The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1909-12-02
TOO MANY OFFICERS
ON DETACHED DUTY
More Thorough Training Of
State Militia is Recon-
mended in Report
(By Associated Presal

Washington, Dec. 2.-CompsehensiYe
ana complete reorganization Of the
army establishment Of the United
States Is the principal recgmmenea "a.
ton contained in the annual report OF
Sec etafy of War Dickinson for the
fiscal year ending June 80. 1893, made
puhlic today. More officers, closer
co-ope .aiian With the militia Of The
various states and general re-adlust-
ment OF the locations OF the various
army posts are some Of the crying fe-
forms urged upon the attention ol
congress. The present distribution o.
the oops OF the regular army, IN the
opinion OF the secretary Of war, Is
not only illogical but offers serious
menace
All The time OF the last reports from
the military departments. which We're
received III October, Il was found tha1
The regular army numbered il,S4V
men with 4 .209 officers, making 4 total
folce ii 7G,40s. net Increase duslhR
the wear Of 3,42l. The figures DO not
include the a.ty6 men Of the hospital
corps
OF the active officers Of the army,
the report calls attention TO the lael
lhat 100 are detailed to special duty
nearly half of these. or 345. being dis
tributea among the various schools
of instruction of the regular estap-
lishment or acting as instructors IN
state educational institutions where
feature Is made of military training.
White there we're no serious breaches
Of military discipline during the year.
secretary Dickinson declares ttlal
there can be no doubt that the disct
pline and efficiency Of tFoons were
lowered by the continued absence q
SO many company officers and the
resulting frequent changes Of com.
pany commanders
The remedy for this condition. ihe
, rennrt declares, may he found N ~.
creaging the number OF officers anu
! In the passage of legislation empoWes
inc the secretary OF war, whenever
, the occasion demanded TO appoint ie
|. tired officers 20 active duty tempof
! arily. Under existing law q retired
officer clnnoi be made subiec 20 ~
ders. but his return to active service
Il entirely voluntary In putting Tor
ward the need for some such anthol
7 cation. secretary Dickinson says
! eWhile Il Is true that the duties
7 nerformad BY these officers are, II
O the main. OF great Importance 10 m
army or OF material benefit 70 TN
= country The number Of officers SO sen
a-ated / ON their regular duties VII
troops has nog reached point Wher
Il Il bevond question that the eff
cheney and discipline OF the army af
suffering therefrom. On June So, l9V
more than third Of the captains .
the mobile army were absent frol
fhnir nropef commands on delaehe
service. az such 4 nature as to cans
them to be absent for SOME time. II
cludine those captains who were Ten
porarily absent from their proper con
mands on detached service or otne
wise. il IS believed that less than on
half of the companies OF the mobll
army were commanded by captains
The report also advocates MOI
strenuous physical tests Presldel
Roosevelt inangurated an annual te
to determine the physical fitness
officers. compelling them to ride mn
ty miles IA three days or to walk M
miles within the same time. This,
! the opinion of Secretary Dieknso
should be changed SO as 70 comp
officers 10 undertake certain amou
: ol prescribed exercises each week, q
Il amount Is be certified by the COZ
: mand!ng officers in their monthly
ports
: Cooperation Of the regnlar arm
IN With the militia nf The states is stron
IL urged The secretary outlines
elan 10 accomplish this lie won
I have the country divided into Q na
her Of territorial and tactical distiie
so that ihe militia may be convenlcl
IN combined with the fegnlar ifoo
stationed in those districts into y
I manent hrieades. divisions aud cor
for instruction and tactical ofganii
] ton
I In conjunction with the headqua
ers Of these combination divisions,
renost advocates the establishment
sAnnIy aenols, which can be dra
! npen Tor Che equipment OF an army
time ol need. At such depots s.
plies would he carried sufficient
I outfit any additional volunteer for
up to q moderate number. thai mil
- he hastily recruited 10 complete
organization al an army corps
Attached to The headquarters, a
60 The report declares there should
al stationed 4 Young ana active Off
OF the regular army, whose duty
~ would be 10 instruct and direct
Id militia organizations III the cops
: = trlcl. such d officer. It is poln
ont couls issne no orders 10
! militia. but It is declared should
aiyen power 10 supervise the co
ment ana instruction Of the vol
n teer troops .os his district and be !