The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1886-01-21

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ton is to be supported (outside Of any pri-
vate donaton) is the sum of S5,O00,0 900, in g
perpetual registered certificates of the United
States bearing interest at the rate of five pei
cent. per annum.
We trust this most excellent project of the
Senator from Kansas may receive the sup
port it merits, and that ere long we may
have an institution of learning that may
compare favorably with any in Europe.
REORGANIzING THE INFANTRY.
Senator Henderson, of Nebraska, deliy-
cred q mastery argument in the Senate last
week in favor OF his bill to reorganiZe the
infantry branch of the army on the three
battalion plan, now adopted by every Ma
ton Of the world of importance, except Per-
sin and China, where our own obsolete sim
gIe-battalion system is still adhered to.
Gen. Manderson's proposition in brief is
to have regiment composed of IL compa-
MICS instead Of 10, and that it shall be di-
vided into three battalions of four compa-
MES each. These companies he would have
differed efficiently, but in time of peace
comprise but so men, each Of which, in case
of war, could be filled up by enlistment to
the full complement of 100, making every
regiment 1900 strong when on war foot
ing. He would appoint two additional
Majors to the regiment or one to each bat
talon.
The Senator gives good reasons for the
in the art of war. Within the last 25 years
we have progressed from q muzzle loader
firing six times minute, and the latter
effective at 1000 yards, while the range of
the first was but from 200 to 400 yards. BY
this means, should we maintain our present
infantry tactics, it would be safe to estimate
the execution under the modern arm at
practically Is times as great as with the
weapon used in our late war.
In order to make it possible for o
regiment to live under this fire from the
modern breech-loader, the Senator maintains
that the line must be single in formation,
instead of in double rank as now, and drawn
out by heightened intervals between the
men. Then, however, it becomes impossi-
BILE for any Colonel to be heard, or perhaps
even seen, by his men. Hence the three
Majors become necessary. The difficulty of
command is further enhanced by the din in
cident to rapid firing by breech-loaders on
| both sides and the use of machine guns.
1t is demonstrated that one of the prime
achievements to be realized under the pro-
posed system is the existence of the skeleton
of an effective force thereby maintained, SO
that the time lost by the organization of
new regiments and battalions would be
saved in case of emergency, and an army put
into the field at once by the employment
simply Of money to procure men and ma
terial of war.
Finally the additional cost Of the innoya-
ton would be less than million dollars a
year. small outlay when it would cause
the differer ce between an efficient army of
10000 men on short notice, and practically
none at all as at present constituted.
Senator henderson deprecates the spirit
of indifference that pervades the country,
and shows that we have ample ground TO
mistrust the indefinite continuance of peace
Our important commercial interests, which
| clash with those Of England and Germany,
the necessity of protecting the neutrality of
| the trans-isthmian highway, the insecur-
ity of Cuba's position, the building of rail-
roads with American capital across the
border Of a neighboring Government, and
many other circumstances are cited to raise
a reasonable presumption against a perpetual
state of military inactivity.
The bill has gone to the Committee on
Military Affairs, where it is believed it will
receive favorable consideration.
A