people criticise such men as remiss, though it serves to mark the critics at least as much as it can annoy or injure such soldiers.

The benefits from fearless, frequent, and faithful inspections working together for a common purpose and well directed, like a foot-ball team, have been illustrated in every branch of military duties, whether affecting the training and instruction of the officer, or the comfort of the soldier at the farthest front and amid all the discomforts of travel, when it too often seems as if every man's hand was against him; or the military outfit and qualities essential to the best success; or the handling of money and property and the care of stations and stores, upon which so much more than economy-even honesty-depends. The system established by Washington, Steuben, and Hamilton still serves its purposes well, aiding to its utmost to encourage excellence and to minimize all that is not good.

The following table shows in detail the amount of all the various classes of inspection duty performed by this Department, or under its auspices, since July 1, 1889, from which a very good idea may be obtained of the volume of the work performed and its growth. It indicates during that time the inspection of about half a million of men; and the simultaneous examination of property for condemnation amounting to over one hundred million of articles, of which about five million dollars' worth was saved to the Government; and the disbursements inspected amounted to nearly two billion of dollars; and it is believed that all those who founded or have encouraged the system, both since and prior to the adoption of our national Constitution, could hardly have expected more, and, with at least some of the results, our superiors have been satisfied. Though as quiet as dew, and falling upon all alike, it has not been ineffective, and has had the constant supervision and watchful and organized care that such successful team work always requires. But those who have felt the halter draw may speak evil of the work occasionally: though the most worthy have habitually sustained it and never found it too drastic, but have always been consistently appreciative.

Statement of work performed by officers of the Inspector-General's Department since July 1, 1889.

a Including units of weight and measure. No inventory and inspection reports were received at this office prior to February, 1892: and the supply departments have not furnished the information.

Statement of work performed by officers of the Inspector-General's Department since July 1, 1889-Continued.

It will thus be seen that more than 61,000 inspections were made in the thirteen years considered-an average of about 4,695 per year, including nine years of peace and a small military establishment.

To say that these duties were arduous and exacting, would only be to repeat what is already well known throughout the Army; and that they have been performed with the greatest zeal and fidelity by the officers upon whom they have devolved is believed also to be sufficiently in evidence. It need not be pointed out which part of this work has been more effective or attracted most attention: but it will be easy for any to believe that throughout the length and breadth of the military service it has borne good fruit.

The following table shows how this work was distributed among the inspecting officers much as the disbursements among paymasters are annually indicated in the reports of the Paymaster-General.

It may be noted how few men in such a group saw service in our civil war, and how the relative rank of these excels that of many who are now pressing to the front. This is equally noticeable throughout the Army, and while leadership in battle is intrusted confidently to the old veterans, whose scars prove their trustworthiness and whose experience amid every exigency of war is valuable, still the places which knew them will know them no more forever, and their services become as a tale that is told: those who replace them doubtless have equal merit.

During the year there were 10,192 inspections of various kinds made by officers of this Department-permanent, detailed, and acting-or about 28 per day, including Sundays. But there are hardly 28 officers designated by law to do this duty; so the cooperation of all to attain the best results for the public service is demonstrated. And what the Army has accomplished proves that the best military results were fairly attained and much that is outside the strict tenets of their profession was often successfully required of these well-trained and disciplined men, with benefit to all concerned.

But

To be fully effective before ultimate filing, some of these reports call for the action of several bureaus and submission to higher authority, as for instance the hundred items submitted in relation to the fortifications prior to the recent maneuvers around New London, Conn. no stone is left unturned that can help insure that every one of the thousands of items reported will receive due consideration and complete remedial action, and also that the condition and comfort of the troops wherever located are as perfect as the means at hand will permit.

Following his previous custom, the Paymaster-General of the Army, in his annual report for the fiscal year 1902, states that the mileage paid for the inspection of the Army was $52,749.71, and that of this amount only $8,446.39 was paid to officers of the Inspector-General's Department, which is less than one-sixth of the whole amount. This is but one indication how much more economical is the general inspection of the Army, so widely scattered, than any other specific system. The economy as well as the efficiency of the general inspection should be duly and fully considered.

ARMY TRAINING AND INSTRUCTION.

As to the Army economy, efficiency, instruction, or discipline, recent orders from the Honorable Secretary of War (General Orders, No. 85, 1902, Headquarters of the Army) indicate that a serious and persistent effort by all hands to elevate it to a higher condition than ever before attained is more than contemplated-it has begun. Some special reasons and need for this effort are there given.

General Orders, No. 155, Headquarters of the Army, November 27, 1901, referred to in the order above cited, establishes a comprehensive system of training and general instruction for officers of the Army; and it seems a very progressive step and one fraught with the largest promise of beneficent results. Beginning with the War College, at Washington Barracks, D. C., for the most advanced instruction, the system embraces also a General Service and Staff College, at Fort Leavenworth, Kans. ; and such special service schools as the Artillery School, at Fort Monroe, Va.; the Engineer School of Application, at Washington Barracks, D. C.; the School of Submarine Defense, at Fort Totten, N. Y.; the School of Application for Cavalry and Field Artillery, at Fort Riley, Kans.; the Army Medical School, at Washington, D. C.; and at each military post an officers' school for elementary instruction in theory and practice as well as the company or other noncommissioned schools, and even the children have opportunities given them. Ali these (taken in connection with the Military Academy and actual service), embracing, as they do, almost or quite every phase of military life, theoretical and practical, even to minute details, when once