Omaha daily bee., 1909-10-16
The American Army and Others.

The American Army and Others.
The annual report Of Inspector Cen
eral Darlington, criticizing the United
States army In detail, comes at a time
when his recommendations may be
considered with special facility, for
the document is contemporaneous with
that Of Captain L~anghorne Of the cav
airy service giving a practical review
Of his studies of armies abroad.
General Garlington's argument that
necessary legislation for general re-
forms in the service would be fostered
by quartering troops in centers Of pop
~ulation where they would come into
contact with the people is in line with
Captain Langhorne's observation upon
the splendid results obtained in Great
Britain, where the army has been pop
ularized by having troops stationed in
large cities.
Necessarily such a report as General
~Garlington's emphasizes the def1cien-
cies of the service, most of which, in
his opinion, could be remedied by the
general exercise Of common sense, a
commodity that the observing public
had not noticed any especial lack of,
among either officers or men. The
blunt remark will no doubt serve to
stiffen the various posts to a renewed
mastery Of the regulations and a sound
Interpretation Of them.
A criticism that is evidently Just is
the marking Of discomfort over the
.crippling Of commands through the as
signment OF officers to detached serv-
ice. This would seem to be q matter
readily remedied by the adjustment of
extra pay among those so assigned and
those upon whom the additional duty
of the absentees may fall. General
Garlington's recommendation of a
modification of the severity of physical
tests is so emphatic an endorsement
of the general criticism that official
heed of 1t will, no doubt, be taken with
a view to the adoption Of such a sys-
tenn of general exercise throughout
the year db ne
While General Darlington is stimu-
lating the United States service by
pointing out its faults, Captain Lang
horne institutes comparisons with
armies abroad that may serve for
guidance in the improvement of our
troops. The thing he likes about the
British soldiers is their steadiness and
ability to shoot, and he considers that
we may we'll take lessons from them in
their superior rife instruction the use
of model targets and a practical course
that he considers ahead of any other
nations. The superb mounting of the
French cavalry and the ease and swing
of the French infantry on the march
gave him an impression OF great EN-
cheney in campaigning, and an added
object lesson was the way In which the
horse artillery kept up with the cav
airy in a state Of readiness over m
ground. German artillery proved a
disappointment and the kaiser's cav
airy troopers lacked evidences OF being
true horsemen. The German infantry
he regarded as a huge machine, mo
ing on resistlessly, but its reckless ex-
posures in maneuvering he considered
as showing need Of marked reform In
case Of actual fighting. The Italian
development of an airship feet struck
him as a marvel for use in Goa de-
Tense.
In their observations both the in
spector general at home and the cav
airy officer abroad show a disposition
to make manifest the faults of our
own service, either as they stand out
by themselves or in comparison with
ether nations. by their faults ye
shall know them" becomes a doctrine
with a disciplinarian, and the United
States army is so seasoned to the work
that It is sure to cultivate greater
merit as an organization from the
faithful wounds OF its friends.