Arizona republican., 1913-01-04
ID RE0RGAN|zE
 NATIONS ARMY
NJ a. jor General Leonard
 Wood NJ a kes Striking Recommendations Includ- ing That of the Restora- tion of the Army Canteen
ASSOCIATED PRESS DIsPArcul

WASHINGTON. Jan. 3-The restor- atiOn of the army canteen and the en- actment of legislation elimination from the army of unfit officers were among the principal recommendations Major General Leonard Wood, chief of staff, in his annual report made public today Gen. Wood recommends the concentra- tiOn of the army on strategic lines and in areas where it can be maintained more economically. He would transfer all the personnel of the staff corps. eX- cepting the engineers, medical officers and chaplains to the line. increasing the number of general officers and line officers of different grades. The transfer of the personnel of the staff corps to the line. General Wood is of the opinion, will terminate the con- stant struggle between the line and staff struggle which is as old as the army and one which promises to con- tinue. There would be no difference in promotion. nor would the members of the present staff corps lose any present advantages.
 Discussing the means of elimination of unfit officers, the chief of staff says:
 The full efficiency of an Organiza tiOn of men can not be secured without a system by which the merits of the individuals have some effect upon their advancement"
 The army long has suffered from the lack of such a system" the general continues. Up to the grade of colonel promotion is by seniority in each branch and there is no way under the -i,;a nf
 what merit, can be advanced d single number except by making him gen.
 eral officer Conservative opposition
 must be looked for in the army where
 jealous fear effects favoritism but this
 would disappear under the influence of
 law which places selections where they
 belong in the hands of the service it.
 self. by lodging it with boards of offi-
 cers. so chosen as not to be effected personally by their decisions and sworn to act in accordance with the best in terests of the service.
 ''The great majority of officers of the army" General Wood says in discuss ing the canteen question, are of the opinion that the reestablishment of the canteen under proper supervision will improve the health, discipline and eff cheney of the service by dismissing in temperance and immortality. I concur in this opinion
 General Wood, in his report presents to congress. detailed plain for the re- orga niZation of the field artillery in connection with the general army re- organization. The general plan pro- vided as first increment to station in the field an army must be two regi- : ments of infantry six battalions of !, field artillery, one field company of i signal troops, fife field hospitals and 1 five ambulance companies. By this ] standard at present there would be a vast shortage of field artillery not only : for the army but for the militia. More over. there is no provision for the ef
 fective service of ammunition for many | guns in a single days fight will use ! all the ammunition that can now be carried for them.
 '! Therefore General Wood adds. if wf
 do not have additional artillery oui armies are destined to ultimate defeat
 He also calls attention to tho fact thai many states refuse to include a proper ! proportion of field artillery and cav airy in their militia because of the eX- pense and suggests that hereafter
 congress appropriate money which car only be used by the states for the or ! ganization of these armies.