The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1889-12-15
THE ARMY QUESTION.
A Striking Suggestion for the Immediate
Organization.

A Striking Suggestion for the Immediate
Organization.
The burning question for the army now
is, not whether il shall be increased, but Is
the army, as now organized, best fitted to
do those things which the regulars are ex-
pected TO do among which may be cited
as the most important:
First-To provide q maximum amount
of protection, In the most probable field OF
action, for such time as may be necessary
10 get volunteers into service.
Second-To diffuse the greatest amount
of military instruction possible throughout
the country.
Third-To provide higher educated Of
fcers capable of commanding large bodies
OF men in war, and familiar with every
possible contingency which can be PROBES
sionally learned in peace.
To answer these simple propositions
properly and in detail. would greatly ex-
tend this article; but briefly IL may be
said that as no foreign nation would be
justified in undertaking an armed invasion
or permanent occupancy of any part Of the
United States, the most probable use for
the army viii be 20 provide for the defense
Of the most important harbors and cities
near the seAcoast against the sudden al
lacks of hostile squadrons, No one except
those sanguine people who trust everything
10 Yankee pluck and ingenuity, would
claim that the army ia at present equal 70
such task. in the face OF the fact that
every nation having any pretense 20
navy has high-power guns superior - any
in the United States service. Many people
nut as much faith in torpedoes, dynamite
guns aad other things Of an uHcanny ma
ture as the Southern people did in their
BLACK Horse Cavalry and Louisiana
Tigers, ITO find they we're only mortal after
all. A board of ordnance and Notifications
Is now in session and viii undoubtedly
submit a mastery review Of the whole
subject: but there Is no reason
TO hone for any early results. il
mast experience is Of any value in
predicting the fate Of such reports in con-
gress. Even II congress approves and
makes appropriations for guns there are
not artiIierymen enough in the service TO
keen the guns clean. let alone operate
them.
In order to provide as well as possible
for the immediate future. the number of
foot batteries should be doubled st once,
and the simplest way TO accomplish this Is
10 abolish the present artillery regiments,
organize corps of artillery, transfer two
companies from each infantry regiment TO
this corps ~ foot batteries. The infantry,
At the same time. should be declared three
battalion regiments, IS recommended by
Generals sherman. Sheridan and other
prominent officers, but in time Of peace
one battalion 70 remain unorganized I'M
lass authorised By congress. This would
strengthen the regulars where weak and
sxeakeu them where the National Guard
cones out stronghold Is. As infantry.
The details OF this plan have been care
fasIv elaborated and vii give greater
BENEFITS and less injury TO the ser
vice than any heretofore proposed. The
oalv increase woaId Be il Geld officers aed
there wonlA he reduction IN lseatenAnta.
This would double the ability OF the srisi-
le-y "a defend The seAeaasL