The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-10-16
General Leonard Woods Report.

General Leonard Woods Report.
The tone Of the annual report OF Cen
eral LEONARD WOOD, commanding in the
Philippines, is rather that Of the head OF
the army than hat Of the commander
of a department, so sweeping are the
recommendations he makes with regard
to promotion and reorganization Of the
service; but there are some views in the
report which might well be needed at
Washington.
General WooD is right when he de-
clares that the garrisons in the islands
should not be reduced until civil govern
ment has passed the experimental stage
in the interior OF Luzon and in remote
parts Of the archipelago. A force of 10000
is none too large for police purposes II
complete pacification shall continue to
be the American policy. The Spaniards
made no attempt to subiugate or control
the tribes in many of the islands, and
except in Lnzon they garrisoned only
the chief towns. The Moros OF Mindanao
never sucCumbed TO Spanish rule, nor
the Igorrotes in northern Luzon. In the
Visayas there was a form Of mission
authority, but the priests no longer
have anything TO do with administering
affairs in the Philippines. In peaceful
times the ~Spaniards employed only 5000
regulars in the islands, but these were
supplemented by from $1,000 to 10000
native soldiers. During the rebellion of
1sss-9S the regular force was raised to
5000 . For the Spanish policy Of
sporadic government outside Of Luzon
and government by proxy in parts Of
that island an army of 10000 American
regulars would no doubt be a waste Of
men; but as u authority is asserted in
the widest regions of the archipelago
and the contingency of a foreign COM
plication must always be considered, a
reduction Of the complement would be
unwise at this time.
General WOOD would eliminate from
Philippine service field officers past SO
in subordinate ranks, and he wants to
see Colonies with a few years to serve
promoted and retired. He urges that
two in five of all promotions should be
by selection. Finally, he would rid the
army of the Adventures who received
commissions after the Spanish war and
are turning out badly. When army
officers read these ingenious recommen-
dations of General LEONARD WOOD his
popularity will not be increased, and
plain things will be said about his pre-
sumption. II must be admitted that the
volunteers who got into the army in
Spanish war times keep the court-mar-
tials busy and do not compare favorably
with the West Pointers in general de-
pertinent. II must be conceded that a
Captain of 80 well down on the list is
not as useful for service i'm the tropics as
his sturdier and more hopeful junior.
But we submit that there are not a few
Colonies in the army with less than five
years to serve who would probably make
very good Generals, perhaps better than
some of their subOrdinates who have
been promoted over their heads. Gen
eral Lord ROBERTS was 81, we believe,
when he assumed command of the Brit
ish forces in South Africa and changed
the course of the war by ~outlanking and
doubling up CRoNJE; and General Lord
KITCHENER, regarded as England's alb
lest soldier, is To- in his ~ifty-seventh
year.
General WOODS reforms ran be carried
out only by legislation, and the passage
Of any army bill is a labor of HERCULES.
No doubt there are Colonies who would
like to be retired as Generals, but
most Of them would prefer the regular
order, with the salary attached and a
chance Of active service. The Captains
OF so cannot be moved up as long as
the Majors are in the way, and they
might resent perpetual home service.
General WooD cannot be accommodated
unless the army is recognized from top
to bottom.