The Dakota chief. (Gann Valley, Buffalo County, S.D.) 18??-1913, 1908-01-16
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 strong advocate
Of increased pay for the army, as his
annual report, sent to Congress, shows.
The report begins with a formidable
presentment Of figures showing the rap
Id decrease in the strength Of the regu-
lar army in recent years (the loss last
year being no fewer than 4,42S mem
and the pressing need for officers to
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
inadeauacy Of army pay. ..'
Il think 1t quite probable" he says,
that an increase in the pay of the en-
listed men, including considerable ad-
ditional inducemsnt 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
a 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 a general-service corps
to relieve the soldiers Of the vast
amount of unmilltary work they are
now called on to perform.
The regular army last year lost 130
officers and 26,310 enlisted men, and,
although it was year of peace, four
teen of the officers and 35S of the men
were killed in action or died of wounds
and disease .a'
The Secretary has decided to create
one of the new regimental posts at
Baguio, in the Philippines, and asks
for am appropriation for tirev purpose.
He also urges an enlargement of Fort
Mckinley reservation, near Manila, by
6,OOO acres, at cost of $1S5,OO0, and
the construction Of an electric railroad
from Camp Overton, on the north shore
of Mludanao, to Camp Keithley, ON
Lake Lanao, in the center of the Moro
country.
The Secretary urges the creation Of
sufficiently large body of competent
surgeons, with military knowledge and
training, to care for the heath and
comfort of the volunteer forces i'm time
of war. .
Among the estimates submitted is an
item of SG,4SS,OO0 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
more members Of the national coast de-
fense board and the suitability for for
titication 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 S1l.5S2,931 greater than
last years appropriations. BY far the
greater part of the increase (more than
80 per cent? is for coast defense works,
of which about SCI, 100000 is required
for the United States and S14,S0O,OOO
for the insular possessions. \
In concluding the report Secretary
Taft recommends that Congress make
adequate provisions for the erection Of
a statue to Secretary Edwin NJ. Stan.
ton in Washington. ~"f . 4