Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1908-01-14
PAY ARMY MORE, SAYS
WAR SECRETARY TAFT
Rapid Decrease in Regular Force
in Recent Years Is Shown
by Report.
COAST DEFENSE A BIG ITEM.
Recommends Erection of Statue to
Memory of Edwin M. Stanton
in City of Washington.

Secretary Taft is a strong advocate
of increased pay FOR the army. as his
annual report. sent to Congress, shows.
The report begins with formidable
presentment of figures showing the rap
id decrease in the strength of the regu-
lar army in recent years tthe loss last
year being 30 fewer than 4,42S mem
replace those now detailed on recruit
ing duty or as military instructors in
educational Institutions. The Secretary
asserts that. while many reasons have
been advanced to explain the difficulty,
a sufficient one is to be found in the
inadequacy of army pay.
Il think it quite probable" he says,
that an increase in the pay of the en-
listed men, including considerable adj
ditional inducement for men to re-
enlist and such reasonable Increase in
the pay of non-commmissioned officers
as would stimulate men to remain in
the service and TO qualify themselves
for THESE higher positions, would have
markedly beneficial effect upon the
recruitment of the army"
So the Secretary earnestly favors the
adoption for the army of the naval
system, under which the President is
authorized to fix the rates of pay with
in defined limits He also recommends
the creation of general-service corps
TO relieve the soldiers of the vast
amount of unmilitary work they are
now called on to perform.
The regular army last year lost 100
officers and 26.310 enlisted men, and,
although it was year of peace, four
teen of the officers and 800 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
Baguio, in the Philippines, and asks
for an appropriation for the purpose.
He also urges an enlargement of Fort
Mckinley reservation near Manila, by
5000 acres, at a cost of $1S5,000, and
the construction of an electric railroad
from Camp Overton, on the north shore
of Miudanao, to Camp Keithley. on
Lake Lanao, in the center CT the Moro
country.
The Secretary urges the creation of
a sufficiently large body of competent
surgeons, with military knowledge and
training, to care for the health and
comfort of the volunteer forces in time
of war.
Among the estimates submitted is an
item of S6,4Ss,000 for the construction
of batteries at Manila and Subig bay.
This estimate appears in connection
with others for the insular possessions,
and the only comment made upon it in
the report Is this:
The places recommended for fortifi-'
cation have all been visited by one or
Iaore members of the national coast de-
Tense board and the suitability for for
tification sites has been carefully
studied by the board. and expenditures
are being made accordingly"
Accompanying the report are the es-
Inmates for the support of the military
establishment during the next fiscal
year. which is 11,5S2,931 greater than
last years appropriations. By far the
greater part of the increase more than
90 per cent? is for coast defense works,
Of which about $21,70O000 is required
for the United States and $14,S00,000
for the insular possessions.
In concluding the report Secretary
Taft recommends that Congress make
adequate provisions for the erection Of
statue to Secretary Edwin NJ. STAN
ton in Washington.