Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-12-06


whose business 1t was to study these
problems and plan remedies for these de-
fects. With the establishment Of the gen.
eral stan nine years ago a body was
created for this purpose. 1t has. neces-
sarily. required time to overcome, even in
its own personnel. the habits of mind
engendered by century of lack of meth
cd, but of late years it's work has be-
come systematic and effective and 1t has
recently been addressing itself vigorously
to these problems.
"A comprehensive plan of army reor-
ganization was prepared by the War Col
lege division of the
Comprehensive general staff. This plan
d.. was thoroughly dis
AAoA' cussed last summer at a
series of open conferences held by the
Secretary of War and attended by repre-
sentatives from all branches of the army
and from Congress. In printed form 1t
has been distributed to members of Con-
gress and throughout the army and the
National Guard and widely through in
situations of learning and elsewhere in
the United States. In 1t, for the first time,
We have a tentative chart for future
progress.
Under the influence of this study def
mite and effective steps have been taken
toward army reorganization so far as
such reorganization lies within the execu-
tive 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 difference of situation is
vital. and the foreign garrison should be
prepared to defend itself at an instant's
notice against a foe who may command
the sea- Unlike the troops in the United
States. 1t cannot count upon reinforce
ments or recruitment. 1t is an outpost
first attack In case of war. The his
torical policy of the United States of car
rying its regiments during time of peace
at half strength has no application to our
this defect has been remedied as to the
Philippines garrison. The former garri-
son of twelve reduced regiments has been
replaced by garrison of six regiments
at full strength. giving fully the same
number of rifemen at an estimated econo-
my In cost of maintenance of over
100000 per year. This garrison is
to be permanent Its regimental units,
instead of being transferred period
ically 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
son. similar policy is proposed for the
Hawaiian and Panama garrisons as fast
as the barracks for them are completed.
l strongly urge upon Congress that the
necessary appropriations for this pur-
pose should be promptly made. 1t is. in
my opinion. of first Importance that these
national Outposts. upon which a success
full home defense will. primarily. depend,
should be finished and placed in effective
condition at the earliest possible day.
*
simultaneously with the foregoing
steps the War Department has been pro-
ceeding with the reorganiza-
The Home ton of the army at home.
The formerly disassociated
units are being united into
a tactical organization Of three divisions,
each consisting of two or three brigades
of infantry, and. so far as practicable, a
proper proportion Of divisional cavalry and
artillery. OF course, the extent to which
this reform can be carried by the execu-
tive is practically limited to a paper or
ganization. The scattered units can be
brought under a proper organization, but
they will remain physically scattered I'M
til Congress supplies the necessary funds
for grouping them in more concentrated
pOStS. CntlI tndt Is zone the present Ol1-
iculty OF drilling our scattered groups to-
gether. and thus training them for the
proper team play. cannot be removed. But
We shall. at least have an army which
will know its own organization and will
be inspected by its proper commanders
and to which. as unit, emergency or
ders can be issued in time Of war or other
emergency. Moreover, the organization,
which in many respects Is necessarily a
skeleton. will furnish guide for future
low hn rot \
companies will know the brtgades and d.
visions to which they belong They will
be Unanswered together whenever ma
neuvers are established by Congress, and
the pattern into which can be filled new
troops as the nation grows and a larger
army is provided.
Zone Of the most important reforms ac-
complished during the past year has been
the legislation enacted
Regular Army in the army appropria-
p... ton bill of last sum-
mer, providing for q
regular army reserve. Hitherto our ma
tional policy has assumed that at the out
break of war our regiments would be i'm
mediately raised to full strength. But our
laws have provided no means by which
this could be accomplished. or by which
the losses of the regiments when once
sent to the front could be repaired. In
this respect We have neglected the les
sons learned by other nations. The new
law provides that the soldier after serv-
ing four years with colors. 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 to active duty only in case of war
or other national emergency, and when
SO called and only in such case will re-
ceive a stated amount Of pay for all OF
the period In which he has been a men,
Der Of the reserve. The legislation is I'M
perfect. in my opinion, in certain partic-
ulars. but II is a most important step in
the right direction, and / earnestly hope
that 1t will be carefully studied and per-
fected by Congress.
Under existing law the National Guard
constitutes. after the regular army, the
first line Of national de-
The National tense Its organization.