The Monte Vista journal. (Monte Vista, Rio Grande County, Colo.) 1888-1921, 1908-01-11
STRONGLY RECOMMENDED ~
SECRETARY TAFT IN HIS
ANNUAL REPORT.
ARMY RUNNING DOWN
WOULD RELIEVE THE SOLDIERS
FROM ALL UNMlLlTARY
WORK.

u
strong advocate Of increased pay for
the army. and his annual report, Just
sent to the Congress, completely dis
pels any doubt that may exist as to
the secretary's position. The report
shows rapid decrease in the strength
Of the regular army in recent years
(the loss last year being 4.42s men)
and the pressing need for ofhcers to
replace those now detailed on recruit
Ing duty As military instructors in ed
ucational Institutions.
The secretary Of war declares that
while many reasons have been ad-
vanced to explain the dinculty. q sui
ncient one is to be found in the In
adequacy Of army pay.
II think 1t quite probable" the Sec
Rotary says. "that an increase in the
pay Of the enlisted men, including con-
siderable additional inducement for
the men to re-enlist and such reason
able increase In the pay OF non-com-
missioned Oficers as would stimulate
men to remain In the service and to
qualify themselves for the higher po-
sitions, would have q markedly benefi-
cial 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 nx the rates Of pay
within defined limits a. . means Of OBJ
tanning . better discipline and . higher
efficiency.
He also recommends the creation
Of Q general service corps to relieve
the soldiers Of the vast smount OF
unmilitary work they are now called
upon to perform. In his opinion. the
military service should be 20 attrac-
tive and desirable that 1t will not be
Aimcult to get and hold the class Of
ussn needed for the enlisted person
nsl, and to make army service . life
work, % II used to be. by Offering re-
wards for proficiency and greater In.
crease Of pay for length OF service.
The regular army last year lost 1879
o0oers and $3.50 enlisted men. and.
although It was = year OF peace. four
teen Of the officers aud 1858 Of the men
we're 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 IN appropriation for the purpose.
He also urges an enlargement Of Fort
Mex 10y reservation. near Manila. by
5000 acres. 10 cost sl85. 900. and the
construction Of an electric railroad
from Camp Ovcrton. on the north
shore Of Aindanao. to Camp Keithley.
On Lake Lnao. In the center Of the
Moro country. He compares Baguio
70 The Adirondacks In atmosphere and
climate and says that soothing could be
at greater aid to the army than .
post at that point. where every regi.
ment In the island might be sent at
some time during Its tour OF duty In
tAe islands.
A profound conviction OF the i'm.
postance OF the subject leads the sec.
rotary to earnestly adjure Congress
70 give heed to the pressing needs OF
Tie military department. which 1t has
overlooked, Notwithstanding attention
having been repeatedly called to
} Il. Tho secretary says:
"The failure TO make proper and adc.
Quats provision for caring for the
health and comfort OF the volunteer
forces In time Of war and this can
only b done BY creating . sufiiciently
large body Of competent surgeons with
military knowledge and training not
only needlessly proloags tho struggle
and involves the country In cxpcndi'
tures OF money far In excess Of the
actual cost OF making proper provision
n advance, but. most deplorablc OF
all, brings anxiety and sorrow 10
households all over the land and con.
dennis many promising youths 10 un'
necessary suffering and possibly to
premature grave"
Among the estimates submitted II
a. item Of 1s,lSs, 100 for the construc.
tiou Of batteries 1t Manila and SubiE
Bay. This estimate appears In connec.
ton with others for tho insular pos
sessions and the other comment made
upoo II In the report II this:
"Tho places recommended for Sorti.
0catiou have all bccn visited BY ono
o. more members Of the national coast
defense board and the suitability for
Sb9tiocation sites has been carefully
0epAjed By the board. and expenditures
aso being made accordingly"
Accompanying tho report are tho
1eeelnatss for the support Of the mill.
Nam estimate during tho next fiscal
ye6f. TIE same being e1i.6iS.5H
uoatse than last years appropria.
flGns. Dy fAr IL greater part Of the
loogease (moes thaa ninety per cent?
= ~ ooaet defense works. Of which
sss "a n, soSslssS t for ~. .Ss