The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1908-12-28
GENERAL BELL OUTLINES NEEDS
IN HIS ANNUAL REPORT.
MORE TROOPS FOR SAFETY
Present Forces insufficient to Repel
stack by First Glass Power
and the Day Of Enlisting Raw
Troops is Passed.

Washington, Dee 21-Thc most /
urgent ucgd of the army of the /
United states at present is am adc-
quatc remedy for the evils resulting
from detached service OF Officers,
says Major General j. Franklin Eel. .
chief of staff. in his annual report
made public today lie also says that
the time has arrived when the Unit
cI States can no longer afford to.
maintain AN inadequate army for
peace needs. nor an army with an
autiquated organization
According to General Rel the mum.
Der Of officers ON detached service is
G91. The result is characterized as
very disastrous and among other
things is given as the first cause
for thel arge number Of dcscrtious
among enlisted men. General Bell
iwalls at length upon the bad eff
feet of young and inexperienced
commanders upon whom responsible
itv falls In the absence of officers,
TO perform duty, in large part di-
rectcd by congress and noccssitated
by the good of the military ser
vice. He says the only way this
evil can be rcmedicd is by legis.
lation.
General Boll says that it is dis
| cOuraging fact that In case of
sudden outbreak of hostilitles with
first class nation there are not suf-
ficicnt regular troops in the coun.
| try, even when reinforced by the
| national guard of the various states.
TO form an army after deducting
the necessary force TO provide a
| small garrison at our permanent
| posts and the Necessary infantry sup
ports for our seacoast Notifications
The infantry arm is referred 70
as too weak numerically for the ser.
| vices required Of II even in the time
of peace. In proof of this. General
Bell says that since January I. 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 recover
from one tour OF service abroad be,
fore another begins. Tho cavalry arm
is spoken of as an "antiquated or.
ganization.
General Rel says that no civilized
nation claiming TO have modern
army has its cavalry arm organized
as the American cavalry Is tody. lie
says that the field artillery should
be increased, and declares that the
engineer corps Is insufficient botl
in the commissioned and enlisted
personnel. for the duty devolvinp
upon 1t in time of peace. The scare
ity OF engineer officers is due chiefly
General Bell says TO increase in river
and harbor work. fortifcations ant
the construction Of the Panama ca
nal. \ compliment is paid to III,
signal corps for the great dcvel
opments in scientific warfare"
: General Bell SAYS the corps shoul,
receive a liberal appropriation to on
able It to continue its experiment
in aerial navigation, General Bell say
that the efficiency Of the cavalr,
and infantry IN small arms shootin,
Is probably greater at the presen
date than at any tir.a In history.
The presidents physical tests 70
officers are praised as having pre-
: duced an increased interest in ply,
4 ical culture and the general care q
health among officers. He adds tina
some test and sofe physical exam
nation has come 10 stay as par