New-York tribune., 1908-12-09
PRESIDENTS MESSAGE
Continued from eleventh page

ssose who have attained their present position
wholly or il part by a process OF selection.
The scope O. retiring boards should be ex-
tended So that they could consider general IN
frness 10 command for any ca use. in order TO
secure far more rigid enforcement than at
--eseut in the elimination of officers for mental,
-1h,-sical or tenperamental disabilities But this
,,a7 Is recommended only II the Congress does
rot see II 70 provide what in my judgment is
fs- better thar is. for selection in promotion.
sn5 for elimination for age. officers who fail TO
s-rsE- a certain rank by a certain age should be
-etITeC-1oT instance Il 4 man should not attain
reI6 rank by the time ne - forty-fve he should,
a course be placed on the retired list Gen
era officers should be selected as at present, and
e-e--rir1 OF the other promotions should be
-,s5e by selection. the selection TO be made by
r. President or the Secretary OF War from =
list ef a. least two candidates proposed for each
zz-ancy by board Of officers from the arm Of
- service from which the promotion Is 10 be
made A bin is now before the Congress hav-
iE for It's object 20 secure the promotion of Off
GERS 70 various graoes at reasonable ages
through process Of selection. by boards Of Off
re-s Of the least efficient for retirement with q
percentage OF their pay depending upon length
- service TIE bin. although not accomplishing
a. that should be done. IS q long step IN the
---nr direction. and I earnestly recommend its
-aSss%e or that of more completely effective
measure
The csyal-v arm should be reorganizes upon
modern lines This Is an arm in which II IS
peculiarly necessary that the field officers should
r0r be cl5- The cavalry Is much more difficult
- form than iu1artry- and II should be kept up
- rhe maximum both in efficiency and in
strength f7- Il cannot he made in q hurry At
--eSr-- both infantry and artillery are too few
= number for our needs Especial attention
should b paid 10 Development Of the machine
E--. 4 general service corps should be estab-
hshed As things are now the average soldier
hzz far too much labor Of . non-rnilitary char
No7- mat the organized militia. the national
Euz-z. hzs beer incorporated with the army as
a par Of the national forces. I
Eater s523vss 81 F4ys[PsP 58 \ . % g
power 10 perfect its efficiency
= -zT --r,---s ---z-e
wise AIDED more literally than heretofore The
continuous services Of many well trained reg
zzr of5csrs viii be essential in this connection.
Such o-l1erS must be specially trained at ser
wee schools best 10 qualify them as instructors
q rhe national guard But the detailing Cf
oEce-s fe~ training 81 The service schools and
far duty with the national guard entails detach-
- them from their regiments. which are al
-sE6y greatly depleted by detachment Of officers
tie Congress
4 bIl IS nov pending before the Congress
creating number Of extra officers IN the army.
v--fcn = passed. as II ought - be VIII enable
more officers 20 be trained as instructors Of
national guard and assigned n that duty In
case n T viii he % the utmost Importance
n have large number Of trained officers
US Cor turning raw Ievies into good troops
There should be legislation II provide COM
plere plan for organizing the great body OF vol
-1-=e-s behind TIE regular army and national
s-ar6 WREN war hss come Congressional as
stsraIce should b. given those who are endeav-
c---E - promote --re practice so that men.
f. re services cut o. them may know how
- -S= the rife While teams representing the
United states won -le rife and revolver cham
= --Sr-DS o. the world against al COrre-s in
EEs-s-C this year. Il Is unfortunately true that
ne great body Of oUr citizens shoot less and
iess time goes on To meet this We should
encourage ri-17 0-7cr-ce among schO0lbOys. and /
i-dee1- among al classes IS well in the mill
ts-v services. by every means in. our power !
Thus. and DCT otherwise. may be able 10
ss<-s- n preserving the peace or the world FIJI
20 he'd ol- oUu against the strong nations Of
tas earth. cur voice for peace VIII carry 10 the