving and strengthen ing the whole military system, as well as in contributing to the welfare of the army. Regulations and drills have been revised and made to conform to modern requirements, and progress sive system of education arranged. in the benefits of which the state troops are to share
 CreditabIe as Is the work which the general staff has done and Is doing. there are clements of no small strength at work seeking to bring about a return to the old order of things. Under the old system great gulf existed between the staff and the line. Officers appointed to the for mer. holding their positions as they did for life. came to regard the rou- tine of their offices as of paramount importance and the needs of the army as of secondary consequence. The evil results of all this were apparent i'm the confusion and mismanagement which existed during the spanish war when the stan service practically broke down completely. The experiences or those days made it evident that the whole system was cumbrous and anti quated and that a reform was abso- lutely necessary to bring the army as a whole up to the highest state Of et- aclency. It was with this object in view that the general staff was insti- tuted and the steps taken which would bring the various branches of the mill ltary service into closer touch with one another.
 The new system may not be perfect. II would be strange if some defects did not appear as it was put into op- eration. but at the very best it ought to be given a fair trial and be judged by the results which 1t produces. If es these can be remedied and there Is DO occasion at this stage for con- demning the whole system as bad be- cause it is rot perfect in all partic- ulars. Naturally. those who think that their own interests have been af- fected adversely by the change are dissatisfied with it, but it is hardly possible that they will succeed in their efforts to overthrow the new system and secure the restoration of the old. They should at least have plan of their own for bringing about i'm provements and not simply take the ground that no change was needed. The old system proved a failure when put to the test, and its inadequacy as regards modern requirements was such that it was easier and more sat- isfactory to do away with it entirely than to attempt to patch and reform It.