| Show Army Wanting in Marching Ability uMP THE United States army has lately undergone a series of stern and severe criticisms Authorities have studied the existing conditions from every point of view and in their reports reports reports re re- re- re ports have delivered their opinions in a fearless manner In a report recently made public one inspector points out the case of a a whole battalion battalion battalion bat bat- of artillery starting out for the Philippines without a single field officer officer of of- fleer and one of or the batteries commanded commanded commanded com com- by a second lieutenant of or orIe Ic lc i 3 than two years' years service In one department alone a third of the line officers were absent from duty with their commands co under detail and altogether altogether altogether al al- al- al together the inspector says the situation situation situation situ situ- warrants the prediction that results results re re- re- re suits of a disastrous kind must sooner or later be realized People who think the United States army stands at the top of the profession profession pro pro- would be rudely jarred to learn from Inspector General Ball that the field army is wholly unprepared unprepared unprepared pared for field service He says the new regulations are almost entirely theoretical or dependent upon the experience experience experience ex ex- of European armies Our tr transportation is the same as at the beginning of the civil war for our army has so far failed to make use of automobiles traction engines and other modern appliances in the field The weaknesses could be quickly developed developed developed de de- de- de if the present annual maneuvers maneuvers maneuvers maneu maneu- vers could be replaced at least once by the march of a complete arm army corps Very few of our officers have ever marched with more than a regi regi- ment To remedy these conditions Maj Gen Wood chief of staff has issued orders which will change materially the t training raining of the army Th The Inspectors inspectors inspectors tors general will be required to submit submit submit sub sub- mit the troops to an annual Ins inspection in the field in addition to the present inspection which is described in some quarters quarter as being little less than an inquiry into the accounts and garrison garrison garrison garri garri- son work worle of the troops The new inspection inspection in in- will be d designed to show the efficiency of or the troops in the theoretIcal theoretical theoretical ical work worle taught army officers in the various schools and provided for Inthe in inthe inthe the various drill regulations |
