The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1910-11-26

The annual report Of Mai Gen. Leonard
Wood. Chief OF staff. made public at the
War Department yesterday, among others
contains these recommendations for the
improvement Of the army:
Increase in the supply Of field artil-
lery. ammunition. and seacoast ammuni-
ton: increase in the number OF commits
stoned officers; a new law for organizing
a volunteer army in time OF war: new
law for the training OF the militia; the
creation Of a reserve corps TO supplement
the regular army and militia; the creation
of a general service corps; the re-estab-
llshment OF the eanteen; an adequate
appropriation for aeronautical work. and
an Increase in the strength or the Signal
Corps.
Infantry Severely Taxed.
Discussing the condition OF the mobile
army. Gen. Wood said:
"The infantry is already severely taxed
by its present duties. and in order TO fur
nish the infantry troops needed for the
small garrisons at present maintained in
our insular possessions and Alaska ii has
been necessary in some instances 10 dimin-
ish the infantry garrisons and In others
10 abandon posts. The increased de-
mands which will be thrown upon the
army Incident TO providing an adequate
garrison for the Hawaiian Islands and
the Canal Zone. in addition 10 maintain
ing a reasonable force OF infantry in the
United States. will render a very consid-
cradle increase in the infantry arm neces-
saTy.
Reorganization Of the cavalry is a
matter which demands attention, with a
view TO securing a regiment which Is
taetically better suited TO the conditions
OF modern war than is our present regi-
ment.
THE existing deficiency in the field
artillery constitutes one of the greatest
menaces 10 our country in case OF war.
If the present regular army and organic
ed militia, at war strength were called
to arms to-day there would be a shortage
OF over 90 per cent in the field artillery
necessary 10 equip them. AS this force
would only represent a portion of the
force called TO arms in case of war with
q frst-class power, the gravity OF the
situation becomes at once apparent. Our
reserve OF field artillery is Insignificant
in comparison with the demands which
would be made upon it in case Of war.
and at the present rate Of progress 1t
Will be over fifty years before an ade-
.quate reserve supply OF field artillery OF
all kinds is accumulated"
Would Organize Reserve.
On the subject Of the army reserve
corps, he adds;
In view OF the size OF the regular
army and the small number of Instructed
militia. II Is imperauvely necessary that
steps should be taken TO organize a
proper reserve from which the regular
and militia organizations can be promptly
filled up with instructed men 10 war
strength, and from which new oTganiza-
tions can be formed. With these objects
in view, il is believed that steps should
be taken looking 10 the organization into
a reserve Of men who are discharged
from the regular army and the organized
militia. These men should receive small
monthly pay. and in return should keep
the War Department informed OF their
addresses and should be required TO attend
the annual maneuvers, receiving while on
this duty full pay"
In concluding his report, Gen. Wood
adds:
IN view of the very rapid advance
made IN aeronautics in the last few years
and the imperative necessity for aero
planes and dirigibles in war. it is i'm
pOrtant that adequate appropriations
should be made available in order that
the Signal Corps may be provided with
reasonable number of the better type Of
machines for Instruction purposes and
field work. The Signal Corps IS. as now
organized, insufficient 10 properly perform
its present duties, and as the development
OF aeronautics viii undoubtedly throw
added work on the corps. attention is
invited 10 the necessity for its increase