The Roswell daily record. [volume] (Roswell, N.M.) 1903-current, 1908-12-10
REPORT OF
SEC. OF WAR

Washington, Dec. 10.-The report OF
the Secretary of War was submitted
today and the following is a synopsis
of its most important points:
The total estimates of the War De-
partment for the next fiscal year, as
shown by the annual report of the
Secretary of War, amount to $780,
755,O39, an increase of about $52,OOO,-
900 over the appropriations for the
present fiscal year. This increase is
largely for river and harbor work, and
other public works of a civil charact-
er, for which purpose about s24,OO0.-
600 is asked. OF the balance, about
$10,5OO,OOO is an additional estimate
for the support of the army, Military
Academy and the militia. For military
public works, such as Notifications.
arsenals, military posts, etc., the es-
Inmates call for an increase of ST.
SOC, 1000.
The Secretary of War especially
recommends an addition of 612 officers
to the army; and also approves a
service of all officers who fail to main
tain the requisite standard of efficien-
cy. Both of these propositions were
before Congress at it's last session
and will be strongly urged this year.
The necessity for more officers,
the report states, is due to the una
voidable detachment of officers from
their regular service with troops.
Their detachment for recruiting duty,
for duty as instructors in the army and
at State institutions, as we'll as with
the militia of the several States and
Territories, has occupied the time of
a large number of officers. At present
there are on detached duty 691 Off
GERS, and 157 additional absent on
leave or on account of sickness. Be-
sides this, examinations, court mart
ia1 service, and numerous other kinds
of special duty, though temporary in
character, make a considerable in
crease in the number of officers that
are constantly unavailable for regular
service with their commands. He adds
economy to provide an extra number
of highly equipped officers for these
added duties that have been thrown
upon the army, as the result would
be highly beneficial in case of war.
To provide for the 612 additional
officers the Secretary states there will
be added an annual cost of between
s2.00O,OOO and s3.OOO.OOO.
Another method for increasing the
efficiency of the army, he states, is to
eliminate officers who have not the
highest qualifications. The present
law on the subject does not apply a.
bove the grade of captain, and, it is
said has utterly failed to accomplish
its purpose except in cases of physi-
cal disability. He says it is well known
that there are many officers of field
grade who because of physical or of
mental conditions are conspicuously
incapable of performing the duties as
prescribed by the law and regulat-
ions for which they draw full pay. But
under existing law, except for age,
there is no way of compulsorily retir-
ing any officer above the grade of cap
tain for disabilities other than physi-
cal He recommends that a given num-
ber of officers shall be retired from
time to time, not necessarily because
they are unfit but because they are
the least fitted to remain in the SER
vice.
The report shows that the army is
now only 9,231 enlisted men short OF
the authorized strength, due to great
improvement in recruiting. During the
past year there has been an increase
in the actual strength of the army OF
19.168, making the present strength
4,116 officers and 6S,512 enlisted men.
total Of 72,62s OF this number 3d.,
102 are serving in the United States
12.101 in the Philippines. 4.905 in Gu
ba. 1,102 in Alaska, GIL in Porto Rico
z56 in Hawaii, with 551 troops en-
route and oficers at other foreign sta
tions.