The state herald., 1908-01-17
HICH PAY
FOR SOLDIERS
STRONGLY RECOMMENDED sY
SECRETARY TAFT IN hie
ANNUAL REPORT.
ARMY RUNNING DOWN
WOULD RELIEVE THE SOLDIERS
FROM ALL UNMlLlTARY
WORK.

Washington.-Secre Taft IL
strong advocate Of increased pay Tor
the army and his annual report. just
sent to the Congress. completely dis
pels any doubt that may exist ~ to
the secrstary's position. Tho report
shows rapid decrease In the strength
Of the regular army In recent years
(the loss last year being %,42S men)
and the pressing need for omcers TO
replace those nov detailed ON recruit
ing duty as military instructors In ed
ucational institutions.
The secretary OF war declares that
while many reasons have been ad'
vanced to explain the difficulty, SUI.
ficient one is to be found in the tn-
adequacy Of army pay.
Il think It quite probable" the sec
retary says, that an increase In the
pay Of the enlisted men, including con-
siderable additional inducement for
the men to re-enlist and such reason
able increase in the pay Of non-com-
missioned officers as would stimulate
men to remain in the service and to
qualify themselves for the higher po-
sitions, would have markedly benefi-
cial effect upon the recruitment OF the
army"
So the secretary earnestly favors
tho adoption for the army Of the naval
system, under which the President is
authorized to fix the rates Of pay
within defined limits as means OF OBJ
tanning better discipline and higher
efficiency.
He also recommends the creation
Of q general service corps to relieve
the soldiers OF tho vast amount Of
unmilitary work they are now called
upon to perform. In his opinion. the
military service should be so attrac-
tive and desirable that 1t will not be
difficult to get and hold the class Of
men needed for the enlisted person
mel. and to make army service life
work, as Il used to be, by Offering re-
wards for proficiency and greater in
crease Of pay for length Of service.
The regular army last year lost 139
officers and 26.3l0 enlisted men. anLs7
although Il was a year of peace, four
teen of the officers and 35S of the men
were killed In action or died OF wounds
and disease.
The secretary has decided to create
one OF the new regimental posts at
bhsulO III tuo Il ihlippiHcb, uuo abhD
for an appropriation for the purpose.
He also urges an enlargement OF Fort
Mckinley reservation, near Manila, by
5000 acres. to cost sls5,oo0. and tho
construction of an electric railroad
from Camp Overton, on tho north
shore Of Mindanao. to Camp Keithley. .
on Lake Lanao. In tho center OF tho
Moro country. He compares Baguio
to the Adirondncks In atmosphere and
climate and says that nothing could bo
OF greater aid to the army than n
post at that point. where every rcgi-
ment In the island might be sent at
some time during It's tour Of duty in
the islands.
A profound conviction Of the i'm
portanco o: the subject leads the sec
retary to earnestly adIure Congress
to give heed to the pressing needs Of
the military department, which It has
overlooked. Notwithstanding attention
having been repeatedly called to
IL Tho secretary says:
"The failure to make proper and sde-
quate provision for caring for tho
health and comfort OF the volunteer
forces In time OF war and this can
only bo done by creating sufficiently
large body OF competent surgeons with
military knowledge and training not
only necdlessly prolongs the struggle
and Involves the country In expendi.
lures OF money far In excess of the
actual cost OF making proper provision
In advance. but. most dcplorablc OF
all. brings anxiety and sorrow to
households all over tho land and con.
demns many promising youths TO un.
necessary suffering and possibly to q
premature grave"
Among tho estimates submitted is
nm item OF fG.4ss.0O0 for the construc.
tion OF batteries at Manila and subig
Bay. This estimate appears In connec.
tion with others for the insular pos.
sessions and the other comment made
upon II In tho report is this:
The places recommended for forti.
ncation have all been visited by ono
or more members OF tho national coast
defense board and the suitability for
fertilization sites hns been carefully
studied by the board. and expenditures
are being made accordingly"
Accompanying tho report arc tho
estimates for the support OF tho mill.
tnry estimate during tho neI, fiscal
year Tho same being Sii.bls.3ii
greater than last years approprla.
tionH. by far the greater part OF ih.
Increase tmoro than ninety per cent?
IL for coast defense works, OF which
about s?i.7oo.oOo Ia required for tho
United States aud fis.soO. 900 for tho
inhular posse@s'nnn
Addi,Vn-l Ofeulstion Oil.
Wahhington.-The financial hill
A.al. l.a o..