The Vinita daily chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1902-1913, 1910-12-10
FAvORS Use Of
AEROPLANES IN THE ARMY

adoption of a provision of law, similar
to that governing the navy for the
elimination of inefficient officers. There
is pressing need for efficient officers
to replace those detailed from their
regiments on necessary staff and mis-
cellaneous duty and the secretary
makes a strong plea for the passage
of the pending bill providing for the
addition of 612 officers of various
grades. Last June every officer on
detached duty who could possibly be
relieved was ordered to join his pro-
per command but the net result was
disappointing as few of these officers
could be spared from the important
details to which they have been as
signed.
The most serious feature of the
present military situation and one that
should be corrected Immediately, in
the opinion of Secretary Dickinson, is
the shortage of field artillery material.
There is a very inadequate supply of
guns, carriages and ammunition, due
largely to lack of appropriations. The
types needed have been developed and
some of each are under manufacture,
but the appropriations do not permit
OF the production of any considerable
quantity.
The chief of ordinance already has
called attention to the fact that much
time is required to manufacture this
material and it would be impossible
to obtain enough to supply the army
in time of war unless provision were
made accommodating the stock far in
advance.
Touching the progress of the work
of uncoyering the wreck of the Maine
in Havana Harbor, the secretary states
that the plans for the construction of
a eofferdam of interlocking steel piling
around the wreck have been approved
and are now under execution. 1t is
proposed to draw off the water as soon
as the dam is tight and remove the
overlying mud and other material in
lorder to permit, if desired, of thor.
ough examination of the condition of
the wreck in present position to deter
mine the cause of the explosion
The appropriation of 100000 al
ready made will accomplish all of the
preliminary work contemplated at
present but the actual removal of the
wreck and the restoration of the har-
Dor to its original condition will re-
quire a further appropriation. The
amount of which will depend upon the
disposition to be made of the structure
as a whole. In this connection the
secretary says that it is desirable that
congress should indicate the disposi
| tion to be made of the wreck upon
completion of the work of removal.
Little more can be done than already
has been done in the very important
work of instruction of the organized
militia until some provision is made by
congress which will allow the depart
ment to assign officers on the active
list of the army to duty with the
militia, which is now impossible owing
to the pressing need of officers for reg
mental service.
Success has attended the efforts ol
the department to secure one half o.
the personel necessary for manning the
coast fortifications, from the militia
of the seaboard states All of the
coast states have provided for these
coast artillery reserves except New
Jersey, Delaware and Louisiana ant
it is hoped that these states will fal
in line next year.
Unfortunately, the secretary points
out, the existing law does not declar,
distinctly the exact extent to which
the militia may be employed in tn,
service of the United States and leg
Iislation should be had that would en-
able the war department to deter
mime in advance of war just what of
ficers and troops of the militia car
be depended upon for service anC
there suitability The present law wal
built up piece meal during and since
the Spanish-American war and is a
best only temporary measure.
The secretary says that compre
hensiye act providing for the organic
alton of volunteer army only afte
congress has made a declaration o
war would be of inestimable value
the country ever again is confronte,
with a foreign war. Such Legislation
would permit of the preparation il
time of peace of all the necessar.
plans for the organization, equipmen
and supply of volunteer army an,
the selection of places for mobiliza