New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1909-12-02
DICKINSON REPORTS
REPRESENTATIONS OF
.iRNY URGED.
disc More Strenuous Physical
Tests-NatiOnal Defence
Plans.

Washington. Dec. IA comprehensive re-
organization 81 the army establishment Is
THE principal recomnle ndstion contained In
the annual report OF Secretary Dickinson
for tho nscal yesr ended June 81, 1915. made
public to-day. More officers. closer CO.
operation with the militia q the states,
snd a general resdjustment 81 the loca-
tons Of the army posts are some Of the
reforms urged on the attention OF Con-
eress The present distribution % the
troops Of the regular army. IN the opinion
81 the Secretary. Is not only Illogical. but
ts q source - serious hanger.
Al the time q ihe last reports from
fhe military departments. which were re
csived in October, the regular army num-
bered $50 men with s10s officers making
a total force Of 76.0ss, net increase in the
year o. ig These figures do not include
the ass men OF the hospital corps.
The report calls attention 10 the fact that
10 officers are detailed 20 special duty.
nearly half Of these. or Ss5. being dis
tribuJec among the schools OF instruction
~ the regular establishment or acting as
Instructors IN state educational institutions
where q feature is made q military train
ing while ihere were no Serious breaches
OF military discipline IN the year. Secre-
tary Dickinson declares 'thar there can
be no doubt thai the discipline and eff
cheney or troops were lowered by the con-
unued absence OF 50 many company on
Gers and the resulting frequent changes
q company commanders
EVIL OF ABsENTEEIsM
The remedy for his condition. the Sec
retary says, may be found ~ increasing
the number OF officers and in the passage
If 1slrfS r-a
War. whenever the occasion demands. 10
appoint retired officers 10 active duty ten
pOrarIy. Under existing law a retired on
Ger cannot be made sub5ect 10 orders but
his return 20 sctive service is entirely vol
Untary. ln stating the need for some such
authorization. NJ. Dickinson says;
While il IL rrue that the duties performed
hy these officers are, ln the main. Of great
4inporlanct 10 the arrnv or Of material
ueileni 10 'le country The NUM- Der OF Of
nctrs 80 separated from their regular
duties with troops has now reached a point
where Is beyond question that the
efficiency and discipline II TIE army are
suffering theTefrCm on june 80 1903
more IMAM THIRD OF the CAPTAINS 81 the
mobile army We're absent from their proper
commands on detached service Of such a
fai ure as 10 cause Them 10 be q bseut for
some time. Including those captains who
were temporarily absent from their proper
commands on detached service or other
wise. u b. believed that less than one-half
OF i.f com pauleS ~ ile mobile army were
commanded 10y captains.
PHYSICAL TESTS
The report also advocates more strenu-
Gus physica! tests President Roosevelt
established al annual test 10 determine the
physical fitness 81 officers. compelling them
L. ride ninety miles ia three days or 10
walk nfty miles within the same time.
This, In The opinion OF secretary Dickinson,
should De changed. lie SAYS
After an experience OF TWO years il Is
believed that The present tests fal short
81 acc0rnI Fishing their FULL object The
defect ~ the system Is that II requires Of
ncers To- He m only once lu a year, whereas
they should De- required 70 keep themselves
Continuously ~. A. TINS rellires constant
physical exercise ana training. some regu-
La anc systematic practice should be had
IL ADDITION 10 Tho present tests.
The present tests should De modified so
a. 10 provide for certain number Of miles
of riding " walking each week. 10 he GER
tined hy The officers in their monthly r.
ports. Tie annual riding anc walking tests
should 1e ufprf nearly assi.l-llated 10 actual
WAY conditions.
In the regular weekly exercise and the
annual physical test al officers who under
The law are mounted officers and who in
time ~ war would be- required 10 ride
should take the riding test irrespective OF