Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1912-12-07


Under the influence Of this study
definite and effective steps have beef
taken toward army reorganization 81
! far as such reorganiza ton lies within
the executive power. Hitherto there
has been no difference Of policy in the
treatment Of the organization Of ou1
foreign gurrisons from those Of troops
within the United States. The differ
ence Of situation Is vital. and the for
eign garrison should be prepared tt
defend itself at an instant's notice
Iagainst foe who may command the
sea. Unlike the troops in the United
States. it cannot count upon re-en
forcements or recruitment. 1t Is m
outpost upon which will fall the brnnt
Of the first attack in case Of war.
The historical policy Of the United
States of carrying its regiments dur
ing time of peace at half strength has
no application to our foreign garri'
sons During the past year this de-
feet has been remedied as to the Phil
ippines garrison. The former garrison
Of twelve reduced regiments has been
replaced by garrison OF six regi-
ments at full strength. giving fully the
same number of riflemen at an esti-
mated economy in cost Of maintenance
of over S1.00O000 per year. This gar
rison is to be permanent. It's regi-
mental units. instead of being trans
| ferred periodically back and forth
| from the United States. will remain In
the islands. The officers and men
composing these units will. however,
serve a regular tropical detail, as usual.
thus involving no greater hardship
upon the personnel and greatly in
creasing the effectiveness of the garri-
son. Al
The Home Army. e
simultaneously with the foregoing
steps the war department has been
proceeding with the reorganization Of
the army at home The formerly dis
associated units are being united into
tactical organization of three div1-
sions, each consisting Of two or three
brigades of infantry and. so far as
practicable, proper proportion OF d.
visional cavalry and artillery. OF
course the extent to which this reform
can be carried by the executive 10
practically limited to paper organiza-
ton. The scattered units can be
brought under a proper organization,
but they will remain physically scat
tered until congress supplies the nee
essary funds for grouping them in
more concentrated posts.
; Regular Army Reserve. j..
The new law provides that the SOL
der. after serving four years with col
ors. shall pass into reserve for three
years. At his option he may go into
the reserve at the end Of three years.
remaining there for four years. While
in the reserve he can be called and
only in such case will receive a stated
amount Of pay for all of the period
in which he has been member Of the
reserve The legislation Is imperfect.
in my opinion. in certain particulars.
| but it Is a most, important step In the
| right direction. and l earnestly hope
that it will be carefully studied and
perfected by congress. = =
The National Guard.
Under existing law the national
guard constitutes. after the regular
! army, the first line of national, defense.
| It's. organization. discipline. training
| and equipment under recent legislation
have been assimilated as far as posi-
! BILE, to those of the regular army. and
it's practical efficiency under the effect
| Of this training has very greatly in
creased. Our citizen soldiers under
present conditions have reached a stage
Of development beyond which they can
not reasonably be asked to 60 without
further direct assistance In the form
Of pay from the federal government
On the other hand, such pay from the
national treasury would not be justi'
fed unless it produced proper equiva'
lent in additional efficiency on the part
Of the national guard.
The organized militia today cannot
be ordered outside Of the limits of the
United States and thus cannot lawful
" be used for general military pur-
poses. The officers and men are ambi'
tious and eager to make themselves
thus available and to become an eff
cient national reserve Of citizen SOL
diery. They are the only force OF
trained men other than the regular
army upon which we can rely. The
so called militia pay bill in the form
agreed on between the authorities OF
the war department and the represent
atives Of the national guard. In my
opinion. adequately meets these condi'
lions and offers proper return for the
pay which it is proposed to give to the
| national guard.
| l believe that Its enactment into la"
would be very long step toward pro,
! viding this nation with first line OF
citizen soldiery. upon which It's main
reliance must depend in case OF any
national emergency. Plans for the or,
sanizatlon Of the national guard into
! tactical divisions on the same lines as
those adopted for the regular army are
being formulated by the war college
division of the general staff