Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-07-03
REFORM OF THE ARMY
Valuable Services Performed
by Secretary Root.
HE WORKED WITH CONGRESS
Succeeded in Having His Ideas
Adopted.
COMMAND OF TROOPS ABOLISHED
Advantage of the General Staff-In-
creasing the Efficiency of the
National Guard.
BY WILLIAM Z. CURTIS.
Special Correspondence of The Star and the Chicago
Record Herald.

According 10 the opinion OF those WIZ
ought to know best. the army of the United
States is in a better condition today from
technical point of view than it ever has
been. which is chiefly due to the successful
efforts of Secretary Root and Secretary
Taft his successor. 1t will become one of
the traditions of the service that Secretary
Root has done more for the army than any
man in the long list of war ministers, and
vet he is a lawyer by trade and never took
any particular interest in military affairs
until he entered McKinley's cabinet But
he possesses that inestimable faculty of
being able TO do things. He is of
comprehensive ideas and practical methods
And, what was more important in the line
of duty in which he was engaged at that
particular time. he is a skllful lobbyist, with
sufficient supply of patience, plenty of
tact, and was willing to sit up with the
congressional committees until their work
was done. Secretary Blaine used to ac-
complsh his purposes in legislation the same
way. Other Secretaries of State have failed
because they considered it unbecomlng the
dignity Of cabinet minister to go to the
Capitol and back up their official recon-
mendation with personal appeals. Secre-
tary Hay took that position. He would talk
with senators and representatives who
came to the department, and was entirely
frank with them. but he never went to the
Capitol Secretary Root goes down there
frequently. and while the reorgani zation of
the army going on according to his
recommendations as Secretary OF War, he
spent a good deal of his time in the rooms
OF the committees military affairs and
militia al both ends of the Capitol.
Secretary Taft does the same. 1t will be
a great loss to the army when he goes on
the supreme bench. 1t is a pity that he Will
not stay where he is. particularly because
he knows and understands the Philippine
people. and no one without his knowledge
and experience can do so well az he in gov
afnep heTp a nd nnliripl their
benefit. He is thoroughly interested in the
Improvement of the army; and ii will take
any other man long time to learn as much
as he knows. Rotation in office has its
drawbacks as well advantages 1t is
particularly unfortunate that the changes
of administration have been so frequent IN
the Philippines. No sooner does governor
general become familiar with his duties and
learn to appreciate his responsibilities than
he resigns is recalled and some new man
is appointed. 1t is remarkable that the gov
eminent OF the Islands has not suffered
from these frequent changes. Tenure of
office in the English colonial policy is almost
permanent. or. at least. experienced men
are promoted from one colony to another.
so that the government always hasi the
benefit Of their knowledge. We have had
control of the Philippines for seven years
and during that time we have had about
six different governors. But l started out
to speak of what Secretary Root has done
for the benefit of the army.
Army Reorganization.
At the close of the civil war the regular
army had fighting strength of 1900 men,
which was reduced to 25.000. and stood at
that maximum. with an actual force of only
about 10000. until the Spanish war. The vol
unteer force called out on that occasion came
up pretty close to 100000 men. After the
Philippine insurrection reorganization law
was passed. and approved February, 1901,
and upon the suggestion of Secretary Root
il contained many important reforms. The
army was increased In size from 25,0o0 to
maximum of 100000 men and a minimum
of 90 eco. the actual force being left to the
discretion OF the President He may in
crease or reduce il. according to the needs
of the country. Under the present law he
can make II as large as he thinks necessary
up to the limit. but for obvious reasons 1t
has been reduced to the minimum and there
are now not more than 5000 regulars under
arms.
In addition to them under the new law
he has q reserve force of 6,TS2 officers and
1894 men In the National Guard. which,
through the influence of Secretary Root
and the earnest efforts of Senator Dick and
other members of Congress, has been thor
oughly reorganzed and placed upon
basis of efficiency. The President can
now call into active service for nine
months, In any emergency at his judg-
ment. without waiting for the action of
Congress. within a few hours fully hun
bred thousand newly armed, uniformed and
well-drilled militia. They have been In
structed by regular officers and the officers
OF the militia are invited to become stu
dents In the regular army schools. They
have the same organization as the regulars,
they are subject TO the same command.
they draw their arms, ammunition and
supplies from the same source. are subject
TO the same general system OF accountable
ity. have & similar discipline. and the same
forms and methods of transacting busi-
ness Congress appropriates million dol
lars a year 20 pay the expense of encamp-
ruents of the militia. which are attended by
officers OF the regular army. to give in
struction and Information. The law pro-
Vides that for the purpose of securing list
OF persons specially qualified to hold com
missions In any volunteer force that may
be called out hereafter, examinations open
to any one in the organized militia shall be
held at frequent intervals. The persons
passing such examinations are to consti-
tute eligible class for appointment
officers of any future volunteer force. They
are authorized TO attend any military school
or college, and. during such attendance.
are entitled TO the same allowances and
combinations as are given 10 officers OF
the regular army
The law also provides that the President
shall award commissions as second lieu
tenant In the army to at least one honor
graduate OF the six military schools and
colleges OF the country showing the best
work upon inspection.
Last year eighty-seveu selected officers
of the army visited 1876 towns and cities,
and inspected 1876 regiments 1943 COM
panes. troops. batteries and other organi-
cations of militia. including a total OF 49,,
532 oflcerS and men. New YORK mas the
largest and best National Guard, number
ing 1859; Pennsylvania comes second with
DOCS. then. In order. illinois, $685. Massa
chusetts. 5.73o; Ohio, 6.6e7, and New Jer-
sey. 4.651.
At present seventy Eight regular army
officers are giving instructions In insttu
tons for the higher education of men
throughout the country. where they have
under their command Is III students. These
college organizations are similar to those
OF the regular army and are intended 10
train up officers for an emergency.
Chief of Staff Installed.
During his administration Secretary Root
brought the War Department up TO bust
ness basis for the first time I'm many years.
There has always been serious friction be-
tween the Secretary OF War and the gem
eral commanding the army. and nobody
was ever able to remove il. The Secretary
OF War held the power and had the au-
thority OF the President, and the command
ing general had very little to do say. He
was deprived OF nearly all his prerOgatives
as well as his power. The officers of his
stan reported directly to the head OF the
War Department for the reason that the
IF fha LAT nul lilo Inf