The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1907-12-17
MORE SOLDIERS WANTED.

The Herald has received a copy of
pamphlet written by Captain Ely of
the regular army, in which a strong
plea is made for more soldiers. The
captain would have congress authorize
the recruiting of twenty-four addition
al regiments of infantry at once. He
points out that it is very difficult to
take care of all the territory under the
American flag with the present stand
ing army. and argues that the men in
the ranks. as well as the officers. are
very much overworked. He says. in
part:
IF twenty-five regiments We're no more
than enough in the years preceding the
war with Spain, when we had only
continental United States to garrison, how
very much less than enough must thirty
regiments be now that in addition 10
continental United States we have Porto
Rico. Cuba. Hawaii and the Philippines
''Paradoxical as it may seem II is be-
lieved that the ranks of fifty-four regl-
mentS could more easily be kept fllled
than those of thirty, for the reason that
many of the present discouraging features
of the service would be eliminated, and
regiments stationed for longer period
in one station would form associations
that would attract men TO the ranks.
Also, the enormous expense due to the
constant changing of regiments and bat
taliOns from one station to another would
be eliminated.
But however this may be and what
ever the additional cost, no reasonable
man who will take the time to look over
the present situation Of the United States
and its place among the nations of the
earth can fail to be impressed by the sim
pie fact which We are endeavoring to
emphasize, l. e., that our infantry today
is insufficient. 1t is overworked; it is
in danger of going TO pieces. and it is
the plain duty of those who have the
business of providing an adequate army
upon their hands to take this matter up
and give us more regiments of infantry
without a weeks unnecessary delay
The statements made by Captain
Ely are impressive. Army life should
be made more attractive to the enlist
ed men, and certainly the tenure of oc-
cupancy of stations at present is dis
couragingly short, especially in the de-
sirable stations. officers and men are
just beginning to feel fairly at home,
just beginning to establish friendships,
when orders come sending them to the
Philippines, 20 Porto Rico, Hawaii and
other far-distant points. But does not
the intelligent man who enlists in the
army know that by so doing he sacri-
fees home ties
The cost of equipping and maintain
ing twenty-four new regiments would
involve a considerable annual expendi-
ture. If all the regiments were main
tanned at their full strength the gov
eminent would be required TO pay not
less than 1000, 900 a month for their
upkeep. This at the present rates of
pay. which every enlisted man and
every officer pronounces most unsatis-
factory. Would it not be better to dis
tribute the Sl2,OOO,OOO annually among
the present forces? Would it not make
them work more cheerfully? Would
there not be fewer desertions?
Also it is a comfort to remember
that, though our army may seem small
in times of peace, though assertions
are many when war comes hundreds
of thousands of men offer their services
regardless Of pay, and there are no de-
! sertions.