New-York tribune., 1909-10-19
Football Racing Aomohg Baseball Coli Obe Sd
ARMY REORGANIZATION
GENERAL STAFFpS REPORT,
Plan Thought Too Radical to Vim
ApproUaL of Congress.
IFrom The Tribune Bureau ]

Washington Oct 1S.-Ths report which is being
prepared for Congress by the General STAR Of the
War Department is 50 radical In some OF It's recon-
mendations that those who have had an oppOr-
tunity to read its conclusions convinced that
nothing viii come Of the reorganization plan. In
some quarters it is doubted that the Secretary OF
War will send the report 20 Congress. although he
may transmit it for the information OF the Senate
and House Military committees.
The report, which Is nearly completed is an
elaborate one and is regarded as one OF the most
important documents complied by American mill
tary experts since the General Stan was estaB-
hshed- To carry out the recommendations il would
be necessary to increase military expenditures
terially
President Taft is understood TO be unfavorabIy
disposed toward any material increase in the army
He believes that it is necessary to keep down the
expense OF maintaining the military establishment
and that this be done only by refraining from
recommending any sort OF legislation which
changes the existing situation in the army
While the line officers have been greatly inter-
ested in the increase OF the infantry and cavalry
arms and the reorganization OF the cavalry they
are more personally concerned with the legislation
which was recommended last year and failed OF
enactment adding about six hundred officers to the
commissioned personnel OF the army. Most OF the
annual reports now being received at the War De-
partnent from heads OF corps and commanding
generals of the military departments refer 10 this
heed or additional officers in order to an the va
cancles In the line by reason Of the absence OF
oHicers on detached duty. Last year the number
OF officers thus separated from their commands
was about seven hundred and forty There was a
steady Increase in the number Of officers detached
and the prospects were that the situation vrouId
become more serious The Secretary Of War how
eVer mas put stop to the detached service so far
as possible, and 1t is probable that the records of
thls year will show that the number of officers on
detached service is slightly less than Il was AZ the
same time last year
IN the reports which are being received IL is
hat &Fl
taxes a rather depressing view Of the outlook for
thls legislation and believes that II will be
necessary TO meet the situation in some other Vav
II Is altogether too early, Of course to urpdtrt
"iiat congress will do, but from the expressions
VI senators and Representatives who have most
10 90 with army legislation the chances are de-
eidedly In favor of restriction Of enactrept n
the actual necessities. This means that the arnv
appropriation act of the next session will irrI,,Aa
0liV 'hose items which are designed for mainte-
nance OF the military establishment and leave
hotihg which may be regarded as remedial tevis-
latOn- 1t is expected that while Congress- NAV
IN the second regular session. take up the Question
OF Increase of the commissioned personnAi 20
onset the effect of detached service there will be
hothins IN the radical direction which has been
discussed by the General Staff. such as the con-
soldation Of the quartermaster's Subsistence sDa
pay departments and the change Of titles OF other
branches and general increase Of personnel.
Inc report Of the General Staf on this subject
mas iieSuS met considerable opposition. especially
IN the comments which have been filed bv the
paynaster general the quarternaster general ana
the surgeon general The last named was interested
In plan which transferred to the medical CORPS
the purchase Of horse medicine which has hitherto
been bought by the quarter1naster's department
rms OF course was one of the minor suggestions
but 1t shows to what extent the General STAFF
went into the subject Of administration.
Another feature which is interesting officers is
the chance that Congress may change the law
respecting the detail of officers duty with the
speciaI stan corps Most Of the reports this year
deal with the desirability OF making a chance
which will restore TO the special staff CORPS it's
permanent personnel, instead Of having the duty
performed by officers temporarily detailed from
the line, thus taking them away for long periods
from their regimental and company duties and
giving them no permaneney Of career in any OF the
corps. 1t is possible that this condition may en-
gage the attention of Congress, since it would
involve no increase of the personnel