New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-12-09
Million Without Schools.

Similarly" says the Secretary, there
is no parallel to the material. mental and
moral progress shown In these ten years
Of civil government by so many millions
of people. held for centuries In ignorance
end. in effect, in political and economic
| bondage" Secretary Stimson continues:
Our work in the Philippines has Just
! commenced. Half of the children porn
In Manila die in infancy, and million
| children are without schools; the ola
| system of peonage is still accepted py
| the masses, who unless protected oy
| Americans would fall ready victims 10
| the rich and educated Philippine minority;
| The American policy should be continued
TO completion. for until that time an
| proposals for independence are pleas for
| national recreancy on our part ana te'
| the reputation Of the heavy and alu.
cult burden which thus far we nave
| been bravely and consistently SUSTAINING.
Even more is 1t unjust 10 the great
| masses OF Filipino people, IN whose De
half the. high sounding slogans OF moes-
| ty' and Independence" are shouted.
After having been for centuries sunk IN
ignorance and held in economic suolec-
ton. they are now being aroused TO sel
supporting manh99od ana , neahg {b, vim Inc
and along this line alone. lies the true
port of liberty and independence
The strength Of the regular army at
the beginning Of the present fiscal year
was s2,2O5. an increase during the year Oh
lS9 officers and 1884 enlisted men. the
spirit Of the personnel Of the army says
the Secretary, continues to improve at
tributable not only 70 the work Of the ser
vice schools and the General Staff but TO
the practical opportunities afforded by the
recent manpuvrcs and changes In organ
ization and methods. Unnt omcers arc
speedily discovered under the searching
tests of field conditions.
In treating OF the morals Of the army
Secretary Stimson asserts that anu
canteen legislation has been responsloie
for much vice. In an inspection Oh lory
nine Of the mobile army posts ne iouhu
the military reservations adjoined by
dives and resorts Of the vilest character
These conditions he believes TO DE the
ultimate causes (which make the record
~ our army in this respect shamefui be
vond that of the army Of any CIVILIZED
nation"
Under the head OF reorganization OF tl'e
foreign garrisons. the report directs at'en-
,,on "a the benefits attending the suosti-
tuition for twelve regiments OF reduceo
strength in the Philippines OF garrison
NJ six regiments Of full strength. with
resulting saving Of over 100000 year
The Immediate completion OF the posts
AZ Panama and Hawaii he strongly urged
az by far the most important items OF
military expenditure for the fmmediate
future II is said that the locks ana ma
oh,nerv ar Panama already have reached
| a condition OF extreme vuineraoi"S III
case Of sudden attack. yet no grea'ei
force can be sent there than the one resf
ment now on guard until new quarters
are constructed for them.
On the other hand. says the Secretary,
the base at Pearl Hsrbor. Hawaii Is OF
Sar greater stragetic importance Tor the
| nrotectIon OF the entire Pacific coast
| fron attack than any OF the POSITIONS on
that coast now so strongly forthed- NO
| ra,,.i enemy could make serious euec-
Nv. attack upon any portion Of the Amer
| tran Pacific Coast unless IT had hrst re-
duc.d the position at Oahu, threatening
its flank.
Army Reserve Plan Defective.
| Touching the army reserve. the secre-
tary saws that the most serious detec'
In the plan is that Il creates too long
ner,od of service with the colors. Inc
experience OF the United States and OF
European nations has shown that the
soldier can be adequately trained for his
duties I'm considerably less than three
years.
| A strong plea is made for the passage
OF the pending militia pay bill because
! the 10000 men in the national guard are
practically unavailable for war under
present conditions. These men. the Sec
| retary SAYS, should not only be trained
for war In time Of peace and paid by the
national government, but IT must be pos
sible 10 transfer them Immediately into
the general military force, and not militia
| In time Of war.
Attention is directed TO the great short
age In field artillery which cannot be
purchased abroad in time OF war and re-
ouires years to manufacture. Secretary
stimson says:
| TO accumulate would be insufficient for
single engagement Of the character OF
| the engagements In either the Russo
Japanese or the present Balkan war.
The Secretary urges citizenship for the
Porto Ricans. declaring that It was prom
ised and that It had been earned by 10y
atty. The island should also have a de-
partment OF labor and agriculture and a
department Of health and sanitation, az
we'll as a rigorous civil service law.