The Washington herald., 1908-01-07
NEEDS OF TIE ARMY
Secretary Taft, in Report,
Makes Recommendations.
WANTS TO SPEND $177926,S62
Urges Higher Pay for EnIistcd Men
and improvements in the Philip
pines-Desires Increase im Medical
COrps-Service Employs 1850 ON
GERS and 5O,IOO Privates.

The annual report Of Secretary Of War
Taft made public yesterday, contains
many recommendations for the improve
ment OF the army.
He urges upon Congress the necessity
of providing Gl2 additional officers, and
recommends an increase in the pay of
enlisted men. lie believes that the es-
tablishment of a general service corps
for duty as wagon masters, engineers.
firemen, overseers. teamsters. &c, would
reduce the percentage Of desertions and
result in greater coutentment among the
enlisted men.
He also says that an increase in the
Medical Corps Of the army is urgently
needed He also requests that Congress
make adequate provision for the erection
of statue in Washington 70 Secretary
Edwin NJ. Stanton, who was Secretary Of
War in President Lincolns administra-
tion. and carried out Linc0ln's military
measures during the civil war.
The present authorized strength OF the
army. the report says. Is 3997 officers
and 69SGl enlisted men. while the actual
strength is 800 officers and 5olg0 Ell
listed men. At the close Of the last
fiscal year 1916 per cent Of the general
and staff officers and 2L1i per cent Of
the line officers were absent from their
regular duties
Generally their work is Of a military
character. and in The very few eases
where this is not so the duty performed
is Of the utmost Importance and could
not well be dispensed with.
Affects the Discipline.
The fact remains. however the report
adds. that the absence of such "a large
number Of officers from their commands
Is not without bad effect upon the dis
cipline and efficiency Of the army.
The number of officers absent from
their commands has increased during the
fiscal year. The majority Of the officers
absent from their commands are on re-
cruiting duty.
On account Of the fact that a total of
6S2 officers are detached from their COM
mands upon important and necessary du-
ties, Secretary Taft believes that Con-
gress should provide for a substantial in
crease in the number of commissioned
officers in the army.
1t has been impossible. the report says.
TO secure the fun number OF enlisted men
for the army that is authorized by law.
The results during the last fiscal year
were not as satisfactory as during the
previous year. although increased effort
was made to induce recruits to enter the
army. and every practicable method that
could be devised was resorted 10.
The principal reason for this difficulty.
Mr.. Taft believes. is the inadeduacy Of
the pay Of the enlisted men. Air. Taft
believes that the same system should be
made 10 apply 10 the fixing the pay of
the enlisted men Of the army that now
obtains in the navy. so that the President
may fix the rates OF pay within definite
limits, which would enable the President
to classify men according TO their length
Of service and meritorlous service and
vary their pay accordingly.
The establishment of a general service
corps. the report says would put an end
to dissatisfaction arising among the en-
listed men because of the fact that they
are detailed on extra and special duty
Of a nOnmilitaTy character As a resul:
Of the present system. organizations are
depleted Of their proper strength and the
soldiers deprived Of their proper training.
Philippine improvements.
Secretary Taft recommends three pro-
posed Improvements in the Philippine
Islands. as follows.
First-Au aprolTiation of about S,0Co for the
construction OF a regimenial post at BaEuio. IN
Beuquet, the same not 10 le expended until rai!
way, electric or other. has been constructed from
Camp No : 20 Bag1i0 and making complete Tail-
road transportation between Manila and Baguio.
Secoud-The enlargement Of the reservation at
Fort Mckinley, Manila. by the purchase OF
5000 acres for Sls50Q0
Third-Au appropriation for the construction of an
electric other railway from Camp Overton, on
the north shore Of MindanaO. 10 Camp keithley.
on Lake Lanao. in the center Of the Moro country.
The estimates for the construction of
batteries for the defense Of the insular
possessions for the fiscal year 1909 is
SS,61S,000, divided as follows:
Manila and Suhig Bay p. I............... S. $500
Honolulu aud Pearl HarboT Hawaii. lll0000
Guantanamo Bay CUba.......-............... L0DC10
The estimates for the next fiscal year
amount to a grand total of st77,926,S62.
The appropriation for the current fiscal
year was sl43.28418S.