Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1909-12-02
Quent changes of company COM

quent changes of company com
manders.
The remedy for this condition, the
report declares, may be found in in
creasing the number of officers and in
the lassage of legislation empowering
the Secretary of War whenever the oc-
casion demanded, to appoint retired Of
iicers to active duty temporarily. I'm
der existing law a retired officer can
not to be made subject to orders but his
return to active service is entirely vol
untary. In putting forward the need
for some such authorization. Secretary
Dickinson says:
"While it is true that the duties rer-
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 a point where it is
beyond question that the efficiency and
discipline of the army are suffering
therefrom. On June 80, 1909, more than
a third of the captains of the mobile
army We're absent from their proper
commands on detached service, of such
| g nature as to cause them to be alb
sent for some time. Including those
captains who were temporarily absent
| from their proper commands. on de-
tached service or otherwise, it is he
| ieved that less than one-half of the
companies of the mobile army We're
commanded by captains
The report also advocates more
strenuous physical tests. President
Roosevelt inaugurated an annual test
to determine the physical fitness of Of
fcers. compelling them to ride ninety
miles in three days or to walk fifty
miles within the same time This. il,
the opinion of Secretary Dickinson
| should be changed so as to compel Of
fcers to undertake a certain amount
tof prescribed exercise each week. the
amount to be certified by the com
handing officers in their monthly re-
ports.
! Co-on9ration OF the regular army
| With the militia OF the states is strong
ly urged. The Secretary outline
q nlan to accomplish this. II,
would have the country divided III
to a rumber of territorial and tacti
lcal districts. so That the militia may b.
conveniently combined with the regu
lar troops stationed in those district
Into permanent brigades, division
and corps for instruction and tactica
Organization
In conjunction with the headquar
tiers of these combination divisions
1.-THE report advocates the establishment
of supply depots. which can he draw
upon for the equipment of the army i
time CT need. At such depots supple
lwoul1 be carried sufficient to outfit an
additional volunteer force. up to
moderate number. that might be hasti
ly recruited to complete the organiZa
ton Of an army corps.
Attached to the headquarters, also
the report declares there should b
stationed young and active officer o
the regular army, whose duty it woult
be to instruct and direct the militi.
organizations in the corps district
Such an officer. it is pointed out, coul,
issue no orders to the militia. but it i
declared he should be given power t
supervise the equipment and instruc
ton Of the volunteer troops of his dis
triet and be held responsible for thei
mobilization and general condition.
Tt is proposed to submit the adoption
OF such plan to the governors of tn
N several states. Ii the states ANNOUNCE