The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1909-12-02
COMPREHENSIVE
AND COMPLETE
REORGANIZATION
This Is Policy for the Army
Outlined by Secretary
:. Dickinson
CLOSER AFf|uATloN WTH
MILITIA Of THE STATES

Change In the Location of Army Posts
So as to Get Them Nearer the
Larger Centcrs of Population and
transportation.
Washington, Dec. 2.-Comprehen.
sive and complete reorganization OF
the army establishment of the United
States Is the principal recommends
tfon contained in the annual report
of Secretary of War Dickinson for
the fiscal year ending June 30, 1909
made public today. More officers
closer cooperation with the militia OF
the various states and general re-
adjustment Of the locations of the va
rious army posts are some of the cry
Ing reforms urged upon the attention
of congress. The present distribution
of the troops of the regular army, in
the opinion of the secretary of war,
is not only illogical but offers a SER
ious 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 71,S40
men with 4,209 officers, making a
total force of 76.049, net increase
during the year Of 3,421. The figures
do not include the 3,4s5 men Of the
hospital corps.
Of the active officers of the army,
the report calls attention to the fact
that 709 are detailed to special duty,
nearly half Of these. or 345, being
distributed among the various schools
as instructors m state educational in
stttutions where feature is made 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" e
r The remedy for this condition, the
report declares may be- found In in
creasihg the number of officers and
In the passage OF legislation en-
powering the secretary OF war, when
ever the occasion demanded, to ap-
point retired officers to active duty
temporarily. Under existing law a
retired officer cannot be made subject
to orders. but his return to active
service Is entirely voluntary, Secre-
tary Dickinson says:
while it is true that the duties
performed by these officers are, in
the main, of great importance to the
army or Of material benefit to the
country, the number of officers Sc
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 third of the cap
tains of the mobile army were alb
sent from their proper commands on
detached service, of such nature as
to cause them to be absent for some
time. Including those captains who
were temporarily absent from their
proper commands, on detached SER
vice or otherwise, It is believed that
less than one-half Of the. companies
Of the mobile army were commanded
by captains"
More Physical Tests.
The report also advocates more
strenuous physical tests. President
Roosevelt inaugurated an annual test
to determine the physical fitness of
officers, compelling them to ride nine
ty miles in three days or to walk
fifty miles within the same time.
This. in the opinion of Secretary
Dickinson, should be changed SO as
to compel officers to undertake a GER
tain amount of prescribed exercise
each week, the amount to be certi-
fed by the commanding officers In
their monthly reports.
Cooperation of the regular army
with the militia Of the states is
strongly urged. The secretary out
lines a plan to accomplish this. He
would have the country divided into
q number of territorial and tactical
districts, 80 that the militia may be
conveniently combined with the regu-
lar troops stationed in those districts
into permanent brigades, divisions and
corps for instruction and tactical or
ganization.
In conjunction with the headquar-
ters of these combination divisions,
the report advocates the establish
ment of supply depots. which can be
drawn upon for the equipment of an
army in time Of need. At such de-
pots supplies would be carried suf-
ficient to outfit any additional volun-
teer force. up to moderate number,
that might be hastily recruited to
complete the Organization of an army
corps.
Attached to the headquarters, also,
the report declares there should be
stationed young and active ofiicer
of the regular army. whose duty it
would be to instruct and direct the
militia organizations in the corps dis
trict. Such an oficer. 1t is pointed
out. could issue no orders to the
militia. but 1t is declared he should
be given, power to supervise the
equipment and instruction Of the vol
unteer troops Of his district and be