Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-08-25
PROTEST BY GENERAL MILLS
OBJECTS TO PRESENT SYSTEM OF
ENFORCED PRACTICE MARCHES
Cause Discomfort and Do Not Improve
Physical Condition of the Soldier.
Putting Down Brigandage.

Brig Gen. A. L. Mills, commanding the
Department of the Visayas, in the Philip
pines, in his annual report strongly objects
to the present system of enforced practice
marches which were calculated to harden
the troops and keep them in condition for i'm
mediate campaign service. He claims that
these marches consume too much time; that
the hardening of the soldier is not attained
especially in tropical climates; that the SOL
der, on account of the great physical exer-
ton required of him in carrying the full field
kit, has become dissatisfied, and that this
undesirable condition is one that Will not
improve much as time goes on. Finally,
that the present field kit is not suitable for
tropical service and should be lightened.
Long, monotonous and frequent marches, In
which the soldier is compelled to carry
heavy and dead weight, will not. in Gen.
Mills Judgment. build up his physical con-
dition. Soldiers can be put into the best
possible condition by garrison training and
calisthenics. So the practice march should
be held only once week, not less than six
miles for infantry and ten miles for cavalry
and field artillery. Music should accom-
pany the band when possible; attractive
places should be secured for the longer halts
and more attention paid to the fit of uni
forms and appearance of the commands.
Gen. Mills commanded one of the depart
ments of the Philippines where the condi-
tions were most disturbed and the brigand-
age and outlawry were most pronounced.
He records in detail the rather extensive
state of affairs involving the most diff
cult and hazardous work for the troops and
scouts. He gives great credit to his officers,
some of whom he names, for the tact and
ability with which they responded to the
calls upon the military skill. giving special
credit to Col. Frederick A. Smith. Sth In
fantry; Capt. Abuke and Capt. Daza of the
volunteers and Maj. George Bell, LIST In
fantry. Gen. Mills says the work of sup
pressing disorder could have been more
speedily accomplished by suspending the
writ of habeaS corpus. but the effect would
have been to weaken the civil government.
He expresses a certain sympathy with the
ordinary Filipino in outbreaks on the ground
that though fanatical and often blood
thirsty, he is very ignorant and totally
dominated by his leaders. He would deal
generously with this class of people, but no
mercy should be shown to their leaders, who
are outlaws by choice. Considerable use
was made of volunteers in the frequent
small campaigns. although. as a matter OF
fact. the men were actually designated for
service by the presidentes, upon whom
acquisitions had been made by the American
commanders. AT first the volunteers be-
lieyed their service would be short but as
time went on they felt the hardships i'm
posed upon them and the interference with
their work. all of which resulted in the very
desirable end of engendering among them
bitter feeling against the pulajanes or
outlaws. thus aiding much to lessen SYM
PATTY for them.
AS has been the case in a report of every
officer this year, Gen. Mills closes his own
report with very strong recommends ton
for substantial increase Of army pay and
for the restoration of the canteen to relieve
the soldier of an oppressive and il-advised
law and permit the post exchange to sell
beer under regulations which actually pro-
mote prac tical temperance, add to the con-
tentment of soldiers and in this way aid dis
ciplne.