Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1906-12-04
ARMY OFFICERS.
Have no Chance 10 Exercise Command
Under Service Conditions.

Tho navy has one great advantage over
tho army In the fact that tho officers Of
high rank are actually trained In the con-
tinual performance Of their duties that u.s.
In the management Of tho battleshlps and
armorcd cruisers gathered into fleets. This
Is not true OF the army officers, who rare
ly have corresponding chances TO exer-
else command over troops under service
conditions The conduct Of the Spanish
war showed the lamentable loss OF life,
the useless extravaganza, and tho inef-
lielency certain to result II during peace
the high officials OF the war and navy
departments arc praised and rewarded
only II they save money ut no matter
what cost 70 the efficiency OF the service,
ana IL the higher officers are given no
chance whatever TO exercise and practise
command. For years prior to the Spanish
war the secretaries Of war were paised
chiefly II they practised economy; which
economy especially In connection with tho
quartermaster, commissary. and medical
departments, WAS directly responsible for
most of the Acknowledgement that occurred
In the war iiself-a parentheucally be IL
observed that the very people who clam
ored for th' misdirected economy In the
first place were foremost to denounce the
were primarily duo TO this same miJd-
rected economy and to the lack OF prepar-
alton II Involved. There should soon be
an Increase In tho number OF men OF our
coast defenses, these men should be of the
right type and properly trained: and
there should therefore he an increase of
pay for certain skilled grades, especially
In the coast artillery. Money Should DO
appropriated to permit troops to be mass
ed In body and exercised In maneuvers,
isn
during the summer Just past has been OF
lncalculable benefit to the army and
should under no circumstances be discon-
tinued, II on those proctlse marches and
In these nianeuvers elderly officers prove
unable 70 bear the strain, they should be
retired at once. for the fact Is conclusive
as 10 their unftness for war; that is, for
the only purpose because OF which they
should be allowed to stay In the service.
II IS a real misfortune to have scores Of
small company or regimental posts scat
tered throughout the country; the army
should be gathered In few brigade or
division posts. and tho generals should be
practised In handling the men in masses.
Neglect to provide for all OF this means TO
incur the risk of future disaster and dis
grace.
The readiness and efficiency OF both the
army and navy in dealing with the recent
sudden crisis in Cuba Illustrate afresh
their value to the nation. This readiness
fiu ttIltlNilCg Wbulu IltNt Dttfl very IiluCn
less had II not been for the existence OF
tho general stan In the army and the
general board In the navy: both are essen.
tial 10 the proper development and use OF
cur military forces ailoat and ashore. The
troops that were sent TO Cuba were Kan
died hawlessly. II was the swiftese mo-
billzation and dispatch Of troops over sea
ever accomplished by our government. The
expedition landed completely equipped ald
ready for immediate service, several Of
Its organizations hardly remaining In Ha-
wanna over night before splitting up into
detachments and going to their several
posts II was fine demonstration Of the
value and efficiency OF the general STAFF.
Similarly, II was owing In large part TO
the general board that the navy was able
at tho outset to meet the Cuban crisis
with such instant efficiency; ship after
ship appearing on the shortest notice at
any threatened point, while the marine
corps In particular performed indslpensa-
bic service. The army and navy war col
leses are OF incalculable value to the two