Evening journal., 1912-12-06

definite and effective steps have been
taken toward army reorganization 30
far as such reorganization lies within
the executive power. Hitherto there
has been no difference OF policy In the
treatment OF the organization Of our
foreign garrisons from those OF troops
within the United States The differ
ence OF situation Is vital. and the for
eign garrison should be prepared TO
defend itself at an lnstant's notice
against a foe who may command the
sea. Unlike the troops In the United
States. Il cannot count upon re-en-
forcements or recruitment IL Is an
outpost upon which will fall the brunt
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 60 our foreign garri.
sons. During the past year this de-
feet has been remeded as TO the Phil
ippines garrison The former garrison
OF twelve reduced regiments has been
replaced by garrison Of six regl
ments at fun strength. giving fully the
same number Of riiemen at an esti
mated economy IN cost OF maintenance
Of over Sl.O00,000 per year. This gar
rlson is 10 he permanent. Its regl
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
creaslng the effectiveness Of the garri.
1 son.
The Home Army.
simultaneously with the foregolns
steps the war department has been
proceeding with the reorganization OF
the army at home The formerly dis
associated units are being united into
a tactical organization Of three dlvi-
slons. each consisting OF two or three
brlgades OF infantry and. so far as
practicable. a proper proportion Of di-
visional cavalry and artillery. OF
course the extent TO which this reform
can be carried by the executive Is
practically limited to a paper organiza-
ton. The scattered units can be
brought under 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.
The new law provides that the sol
der. after serving four years with col
ors. shall pass into a 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 n STATED
amount Of pay for all of the perioC
IN which he has been a member of th'
reserve. The legislation is imperfect
in my opinion. IN certain particulars
but it is a most important step I'm the
right direction. and ! earnestly hope
that IL will he carefully studied ant
perfected by congress.
Tho National Guard.
Under existing law the uationa
guard constitutes. after the regula
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. an'
its practical efficiency under the effec
Of this training has very greatly in
creased. Our citizen soldiers unde
present conditions have reached a stag
of development beyond which they can
not reasonably be asked to go withou
further direct assistance in the form
of pay from the federal government
= On the other hand. such pay from th
2 national treasury would not be just
? fed unless il produced n proper equiva
= lent in additional efficiency on the par
D OF tile national guard.
p The organized militia today canno
e be ordered outside Of the limits Of tn
e United States and thus cannot Lawful
e ~ be used FOR general military pun
|, poses. The officers and men are amb
4 tious and eager to make themselve
o thus available and to become an eff
cient national reserve Of citizen so
d diery. They are the only force q
T trained men other than the regula
e army upon which we can rely. III
/ so called militia pay bill in the forr
Y agreed on between the authorities q
+ the war department and the represent
4 atives of the national guard. in m
opinion. adequately meets these cond
lions and offers n proper return for I'd
= pay which II is proposed 10 give to tn
\ national guard.
believe that its enactment into la'
Q would be very long step toward pre-
q viding this nation with first line {
/ citizen soldiery. upon which its mai
/ reliance must depend ini case OF an
l. national emergency Plans for the o
Y ganization Of the national guard int
Q tactical divisions on the same lines, q
n those adopted for the regular army al
e being formulated by the war collee
J. division OF the general stan.
l. Porto Rico.
: Porto Rico continues TO show notab
" progress. both commercially and in II
= spread OF education. Its external con
= MERGE has increased II per cent ov'
. the preceding year. bringing the tot
y value up 10 S02.GSl. $50. or more tina
!, five times the value OF the commer'
F, Of the island in 1901. During the ye'
= 16O.657 pupils were enrolled In n
= public schools as against l45.525 Z
\ the preceding yenr and as compare
srffb lQ nOn for th., tirot vaor of Amer