The Ogden standard. [volume] (Ogden City, Utah) 1902-1910, 1909-12-02

Washington, Dec. 2-Comprehen'
| siye reorganization of the army es
tablishment of the United States is
the principal recommendation con
| tanned In the annual report OF Secrc'
| tary Of War Dickinson for the fiscal
year ending June so. 1909. made pub
| lie today More officers, closer CO.
| operation with the militia OF the varl-
Gus states and a general readjustment
| of the locations OF the various army
posts are some OF the crying reforms
urged upon the attention of congress,
The present distribution Of the troops
of the regular army, in the opinion
of the secretary OF war. Is not only
illogical but offers a serious menace.
AT the time of the last reports from
the military departments, which were
received in October. 1T was found that
the regular army numbered 1l,SiJ
men with 1903 officers making to-
tai force of 76049, a net increase dur
Ing the year of 3.42l The figures do
not include the 3,4S5 men of the hos
pital corps.
Too Many Officers Absent,
or the active officers of the army,
the report calls attention to the fact
that 709 are detailed to special duty
nearly half OF these, or 345. being dis
tributed among the various schools of
instruction OF the regular establish
ment or acting as instructors In state
educational institutions where fea-
ture is made of military training.
While there were no serious
breaches OF military discipline during
the year Secretary Dickinson de
clares that there can be no doubt
that the discipline and efficiency OF
troops were lowered by the continued
absence OF so many company officers
and the resulting frequent changes
OF company commanders
Retired Officers to Be Called.
The remedy for this condition, the
report declares, may be found In in
creasing the number of officers and
in the passage OF legislation empow-
ering the secretary OF war. whenever
the occasion demanded, TO appoint re-
tired officers TO active duty Temporal
rily Under existing law. a retired
officer cannot be made subject to or
ders, but his return TO active service
Is entirely voluntary. In putting for
ward the need for some such authori-
zation. Secretary Dickinson says
While 1t is true that the duties
performed by these officers are, in
the main, of great Importance to the
army OF Of material benefit 10 the
country, the number of officers so
separated from their regular duties
with troops has now reached point
where it is beyond question the eff
cheney and discipline of the army are
suffering therefrom. On June 80, 1909.
more than third OF the captains of
the mobile army were absent from
their proper commands on detached
service, of such q nature as to cause
them to be absent for some time In
Guiding those captains who were tenn
porarily absent from their proper com,
mands. on detached service or other
wise, il is believed that less than one
half of the companies of the mobile
army were commanded by captains" "
More Strenuous Physical Tests.
The report also advocates more
strenuous physical tests. President
Roosevelt inaueurated an annual test
10 determine the physical fitness OF
officers, compelling them to ride nine
ty miles In three days or TO walk
fifty miles within the same time. This,
in the opinion of Secretary Dicltin-
son, should he changed so as to com
pei officers 10 undertake a certain
amount of prescribed exercise each
week the amount to be certified by
the commanding officers in their
monthly reports.
Cooperation OF the regular army
with the militia of the states is
strongly urged The secretary out
lines plan to accomplish this He
would have the country divided into
number of territorial and tactical
districts so that the militia may. be
conveniently combined with the regu.
lar troops stationed in those dis.
tricts into permanent brigades. di-
visions and corps for instruction and
tactical organization.
Should Be Supply Oepots
In conjunction with the headquart-
ers OF these combination divisions. the
report advocates the establishment Of
supply depots. which can be drawn up
on for the equipment of an army in
time of need. AT such depots sup
plies would be carried sufficient to
outfit any additional volunteer force.
mp 10 moderate number. that might
be hastily recruited to complete the
organization OF any army corps.
Cooperation Of Militia.
Attached to the headquarters. also.
the report declares there should be
stationed young and active officer
OF the regular army. whose duty It
would be TO instruct and direct the
militia organizations in the corps dis.
trict. Such an officer. il Is pointed
out, could issue no orders 10 the
militia, but IL is declared he should
be given power TO supervise the equip
ment and instruction of the volun-
teer troops of his district and be
held responsible for their mobilization
and general condition
II is proposed TO submit the adop-
ton of such plan TO the governors