The Vinita daily chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1902-1913, 1909-12-02
By Associated Press.

4 washington, ID. o., Dec. Com
prehensive and complete reorganiza
ton Of the army establishment of the
United States is the principal recon-
mendation contained in the annual re
port of Secretary Of War Dickinson
for the fiscal year ending June 80
1909, made public last night More
officers. closer cooperation with the
militia Of the various states and gen
eral readjustment Of the locations OF
the various army posts are some OF
the crying reforms urged upon the at.
tention of congress. The present dis
tribution Of the troops of the regular
army, in the opinion Of the Secretary
Of war. is not only illogical but Of
| fers serious menace.
At the time of the last reports from
the military departments, which were
received in October, it was found that
the regular army numbered 7l.S4O
men with 4,2O9 officers, making a total
force of 76,O49, a net increase during
the year of 3,42l The figures do not
include the 3,485 men Of the hospital
corps.
OF the active officers Of the army
the report calls attention to the fact
that 709 are detailed 70 specfafz 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 a
feature is made of military training
While there were no serious breaches
of military discipline during the year,
Secretary Dickinson declares, that
there can be no doubt that the dis
cipline and efficiency of troops were
lowered by the continued absence of
so many company officers and the re-
sulting frequent changes of company
commanders"
The remedy for this condition. the
report declares, may be found in in
creasing the number of officers and in
the passage Of legislation empowering
the secretary of war, whenever the
occasion demanded. to appoint retired
officers to active duty temporarily.
Under existing law retired officer
cannot be made subject to orders, but
his return to active service is entire
" voluntary. In putting forward the
need for some authorization, Secre-
tary Dickinson says:
"While it is true that the duties per
formed by these officers are. in the
main. of great Importance to the army
or Of material benefit to the country,
the number of officers so separated
from their regular duties with troops
has now reached point where it is
beyond question that the efficiency
and discipline of the army are suffer
ing therefrom. On June 80. 1909. more
than third Of the captains Of the
mobile army were absent from their
proper commands on detached serv-
ice, of such a nature as to cause them
to be absent for some time. Includ-
ing those captains who were tempor-
arily absent from their proper com
luands. 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.
The report also advocates more
strenuous physical tests President
inaugurated an annual test
to determine the physical fitness Of
compelling them to ride nine
Iy miles in three days or to walk
fifty miles within the same time. This.
In the opinion Of Secretary Dickinson.
should be changed 50 as TO compel
ofiicers to undertake a certain amount
1f prescribed exercise each week. the
amount to be certified by the eom-
officers in their monthly re-
ports.
Cooperation Of the regular army
with the militia Of the states strong
y urged. The secretary oatiines q .
olan to accomplish this. lie would .
nave the country divided into a num-
Der of territorial and tactical districts I
10 that the militia may be convenient f