Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1911-12-11

notes distinct Improvement in the
personnel but declares that there is
much dead wood in. the army and
many backward tendencies.
The army posts as at present locat-
ed are declared to be wholly unfit
and to lead to great extravaganza.
They were originally in many cases To-
Gated with reference to pissible In
dian troubles and few of them are in
positions suited to meet the strategic
needs of national action or defense.
The average number of companies to
each of the 49 posts is only nine.
IN short says the secretary, 1--WE
have scattered our army over the
country as If it were merely groups
of local constabulary instead of a
national organization. The result. is
an army which is extraordinarily ex-
pensive to maintain, and one whose
efficiency for the main purpose of its
existence has been nullifled so far as
geographical location can nullify it.
Il is true that the small units into
which it has thus been subdivided
have as whole maintained efficiency
to a remarkable extent 4. But
for the remote contingency by which
a national army must be always
judged, namely the contingency of a
war with a first class power. the army
IS practically unprepared."
Calling attention to the fact that
upwards of $94.00O,O0O has been spent
on existing army posts and that the
profit which each post furnishes to
eighboring communities causes strong
local pressure against any change in
location. the secretary declares that
nevertheless steps have been taken,
and others are in the course of prose-
cution to correct as far as possible
these faults of organization.
1t is also in contemplation to remove
the cavalry situated in the Far Northern
posts to the southwark substituting in.
fantry for them. The Texas maneuvres
have shown the admirable adaptation Of
the Southwestern states for cavalry
training and drill at all seasons, where
as in the far north, for many months
in the year it is impossible to drill out
of doors.
The secretary commits himself unqual-
ihedly TO the theory that ii Is a junction
of the modern army to be the school of
the citizen soldier, as opposed to those
who contend for a permanent organiza-
ton of professional soldiers. He de-
clares that the body of highly polished
soldiers with which Frederick the Great
conducted his campaign has no place in
modern society or modern war. There
fore the the secretary disapproves of the
long term of enlistment and favors the
shortening of the present term to less
than three years, so as to allow as many
men as possible to go through the train
ing of the regular army, while retaining
some hold over the discharged soldier by
which he can be called to the colors in
case of war.
1.-THE army on the peace footing in
which we habitually maintain it, with its
miniature companies and troops" the
secretary continues. "is Ineffective for
any serious war service. Not only this.
but the losses which are certain to take
place during the first six months of op-
Grafton will amount TO a very large per-
centage of the army strength. 1t is
therefore absolutely imperative that pro-
vision should be made, by an adequate
system of regular reserves, to fill up and
maintain this first line of defence during
the necessary time that must elapse
while we are preparing and mobilizina
in the shape of our militia and volun-
teers. -. If the time with the
colors were shortened, say to two years,
and the same system of reserves Great
ed, l believe that the system could be
inaugurated at much less expense than
our present establishment; and l believe
it could be done without any impairment
of the efficiency and training of the reg
ular army, provided we eliminated some
of our present wasteful methods or an
fusion and concentrated our mobile army
into units which would permit OF eifec-
tive training and drill
The secretary denounces as bad and
short-sighted a system which fails to dis
tinauish between the hardened criminals
and thoughtIess Offenders against militia
ry law. and declares for immediate rad
Z ical revision and reform in the army
prisons.
As measure of economy and sound
practice, the consolidation of the quar-
termaster's, subsistence and pay depart
inents into one general supply corps IS
suggested with the assertion that the
immediate result will be the saving of
half a million dollars annually.
The secretary confirms his preceding
declaration in favor of thorough im-
partian test of the system of scientific
management at the ordnance factories
and arsenals.
Secretary Stimson joins nearly all Of
the other cabinet officers favoring a sys-