The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-12-24
ALL OUT OF Gear.
Chief of Staff Gen. Bell in His
Annual Report
Points Out Many Defects in the
L. S. Army.
NOT MUCH is. RIGHT.
Day for Making Army Out of
Raw Recruits Past.
Cavalry Arm of Service, Worst
in the World.
NOT MUCH is. RIGHT.

Washington, Dec. 24-The most
urgent need of the army of the United
States at present is an adequate rem
edy for the evils resulting from de-
tached service of officers says Major
General ]. Franklin Bell, chief of staff
IN his annual report made public today.
He also says that the time has arrived
when the United States can no longer
afford to maintain an Inadequate
/ army for peace needs. nor an army
with an anticuated organization.
According to General Bell, the num-
Der of officers on detached service is
691. The result is characterized as
very disastrous and among other
Things is given as the first cause for
the large number of desertions among
enlisted men. General Bell dwelIs at
length upon the bad effects of young
ana inexperienced commanders upon
whom responsibility falls in the alb
sence of officers, to perform duty. in
necesSitated by the good of the mill
tary service. He says the only way
this evil can be remedied is by Iegis-
lation.
General Bell says that it is dis
couraging fact that in case of a sud-
den outbreak of hostilities with a
first class nation there are not suf-
flclent troops in the country, even
when reinforced by the national
guard of the various states to form
an army after deducting the neces-
sary force to provide small garri-
son at our permanent posts and the
necessary infantry supports for our
sea coast Notifications. The infantry
army is referred to as too weak nu-
merically for the services required of
it. even in the time of peace In proof
of this General Bell says that since
January L, 1898. many regiments have
spent more than half their time in a
tropical climate, insufficient time
therefore being allowed in the United
States for the officers and men to re-
cover from one tour of service abroad
before another begins. The cavalry
arm is spoken of as an "antiquated
organization"
General Bell says that no civilized ma
tion claiming to have a modern army
has It's cavalry arm organized as the
American cavalry is today. He says
that the field artillery should be in
creased and declares that the engineer
corps is insufficient, both in the com
missioned and enlisted personnel for
the duty devolving upon it in time of
peace. The scarcity of engineer officers
is due chiefly, General Bell says to in
crease in river and harbor work, forti-
fcations and the construction of the
Panama canal A compliment is paid
to the signal corps for great develop
ments in scientific warfare"
ceive a liberal appropriation to enable
it to continue its experiments in aerial
navigation General Bell says that the
efficiency of the cavalry and infantry
in small arms shooting is probably
greater at the present date than at any
time in history The presidents physi-
cal tests for officers is praised as hav-
ing produced an increased interest in
culture and the general care
of health among officers. He adds that
some test and some physical examina-
tion has come to stay as a part of the
American military system. Increased
pay for the army has had the effect
Bell reports, of reducing the
number of vacancies in the enlist force
and of obtaining a better list of non
commissioned officers.
The old days of forming an army
with more or less efficiency, out of raw
recruits is passed, he says. The idea
that all that is required to make a sol
dier out of a man is to put him in uni
form and place a rife in his hands, is
denounced as dangerous to the nation
and one that can not be too strongly
opposed.