Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1905-12-15
AN INTERESTING REPORT,

The report OF the Secretary Of War.
for the year 1905, now submitted to
Congress. Is document OF over hun
dred pages. II does not deal exclusive
ly with matters pertaining to the army
and navy but considerable space is de-
voted to the Philippine Islands and the
Panama canal. Reports on colonial"
affairs and public works are mixed up
with those on the business of the war
department.
The report shows the strength OF the
regular army to be total Of 1854, Of
which 1850 are officers, They are dis
trlbuted as follows: In the United
States, i5,4O2; in the Philippine islands.
1903, In Porto Rico. TO-. In the Ha-
wailan Islands. IA; In Alaska. l.Oi5.
and In other places, 1910, That is a
small army for a country Of the size
and Importance OF the United States.
but II Is evidently large enough for
all purposes.
Complaint Is made OF the INSULT
cheney OF the number OF officers. over
2S per cent OF the line officers were alb
sent as sick, on leave, or In arrest
The same Is true of over II per cent OF
the star officers. Is that not an an
omalous condition?
The Secretary states that there has
during the year been no military oper-
atoms OF serious proportions. In the
Philippine islands small bodies OF
troops have sometimes been called up-
on 20 aid the Constabulary in main
tainng order. But notwithstanding
THIS. during the year 20 officers and ass
men were either killed In action or died
Of wounds or disease, a great major
ity OF the deaths being from disease.
Sickness directly attributed to dlssipa-
ton are the curse OF the army, causing
l6 per cent Of all non effectiveness. and
is per cent Of an discharges for dis
ease. The healthiest station for troops
Is Alaska.
The subject Of desertlon has been dis
cussed lately in the Press. Secretary
TAFT believes that desertlons are due 10
the fact that many men OF low moral
standing are accepted. He suggests
probationary service Of reasonab bic dur
alton for recruits.
with regard TO our coast defenses the
Secretary believes that almost $1,000
900 viii be needed the next fiscal year
for forthcations in our nsuar possess
slons, divided between the Philippines,
Hawaii and Porto Rico. He outlines
the work being done at army posts to
provide gymnasiums for the men, and
gives this movement his hearty sup
port. In the last year the army trans
port service, the report states. has done
large amount OF work IN conveying
men and supplies TO the Philippines,
work which the quartermaster-g general
estimates would have entalled an ex-
pcndture Of u,7OO,OO0 II performed by
private lines
secretary TAFT. speaking Of the Phil
ippnes, takes a hopeful view of the
situation there. In only three pro-
vlnces Of the 50 have there been any
disturbances during the past year, and
those three provinces are the homes
OF a number Of lnsurgent generals. To
Keep down Instructions IN Cavite and
Batangas large force OF Philippine
scouts was employed 1t was charged
That these scouts abused the people,
and on this point Secretary Taft de-
clares some OF these [chargesl were
doubtless well founded because II is
impossible to place uneducated Fill.
pnos in places where they can exercise
power over other Fllipinus without
abuses following on the other hand, |
there Is no country In the world where
false charges can be so easily made and 1
given verisimilltude as IN the Tagaog |
provinces Of the Philippine Islands"
The space devoted to Panama canal |
matters Is iilled with interesting read
ing. The history of the enterprise is
reviewed and light thrown on many
f'll'lS vi 'NUtluNflSy. as regards the |
conditions under which the work must
be performed, the Secretary says that
dependence must be placed on an alien
population, for white men cannot stand
this outdoor work In the tropics. He
suggests that, as the West Indian labor
Is far from being satisfactory. men will
have to be drawn from other parts OF
the world, possibly China ana Japan, to
hll the demand for unskllled workers.
The canal, so far. has cost $50, 900. 900.
This sum has been expended as fol.
lows; $4,000, 600 went to the French
Panama canal company and 800 900
to the republic OF Panama for the right
Of way and the railroad. That left So.
100000 for preliminary work on the ca.
nal Of which at the date OF this mes.
sage S9,s1S,Qoo has been expended. The