MODERN ESTABLISHMENT. The war with Spain (189S) called public attention to some of the imperfections of the American military ad ministration, and discussion of the shortcom ings brought about a plan of reorganization un precedented in the history of the Army. The Philippine insurrection, requiring the occupation of the archipelago at one time by a force of 65,000 men (regulars and volunteers), became in its turn an object lesson in the formation of a permanent military establishment suited to the new conditions. The regular force of 1897, expanded by Congress the following year to 63, 000, was in 1899 reinforced by 35,000 volunteers, exceptionally efficient, as nearly all had seen ser vice in Cuba and the Philippines, and were or ganized into regiments commanded by selected regular officers. During two years following these troops were incessantly engaged in fight ing the Filipinos under the unfavorable condi tions of climate, terrain, and the treacherous character of the enemy.
Official figures of the Adjutant-General's office show that from February 4, 1899, to April 30, 1902, there were 2,561 engagements, and in no case did United States troops surrender or re treat leaving their dead and wounded in the possession of the enemy. Up to July 10, 1902, 4,135 officers and 123,303 men were landed in the Philippines, 1,135 officers and 23,000 men having been sent there more than once. The average strength during the period named was 40,000. The casualties were: Killed and died of wounds, 69 officers and 936 enlisted men; deaths from disease, 47 officers and 2.535 men ; deaths from accident, 6 officers and 125 men; drowned. 6 offi cers and 257 enlisted men; deaths by suicide, 10 officers and 72 enlisted men; murdered. 1 officer and 91 enlisted men. Total deaths, 139 officers and 4.016 enlisted men; wounded, 190 officers and 2,707 enlisted men, a total of 2,897.
• Besides the service in the Philippines, the regular contingent there was drawn upon for the China Relief Expedition to the extent of 2,000 men. During the short campaign—July-August, 1900—the American casualties numbered 32 killed and 77 wounded. For the first time since the Revolution the United States Army fought side by side with European troops, and the pro fessional benefit derived from the association was well worth the cost. In certain respects the practical excellence of the American troops was conceded.
On February 2, 1901, Congress authorized a per manent increase of the Army (discretionary with the President except artillery) not to ex ceed 100.000 men, including 12,000 native troops
for service in Porto Rico and the Philippines. This force consisted of 15 regiments of cavalry, 30 of infantry, one of engineers, a corps of artil lery, and the staff departments. In June of that year all volunteers were mustered out. In July, 1902, the President, in the exercise of the discre tion vested in him by law, the United States having recognized the independence of Cuba and having placed the greater part of the Philippine Islands under civil government, materially re duced the army to the aggregate strength shown in the following table: leeted from the fourteen colonels), with his sta tion at the headquarters of the Army, and con sisting of 1•'G companies of coast artillery and 30 batteries of field artillery. These were grouped within a mnnher of artillery districts, and each district placed under command of a competent field officer.
The most radical change in the organization was that of the artillery. For many years, nom inally it was regimental, but practically the unit for administration and operation was the bat tery. The system of coast defense lacked co hesion, consisting simply of a number of inde pendent posts commanded by officers, who, hay ing reached the rank of field officer after thirty or forty years' service, as light battery com manders in the Civil War, or with infantry gar risons in peace, were content to rest on their laurels. Under the influence of Secretary of War Root, the seven regiments of artillery (after a long struggle, professional and political) were merged into a corps, supervised by a chief (se At the same time, a plan of instruction for young officers was devised—an elaboration of the post-graduate schools existing at the opening of the war with Spain—and the following institu tions were created: A War College at Washing ton, a General Service and Staff College at Fort Leavenworth, a Cavalry and Light Artillery School at Fort Riley, an Engineer School at Washington Barracks,and a School of Submarine Defense at Fort Totten, N. 1. A large appro priation was made in 1902 for permanent camp grounds and the erection of additional barracks and quarters at certain military posts, at which large garrisons may be concentrated. See ARMIES; ARMY ORGANIZATION; and other tars topics where matters pertaining to the United States Army are discussed. For militia, see section under the various States.