New-York tribune., 1913-11-30
TO MAKE COLONIAL
ARMY ATTRACTIVE
Secretary Of War Plans TO I'M
prove Conditions Which Now
Meet Criticism.
IFrOm The Tribune Bureau
Washington. November

washington, NoNtHlbtI ~
COLONIAL. ARMY CONDITIONS
The Secretary Of War will make an in
vestigation Of the conditions affecting the
so-called colonial army In the Philippine
Islands. Many complaints have reached
the War Department from officers who
have been attached 10 regiments desig-
mated for permanent station In the
islands.
These regiments. while they will remain
abroad. viii have their commissioned
personnel changed periodically. The Of
tcers will remain In the Islands only for
three years. IL having been determined
that Il longer time ~ detrimental To the
health OF the personnel. Enlisted men
attached to these permanent commands
will remain In the Philippines until the
expiration of their terms or enlistment,
when they have the privilege OF re-en-
listing and remaining in the islands. Re
turn Of non-commissioned officers TO the
United States will be permitted, but II
they return and re-enlist they do not re-
main as non-commissioned officers, but
are reduced to the grade OF private.
This situation, n IL found, has the ef'
feet OF discouraging re-enlistment, ana
Il is felt that sooner or later II VIII
become difficult to get enlisted men 10
serve I'm the Philippines. They Will pre-
fer to remain with the commands In tho
United States unless they can he as
sured that i'm going to the Philippines
they do so on the same basis as the com
missioned officers. for periods not ex-
ceeding three years.
So much criticism has reached Wash
ington that It has been determined TO
take up the question with view TO as
certaining what may be done to improve
conditions and promote the satsfac-
ton Of those who are now entertaining
grievances. 1t Is coming To be realized
that the idea OF colonial army Is fail-
ure. There is no objection TO having
permanence OF station so far as regimen
tai paraphernalla and title are considered,
but II is considered unreasonable and un-
Just to require soldiers to stay In the Phil-
ippines longer than commissioned oiicers
are expected to remain.
Secretary Garrison Is much impressed
with the necessity Of doing something
which shall protect the enlisted men, OH
the ground that the officer ~ sufiicienuy
cared for. The case OF the non-commis-
stoned officers Is such as TO call Tor rad
ical change In the situation. Those In the
Philippines are confronted with the ne
cessity of remaining there Indefinitely or
giving up their rank. which means much
10 them, and In fact, TO most OF them IL
means everything because they have been
sufficiently long in the army to make IL
impossible for them TO get along else
where.
ORDERS ISSUED.-These army and
navy orders have been issued:
ARMY.
Name of Colonel WALTER X. WRIGHT. In
iantry, placed on list detached officers
December I. and name OF Colonel SAMUEL
W. DUNNING. infantry. removed there
Colonel SAMUEL ". DUNNING. infantry.
assigned 18th Infantry.
lieutenant Colonel GEORGE +. LANDERS,
coast artillery. from command coast de.
fences OF :he Potomac, 20 Fort Adams, and
assume command coast defences OF Mar
ragansett Bay.
First Lieutenant WADE II. wEsTMoRE-
LAND 1lth Cavalry. from Walter Reed
General Hospital TO proper station.
First Lieutenant JACOB f.. FICKEL, 18th
Infantry. to San Francisco. sailing January
for Philippines
Resignation OF Second Lieutenant WILLIAM
H. SULLIVAN, Philippine Scouts, accepted:
Leaves OF absence: Captain GARRISON
NCASkEY. 26th Infantry two months on
arrival In United States; Captain PAUL.
e. GALLEHER, 18th Infantry two months
from December 10; First Lieutenant IA
COB Il. FICKEL. 18th Infantry, one