The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1910-12-07
WAR DEPARTMENT

The war department has within its
Jurisdiction the management OF the army
and, In connection Herewith, tho coast
defenses: the government of the depen-
| dencies OF the Philippines and of Porto
Elco. the recommendation of plans for
the Improvement OF harbors and water
ways, and their execution when adopted
ana. py virtue OF an executive order the
| supervision of the construction Of the
Panama canal. The army of the United
| states is a small body compared with the
| total mum ber OF people for the preserra-
.i9n or whose peace and good order 1t is
last recourse. The army now numbers
| ABOUT $4,000 men. Of whom about 49, 600
| are engaged in the coast artillery and
detailed TO the management and use OF
me guns In the forts and batteries that
protect our coasts. The rest of the army.
| or about 60.000s Is the mobile part OF our
national forces and is divided into thirty
one regiments of infantry. including the
forto Rlcan regiment. fifteen regiments
OF cavalry six regiments OF field ARTILLERY,
corps OF ordnance. OF engineers and
OF signal a quartermaster's department
conlmlssery department, and a medical
The general plan for an army OF the
united States at peace should be that
OF skeleton organization with an ex-
SGss OF trained officers and thus capa-
PIE or rapid enlargement by cnlistmer,ts
10 De supplemented in emergency by
force
In some measure this plan has been
adopteo III the very large proportion of
caVairy and field artillery as compared
win infantry In the present army and
on peace basis. An infantry force
can be trained I'm six months; a cavalry
or a light artillery force not under one
and one-half or TWO years; hence the
Importance OF having ready a larger
nuIaher OF the more skilled soldiers.
The militia system for which congress
by the constitution is authorized to pro-
vide, was developed by the so called Dick
Jaw. under which the discipline the tac-
tics' the drill, the rank. the uniform and
the various branches OF the militia are
assinlllated as far as possiyis to those
OF the regular army. Under the militia
laW. as the constitution provides, the
TIA officers. but, by appropria tions from
congress. states have been induced to
comply with the rules OF assimilation be-
tween the regular army and the militia.
cheney OF which differs in different
states. which could be incorporated un-
DER a single command with the regular
army and which for some time each
year receives the benefit of drill and
maneuvers under conditions approximat-
Ing actual military service. under the
supervision OF regular army officers.
Volunteer Force Important.
In the army of the United States, in
addition to the regular forces and Ne
summoned
TO the defense OF the nation by the
president, there is also the volunteer
force. which made up a very large part
OF the army in the civil war. md which
become its most important constituent.
There Is an act which dates from the
civil war. known as the volunteer act
which makes provision for the enlistment
OF volunteers In the army of the United
states In time OF war. This was found
to be so defective In the Philippine war
that special act for the Organization
of volunteer regiments to take part in
that war was adopted, and IL was much
better adapted to the necessities of the
case,
There is now pending in congress a bill
repeating the present volunteer act and
making provision for the organization of
volunteer forces In time Of war. which
Is admirably, adapted to meet the
esiseaeies esI{ en- 1,,, which would be then pre-.
not entail dollars expense upon the
government at this time. or In the fu-
tnre' until war comes, but when war
are In accordance with the best military
Judgment as to what they ought to be.
and the act would prevent the necessity
for the discussion OF new legislation and
the delays incident to It's consideration
and adoption, I earnestly urge the pas
sage Of this volunteer bill
further recommend that congress cs-
ia blish a commission to determine as !
early as practicable comprehensive pol
icy for the organization. mobilization and !
administration OF the regular army. the
organized militia and the volunteer
forces In the event OF war
NEED FOR ADDITIONAL OFF. |
CERS.-Ono of tho great difficulties In
the prompt organization and mob!Iiza-
ton OF militia and volunteer forces is
the absence OF competent officers of the |
rank or captain to teach the new army.
b. the unit Of the company the busj. J
ness of being soldiers and or taking care !
d themselves go as to render effective
service. This need OF army officers can
only be supplied by provisions OF law
authorizing the appointment OF greater
number of army officers than are needed
o supply the commands OF regular army
roops now enlisted in the service
There are enough regular army officers
% command the troops now enlisted bu,
has authorized. and The depart
nent has followed the example of con
rress and exercised the authority con-
erred by detailing these army officers /
o duty other than that OF the command
If troops.
For instance. there arc large mum.
'er OF army officers assigned - duty
With military colleges or in colleges In
which military training is given Then
lnrge number of officers are sssicned
o general stan duty. aud there are va
lous other places TO which army officers
an h" and are legally assigned which
AXE them away from their regiments
md companies.
In order that the militia of each state !
hould be properly drilled and made more
kc the regular army. regular army cdi-
ers should be detailed to assist the ad
utant general OF each state In the super
islon OF the state militia; but this Is r
impossible unless provision is made hy |
ongress for very consde ra BILE increase | |
4 the number Of company and field offl- |
ers OF the army.
a bin was pending In the last session I
congress for this purpose, and I earn 2
silly hope that, In the interest of the .
roper development OF a republican o
rmy. army. small In the tIn1e of :