The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1913-12-12

SOA1pOilSIlL clements Or lose TGQeTal
recognition of their character as such
organizations. 4
While there has been q small de-
Icrease in officers and enlisted men In
1.-THE organized militia during the past
year, this decrease has occurred, In
great part, as the result of the elm
Iination Of organizations found hope
tlessly inefficient and is compensated
for by an increase in general effcien-
icy. 1t is regretted that in target prac-
tice the reports show but slight prog
ress during h rear. This fact is the
more serious as rifle practice Is recog-
nlzed as one of the most vital eIe-
ments in the training Of the infantry
soldier. The present tendency to de-
lNelop rifle teams, composed mostly of
commissioned officers, at the expense
of target practice for the enlisted man
is opposed to the federal policy In
this matter n should be %discontin-
ued." ~NN
Discussing the army reserve the sec
rotary says:
The a%djutant general report that
approximately 1000 men enlisted in
the army between Nov. /, 1912, and
Aug. 81. 1913, and Of this number sixty
one. made application to be %furloughed
to the reserve al the expiration of three
years service, and that on the late
last named the reserve consisted of
eight men. ....r T.
II found from a personal trip to most
OF the army posts and from. interview
ing as many of the officers and men as
l could, that the men were dissatis-
ned with the present enlistment con-
tract. 1t does not seem worth while
to discuss whether their dissatisfaction
is Well ounde or not since it exists,
and If we are to build up a. reserve we
must devise some method Of doing so.
mat we must build up a reserve seems
70" De the consensus. of opinion, and /
understand that congress is favorable
to a reserve. One trouble with the
present law undoubtedly is tina it does
not offer as great financial inducement
10 the man who enlistS so as to pass
INTO the reserve as it does to the one
VINO does not SO enlist, particularly
during the first six years Of his service.
From the most careful considera-
ton that l have been able to give this
SUBJECT l have reached the conclusion
mat we Will be able to get q reserve,
If n is ~obtainable at all, by a pro-
vision Of law that will permit the de-
Ipartment, when it is satisfied as to the
proficiency of the soldier, to honorably
discharge him with no other obligation
on his part, as far as the balance Of
MS enlistment is concerned, except to
return to the colorS in case of actual
war. The brevity Of my allusion to this
SUBJECT IN this report is not because Of
It's slight lmportanc, the fact being hat
l think 1t of the very greatest import
Iance, but because the details will have
to be worked out after the most care
full consideration by congress-"
Commencing the work of the gener-
al staff, h Army War college and Of
hcers generally, for their establish
ment OF a definite national military
policy and the encouragement of mill
ltary training, the secretary says:
AS a peaceful and unmilitary people
engrossed in the settlement and up-
building of our vast territory, and in
the development of the wonderful re-
sources with which it abounds, we are
but dimly impressed with the fact that
gust as agriculture and are
the foundations of our great national
prosperity, so with equal truth our
military and naval forces its bulwarll
ana defence While I believe there is
a worldwide and growing sentiment
for the settlement without bloodshed
OF all disputes between nations, just as
even now there is provision of law for
such settlement Of difficulties between
individuals, I recognize the fact that
the time has not yet come when a ma
ton can wisely disarm or slacken it's
eTt0rts for preparedness in case of war.
the army is not a luxury-it Is a
public necessity. A nation that Is opu-
lent, enterprising, and unarmed, as of
oId' sui invites aggression If not disas-
ter. Speaking for that element of the
national forces which under the
control of this deparement, I hope to
see In time of peace a growing senti-
ment Of increased pride in our army
that Will make the uniform of officer
and enlisted man respected always n
everywhere, and not an object of cur
tosity or invidious discrimination"
The Mexican border patrol the sec
rotary Gus at some length:
At the date of the last annual re-
port there were on duty in connection
with the patrol of the Mexican border
| a nnrnyJr1 a fn1Hr y ~ z<~ 49,
ed men. The present strength is about
the same. but largely composed of diff
ferent organizations. 'f- "
extensive patrol has been con-
tinuously maintained by these troops
from the Gulf of Mexica to Sasabe,
thirty miles west of Nogales, Ariz, a
distance, following TIL winnings of the
frontier, of some 1900 miles. Through
out this stretch of territory our troops
have protected the border from incur
sions by. individuals or small raiding
parties from Mexico, have been CON
tinually on the alert to prevent viola
tons of the neutrality laws, and have
acted in conjunction with the civil au-
thor1ties to prevent illegal importations
of arms n ammunition into Mexico in
violation Of the presidents proclama.
ton of March IA, 1912.
The duty of our troops at border
towns during the conflicts between the
W contending Mexican factions was
OF a most trying nature. n the con
Duct OF the troops under the circum-
stances, and the exercise of good judg-
ment and self-restraint on the part OF
commanding officers, are highly credi-
table"
There were 9,4S9 vacancies in the en-.
listed strength of the regular army al
the end of the last fiscal year when Its
actual strength was 70, $50, and the de-
sertions numbered 4,451, which was
4.15 per cent of the whole number OF
enlistments. Though larger han the
percentage for the three proceeding
years that was yet smaller han the
: 1901. The secretary feels that a close
and sympathetic relationship between
, The officers and men will surely tend
to lessen desertion and he is PERSONAL
, ly devoting as much of his time as he
can to the enlisted men-literally the
| backbone of the army and all that con
Germs him..
The joint encampments OF the army
and college students were highly sue
c~essful. 1t is said that they foster q
patriotic spirit and spread among the
citizens a. more thorough knowledge OF
military history, policy and needs, all
!, necessary to the complete education OF
a wel1-equipped citizen in order that he
: may himself form correct opinions or
military topics.
Mr.. Garrison recommends that ir
justice to the hundreds of eager boys
who cannot get appointments now,
West Point should be opened to thu
widest competition so that any boy
may take the examinations with The
= condition that IL no candidate from the
particulars congressional district II
+. which there is a.Vacancys should quail
fy, the candidate who passed highest
from some other district where there
was no vacancy should receive the ap-
tpointment.