Watertown leader. [volume] (Watertown, Jefferson County, Wis.) 1909-1911, 1909-12-03
WAR SECRETARY IN ANNUAL RE-
PORT DECLARES REORGANIZA-
TON IS NECESSARY.
AERONAUTICS ARE DISCUSSED.
Military Maneuvers in Air Are Rapidly
Growing in Importance IN Euro
pean Countries.
MORE PHYSICAL TESTS NEEDED.

comprehensive reorganization of the
army is the principal recommendation
in the annual report of Secretary of War
Dickinson for the fiscal year ending
June 30, 1909. More officers, closer CO.
operation with the militia and a general
readjustment of the locations of the
various army posts are some of the re-
forms urged upon Congress.
The secretary made public his est
mates to Congress for the coming fiscal
year, amounting to 500 ,325 1899, or about
$S,OOO0OO less than was appropriated
for the present fiscal year.
In October it was found that the reg
ular army numbered 71,S40 men, with
400 officers, making a total force of
f6,O49 net increase during the year
OF 342l. The figures do not include the
34S5 men of the hospital corps.
Of the active officers, 100 are detailed
to special duty, nearly half of these, or
$40, being distributed among the various
schools Of instruction of the regular es-
Enlistment or acting as instructors in
state educational institutions. Secretary
Dickinson declares that there can be
no doubt that the discipline and efficien-
cy of troops were lowered by the con-
tlnued absence of so many company Off
GERS and the resulting frequent changes
OF company commanders"
More Officers Required.
The remedy for this condition. the re-
port declares, may be found in increas-
ing the number Of officers and in the
passage of Legislation empowering the sec
rotary of war, whenever the occasion de-
manded, to appoint retired officers to
active duty temporarily.
Attention Is called ia the growing i'm
portance of military aeronautics, to the
vast improvements in the speed and gen
eral efficiency of the Zeppelin type of the
diriglble balloon and of the aeroplane,
particularly to the work of the Wright
brothers in sustaining long flights at q
the Zeppelin Ii in Germany, with stay
in the air of from twelve to thirty-six
hours, and a journey of over 900 miles,
is mentioned especially. After speaking
of the air conquest of the British chan
mel, and of the fight up the Hudson
from Governors island to Grants tomb
and return, Secretary Dickinson refers
to other uses to which the dirigibIe or
the areoplane could be put in war.
Among these would be the spying out of
harbors and defenseS, dispatch work, the
checking of an enemy's reconnaissance
on land and sea, the directing of artillery
fire and drawing fire, the destruction of
of railroads and other communications.
the raiding of the industries of the enc
my, night attacks, and oversee raids
The secretary says that because of the
necessity for the retrenchment he leaves
out of his report plea for an appropria-
ton for the proper aerOnautical equip
ment of the army.
The report advocates more strenuous
physical tests. President Roosevelt in
augurated an annual test to determine
the physical fitness of officers, compelling
them to ride ninety miles in three days
or to walk fifty miles within the same
time. This, i'll the opinion of Secretary
Dickinson, should be changed so as to
compel officers 10 undertake a certain
amount of prescribed exercise each week,
the amount to be certified by the COM
manding officers in their monthly re-
ports.
Workmanship Good.
The secretary would have the country
divided into number of territorial ana
tactical districts, so that the militia NAV
be conveniently combined with the regu-
lar troops stationed in those districts into
permanent brigades, divisions and corps
for instruction and tactical organiza-
ton.
1t is proposed to submit the adoption
of such a plan to the governors of the
several states. If the states announce
their willingness to cooperate with the
war department steps will be taken
toward putting the plan into action.
During the fiscal year three S-inch and
twenty-eight rapid-ire guns were added
to the sea coast defense of the United
States. 1t is also declared that the coast
defenses in the country's insular pos
sessions are in forward state of con
struction. Special mention is made of
the increasing efficiency in craftsmanship
shown by the men who serve the guns
in the sea coast batteries and also in the
field artillery of the army. Praise also
is given the men of the regular army for
excellent records made with small arms.