Omaha daily bee., 1908-12-25
BELL ADVISES LARGER ARMY
Chief Of staff Calls Present Methods
Inadequate Even for Peace.
DETACHED SERVICE BAD POLICY
Cavalry and Field ARTILLERY should
he ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Corps
Insumcient-PhysIcaI Tests
Good Thing.

WASHINGTON, Dec. 24.-The most ur-
gent need OF the army Of the United States
at present is an adequate remedy for the
evils resulting from detached service OF
officers. says Major General J.. 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 Gin
adequate army for peace needs, nor an
army with al Anticipated organization"
According to General Bell, the number
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 deser-
lions among enlisted men. General Bell
dwells at length upon the bad effect Of
young and inexperienced commanders upon
whom responsibility falls in the absence of
officers to perform duty, in large part d.
rected by congress and necessitated by the
good of the military service. He says the
only way this evil can be remedied is by
Legislation.
General Bell says tina 1t is "a dlscourag-
ing fact that in case of a sudden outbreak
OF hostilities with a first-class nation
there are not sufficient regular 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 a small garrison at
our permanent posts and the necessary in
fantry supports for our seacoast fortified
tons"
Infantry Arm Weak.
The infantry arm is referred to as too
weak numerically for the services required
of 1t even in the time of peace. In proof
Of this General Bell says that since jan
uary 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 Of
Ulcers and men to recover from one tour
Of service abroad before another begins.
The cavalry arm Is spoken of as an IAN
tiquated organization"
General Bell says that no civilized nation
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 increased and declares
that the engineer corps Is insufficient both
In the commissioned and enlisted personnel
for the duty devolving upon 1t in time OF
peace. The scarcity of engineer officers is
due chiefly, General Bell says, to increase
in river and harbor work, Notifications
and the construction OF the Panama canal.
A compliment is paid to the signal corps
for great developments in scientific war
fare" General Bell says the corps should
receive a liberal appropriation to enable it
to continue its experiments in aerial navi-
cation.
Physical Test Approved.
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 physical tests for officers Is
praised as having produced an increased
interest in physical culture and the general
care of health among officers. He adds
that some test and some physical examina-
Ftion has come to stay as a part of the
American military system. Increased pay
for the army has had the effect, General
Bell reports, of reducing the number of
vacancies In the enlisted force and OF OBJ
tanning a better list of noncommissioned
officers.
The old days of forming an army, with
more or less efficiency, out of raw re.
cruits is passed, he says. The idea that all
that Is required to make a soldier out OF q
man is to put him in uniform and place a
rifle in his hands is denounced as danger
GUS to the nation and one that cannot bs
too strongly opposed,