The Hawaiian gazette., 1910-12-13
ACCENTUATES
NEED OF SUBSIDIES
Confined from Page Onel
partial, thorough and continuous study
Of the facts.
War Department.

partial, thorough and continuous study
Of the facts.
War Department.
1.-THE war department has within
its jurisdiction the management of the
army and in connection Herewith. the
coast defenses; the. government of the
dependencies of the Philippines and of
Porto Rico; the recommendation of
plans for the improvement of harbors
and waterways, and their execution
when adopted; and, by virtue of an
executive order, the supervision of the
construction of the Panama Canal.
"The general plan for an army of
the United States at peace should be
that of skeleton organization with
an excess of trained officers and thus
capable of rapid enlargement by en-
istments, to be supplemented in emer-
gency by the national militia and a
volunteer force. In some measure this
plan has been adopted in the very
large proportion of cavalry and field
artillery as compared with infantry in
the present army and on peace basis
An infantry force can be trained in
six months; a cavalry or a light artil-
or two years; hence the importance of
having ready large number of the
more skilled soldiers.
"The militia system, for which con
gress by the constitution is authorized
to provide, was developed by the So
called Dick law; under which the dis
eipline, the tactics, the drill, the rank,
the uniform and the various branches
of the militia are assimilated as far as
possible to those of the regular army.
Under the militia law as the constitu-
ton provides, the governors of the
States appoint the militia officers, but,
by appropriations from congress, States
have beer induced to comply with the
rules of assimilation between the regu-
lar army and the militia, so that now
there is force, the efficiency of which
differs il different States, which could
be incorporated under a single com
mand wi h the regular army, and which
for somt time each year receives the
benefit Of drill and maneuvers under
conditions approximating actual mill
! tary service, under the supervision of
regular army officers.
''In tie army of the United States,
in addition to the regular forces and
the militia forces which may be sum
moned to the defense of the Nation by
| the President, there is also the volun-
| teer fore, which made up a very large
| part of the army in the Civil War, and
| which in any war of long continuance
would become its most important con-
! stituent 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 o. the United States in time of
| war. This was found to be so defec-
tive in the Philippine war that special
| act for the organization of volunteer
regiments to take part in that war was
! adopted, and it was much better adapt
ed to the necessities of the case. There
is now pending in congress bill re.
pcaling the present volunteer act and
making provision for the organization
of vo.unteer forces in time of war,
which is admirably adapted to meet the
| exigeneies which would be then pre-
sented. The passage of the bill would
not entail a dollar s expense upon the
government at this time, or in the flu
ture, until war comes, but when war
does cone the methods therein directed
are in accordance with the best mill
tary Judgment as to what they ought
! to be, and the act would prevent the
necessity for the discussion of new leg
islation and the delays incident to its
consideration and adoption. ] earnest
J ly urge the passage of this volunteer
! bill.
81 further recommend that congress
| establish a commission to determine as
early as practicable n comprehensive
policy for the organization, mobiliza
| ton and administration of the regular
army, the organized militia, and the
volunteer forces in the event of war.
Need for Additional officers.
cone Of the great difficulties in the
prompt organization and mobilization
of militia and volunteer forces is the
absence of competent officers of the
rank of captain to teach the new army
by the unit of the company, the bust
ness of being soldiers and of taking
caro- OF themselves so as to render eff
fective service. This need of army
officers can only be supplied by pro
visions Of law authorizing the appoint
mcnt of a greater number of army Off
curs than are needed to supply the com
mands of regular army troops now
enlisted in the service. There are
enough regular army officers to com
mnrd the troops now enlisted, but con
gless has authorized, and the depart
ment has followed the example of con
cress and exercised the authority con
ferred by detaili~g these army officers
to duty other IAN hat of the command
J of troops.
"For instance, there are large mum
Der of army officers assigned to duty
with military colleges or in colleges il
j which military training is given. Their
large number of officers are assigned
to general staff duty, and there arr
various other places to which army OH
GERS can be and are legally assigned
which take them away from their Tegi
, ments and companies In order tina
5 the militia Of each State should be prop
, erly drilled and made more like the
! regular army, regular army officer
r should be detailed to assist the adiu
5 tant general of each State in the super
4 vision of the State militia; but this il
} impossible unless provision is made By