The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1877-12-13

be under the direction Of the Secretary OF War Pro-
motious TO NIL vacancies In the lowest grades OF tho
respective staff corps should be made by selection
IRON the army and officer should DO eligible 70
stan appointment until ne should have served ~ least
i've years IN the line Except TOR special reasons
officers OF tho staff corps should not be promoted out
OF one particular branch. corps or department OF inc
Secretary o. War should, with the approval OF the
General OF the Army transfer officers OF the line with
transferred from one regiment arm OF the service
10 that OF another provided such transfer did not pref
udce the rank Of any officer in the regiment corps,
arm department. or branch OF the service TO which sucn
officers were transferred There should be allowed 10
each company OF cavalry. artillery and infantry IN
service one additional second lieutenant 10 be APP
pointed a. the discretion Of tho President provided,
however, sucn additional second lieutenant should be
taken from citizen lie. And to carry into elect this
provision tho Secretary OF War should whenever d.
rected by the President, assemble boards OF exam'-
ners ana the AdJutant General OF the army should
give public notice 1T least three months before tho
sitting OF such boards of the time and place where
they would convene. Any American ydNth between
the right 10 appear before the Board OF Examiners,
and, II found competent. be recommended to the
President Tor appointment to the grade OF additional
second eutenant IN the military service OF the United
States The officers OF the should be entitled
leave OF absence on fu TOR nrty days in each year.
aud such leaves when used 81 ould
for SIX years, aud all leaves should computed from
the times Of departure OF officer ON
a. headquarters Of the department in winch he was
serving Each officer OF the limo should be author
lied TO take from Tho ranks one private soldier an
orderly, provided no soldier should be compelled
any Ulcer or the army reaches the ago OF sixty
two years che President should be directed place
his name on tue retired list Of the army, and he
should be retired rom active service. When any
officer should have served in tho army Of the United
States for thirty years, at his own request with the
approval OF the President he should DO relieved from
aclive service and have his name entered upon tho
retired list. In time OF iusurrecli0n invasion
the President OF Tho United safes at his discretion
should DO authorized TO increase the enlisted force
oi The army TO any number, not exceed
ing 100 900 men. provided no new regiments
oan Z. ian
but The soldiers raised should be assigned rcgi
ments anu organizations Already III service. Purlc-
uiar reasons misht De gwen why each Of the above
PROVISIONS SHOULD be Incorporated INFO any
ganizng The army, bul 10 argue the question would
render his artice Too lcngtny, and shail therefore
draw II 10 a close with lew general observations.
Our present mi tary establishment is del. Give in
being harmonious. The staM and the line do get
along well together and the elect is 10 weaken aud
destroy the usefulness OF both. some. know, viii
OBJECT 10 tho sweeping change IN the organization OF
tue sta bat II ~ the natural one; inaecd, tue very
one We would be compelled 10 nave IN time oil war,
ana Why nos, thcn, maintain y ~ time OF pcace9
led san drawn from Inc iine and 50 intimately
with the line and thus end 4ali 0ickor.ng
between the regimental officers and officers
Of the staI me stan Of our army
should DO large Tor good staH officers d. Ill
cut 10 procure than any other class Of officers ana
army with poor stall viii IN time OF war waste more
In year than would TO MAINTAIN ull staff
for ten years in time peace. We should provlde
tho future as well as the present. IL is economy
Tor any nation have weak incompetent stan
draw their lucas OF army organization from books
The systems IN use 10 foreign countries out We should
not copy TOO closely any European plan, Tor what
Russla, Prussia or France would DO admirable in
America would not be suited people tho
spirit OF our institutions Proatng ny the experience
OF Older nations let US adopt what Is good IN their
TOMS but IN organizing our army we should depend
chiefly for knowledge upon the lessons taught US by
the battles sieges marches ol tour years. bloody
internecne war; IL Is Tor this reason think the stan
corps should divided into u field and departments
staff ana organized Just as they were during the last
year OF the war; @}
That West Point serves good purpose in providing
efficient young officers for The lowest grade in our
me 10 DO hard unjust that only young mon VINO
have political influence can get into tho army and
nave therefore proposed that while West Point should
furnish, as heretofore, the regular eutcnants new
class Of additional second lcutenants should be added
to the army inat these should be taken the
citizen youth OF the land.
The wisdom OF the provision that officers shall be
retired from active service at the age sxty-two
think will be apparent to every one except possibly,
u few old Dulers who Seem 10 have made up their
nj ads never to resign, retire or die.
1t not lair u Is not just, that the who de-
tends his country should .e compelled 10 toll on AZ
his profession until he drops into the grave. The
merchant the grocer, retire early having acquired
competence. Even the peanut vendor aud the
man who collects garbage IN The streets hope
by close application to their business make sui
ncient fortune twenty thirty years retro
ana live Ut their ease; Dot the soldier whose sword
defends and maintains all in their rights finds his
neveg done until Death mustsrs HIM Out
How many old men are to-day tottering around In
long service but dare not stop, Tor they poor
stop is TO starveY Hard indeed, Is the late OF
American soldier, who in tue midst OF luxury and
wealth (such NO other country possesses) wnen
has grown old and gray from long service Of his
try, is compelled " toll on tor pitiiui existence,
while those whom he has defended roll in wealth and
Toll NJ their ease. That republics are ungratefui mas
long bceu known, but II remained Tor America 10
demonstrate that they could also be mean Russia
allows her officers retire aiter twenty years. faith
iul Prussia retres them at hfyhve years Of
age France after thirty years service; England
twenty years service, on hall pay.
Iu 1855 England had no less than 1880 officers on
retired pay ($2 50O); among these were 100 field
officers 100 ine officers retired GU full pay, aud 400
otner officers on han pay. England pays her heroes
well ana allows them to brag much as they please.
America her heroes and does ali the Dragging
herself
Regarding retirement, Congress ought to allow
army officers to retire a. least u lev years before
death overtakes them, Tor officers, like politicians.
have much ~ answer Tor, anu need a few years Tor
reflection and prayer before meeting their Maker
Congress should adopt some system Tor enrolling,
organizing and arming the people,, SO that IN the
event ol great pubic danger sufficient volunteer
army could be speedily drawn together without the
expense, noise ana confusion SO painfully evident at
the beginning Vi the late war Let again be
compelled resort to enormous bounes aud special
In order 70 Oil the ranks army.
Every citizen who enjoys the protection OF govern
IN Time OF peace owes ~ service in time OF
and should be held liable to military duty the Held
ut any time when called on. All have
right to be shot Tor the good OF their
country. The people should be enrolled and general
sell sustaining militia system adopted Tor all the
States. The Unted States army. u is beneved, can
time OF peace always be kept iul by voluntary
lstments, but in time OF war provision by law should
be made Tor the nmen OF quotas OF volunteers to
the several States, and IN The evonL of sufficient
number oil men not voluntarily enllsting, the Gov
should DC directed TO raise tue deficiency by
allotment from among the young unmarried men OF
the states and II these should be sufficient then
iron among the married men under iorty-nve years
OF age. The plan proposed Tor reorganizng army
may not suit many persons, but before finding fault
let each ono emember hs pot schemes and partc
prejudices cannot De carried out, and a must be
wiling 10 concede something in this much vcxcd
question, so that any plan may be adopted. Ii had
TO make the army aione would perhaps not make IL
prcciseiy as have suggested, but what have pro-
posed think can be agreed upon, as 1T deprivos
Of his place, and Is just alike to the OF tho
NORTH the men Of the south. the staff and the line OF
our old army. ARMY OFFICER.
A COSTLY SPREE.