116 The immediate cause for the almost unprecedented increase in our army in 1901 was the expansion of our frontiers as a result of the war with Spain in 1898. The Philippine Insurrection, in progress in 1901, and tile necessity for stationing troops outside the continental limits of the United States required the organization of our national defense. "It was not until it was plain to everyone that troubles abroad, even outside our possessions, were still persisting and that the time for volunteers to be mustered out of the service was fast approaching, that Congress shouldered the detestable burden of revamping our common defense. It passed a law which caused the Army to consist of thirty regiments of infantry, fifteen regiments of cavalry, and one corps of artillery with an appropriate staff corps The total strength was to be a maximum of 100,619 officers and men. "This was the real beginning of the 26th, 27th, 28th, 29th and 30th Infantry regiments, and the 11th, 12th, 13th, 14th and 15th Cavalry regiments -The History of the United States Army, by Ganoe. The military situation in the United States on January 29th, 1901, was critical. "The United States proper did not have a regular infantry regiment within its borders. . . . Volunteers could not be spared from the Philippines, where display of force awed insurrections into respect and peace. "The Adjutant General wired General Wood, at Havana, requesting the 10th Infantry for use in the Philippines, advising that 'the long delay in passage of the Army bill makes it imperative that we have immediate use of every available company we can lay our hands on for service in the Philippines.' "-Military Unpreparedness of the United States by Huidekoper. "Each regiment was to consist of three battalions of four companies each, an organization General Upton had twenty years previously shown to be sound."-History of the United States Army by Ganoe. "By far the most important of the laws enacted by the second session of the 56th Congress during 1901 was that of February 2nd entitled, 'An Act to Increase the Efficiency of the Permanent Military Establishment of the United States.' "-Military Unpreparedness of the United States, by Huidekoper. |
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