work
of great magnitude well and ably done, for which too much credit cannot
be given the War Department.

During the past year we have reduced our force in Cuba and Puerto Rico.
In Cuba we now have 334 officers and 10,796 enlisted men; in Puerto
Rico, 87 officers and 2,855 enlisted men and a battalion of 400 men
composed of native Puerto Ricans; while stationed throughout the United
States are 910 officers and 17,317 men, and in Hawaii 12 officers and
453 enlisted men.

The operations of the Army are fully presented in the report of the
Secretary of War. I cannot withhold from officers and men the highest
commendation for their soldierly conduct in trying situations, their
willing sacrifices for their country, and the integrity and ability with
which they have performed unusual and difficult duties in our island
possessions.

In the organization of the volunteer regiments authorized by the
act of March 2, 1899, it was found that no provision had been made for
chaplains. This omission was doubtless from inadvertence. I recommend
the early authorization for the appointment of one chaplain for each of
said regiments. These regiments are now in the Philippines, and it is
important that immediate action be had.

In restoring peaceful conditions, orderly rule, and civic progress in
Cuba, Puerto Rico, and, so far as practicable, in the Philippines, the
rehabilitation of the postal service has been an essential and important
part of the work. It became necessary to provide mail facilities both
for our forces of occupation and for the native population. To meet this
requirement has involved a substantial reconstruction. The existing
systems were so fragmentary, defective, and inadequate that a new and
comprehensive organization had to be created. American trained officials
have been assigned to the directing and executive positions, while
natives have been chiefly employed in making up the body of the force.
In working out this plan the merit rule has been rigorously and
faithfully applied.

The appointment of Director-General of Posts of Cuba was given
to an expert who had been Chief Post-Office Inspector and Assistant
Postmaster-General, and who united large experience with administrative
capacity. For the postmastership at Havana the range of skilled and
available men was scanned, and the choice fell upon one who had been
twenty years in the service as deputy postmaster and postmaster of a
large city. This principle g