And State Papers 587 



the simple ground that those who by their own 

 merits are entitled to the rewards get them, and that 

 those who are peculiarly fit to do the duties are 

 chosen to perform them. 



Every effort should be made to bring the army to 

 a constantly increasing state of efficiency. When on 

 actual service no work save that directly in the line 

 of such service should be required. The paper work 

 in the army, as in the navy, should be greatly re- 

 duced. What is needed is proved power of com- 

 mand and capacity to work well in the field. Con- 

 stant care is necessary to prevent dry rot in the 

 transportation and commissary departments. 



Our army is so small and so much scattered that 

 it is very difficult to give the higher officers (as well 

 as the lower officers and the enlisted men) a chance 

 to practice manoeuvres in mass and on a compara- 

 tively large scale. In time of need no amount of 

 individual excellence would avail against the paraly- 

 sis which would follow inability to work as a cohe- 

 rent whole, under skilful and daring leadership. 

 The Congress should provide means whereby it will 

 be possible to have field exercises by at least a divi- 

 sion of regulars, and if possible also a division of 

 national guardsmen, once a year. These exercises 

 might take the form of field manoeuvres; or, if on 

 the Gulf Coast or the Pacific or Atlantic Seaboard, 

 or in the region of the Great Lakes, the army corps 

 when assembled could be marched from some inland 

 point to some point on the water, there embarked, 

 disembarked after a couple of days' journey at some 



