The morning call., 1890-12-15
UNCLE SANS MEN.
A Scheme of Competitions for the
Artillery Service.
Examining Officers for Promotion
Of Indians for Cavalry and Infantry.
New Signal Corps

and in the preliminary instruction of indi-
vlduals and batteries among the heavy
artillery troops of the army. The princi-
pal object of these competitions is by COM
parison of results to impress upon all Off
GERS. but more especially the battery COM
ma nders, the necessity Of thorough individ-
ual instruction in the organizations under
their command-the sole means, as declared
in orders. by which infantry troops have
reached their present high degree of pro-
ficiency in the use of their arm.
There will be three grades of competition
as follows: % the battery competition, (2)
the regimental competition. (3 the general
artillery competition. The first will take
place each year, will be limited to the en-
listed men, and will be to determine the
classification of gunners in each battery, as
indicated by the relative excellence of their
preliminary instruction, ascertained after
competitive examination of the designated
ones, the said examination to be thoroughly
practical
Upon the termination OF each battery con-
test the competitors will be classified as fol-
lows: Those who may have received 70 per
cent OF the general aggregate maximum
Inquire OF merit Will be classified as ''gun-
ners," of whom there may be three classes
in each battery. The first will be the five
IN EN- receiving the highest percentage of the
aggregate figure of merit. The second shall
be the ten receiving the next highest and all
Others who qualify for classification will
constitute the third class. First and second
class gunners will wear suitable insignia
distinctive OF the class, us may hereafter be
prescribed. The classification and insignia
Will be held only during the practice year
next succeeding the competition at which
they are won, after which they must again
be competed for.
AT the termination of the second years
competition all nOn-commissioned officers of
artillery serving with batteries are expected
TO have qualified for classification as first or
second class gunners. Any who fail to so
classify by that time, or who, having quail
fed shall fail thereafter at any two success
sive battery competitions to renew their
qualifications, shall be reported to the Ad-
1ulant-General of the army for such action
as the Commanding General of the A rmy
may deem proper. Except in cases where
special circumstances may justify different
view, such failure will be regarded as a dis
qualification for holding warrant as non
commissioned officer of artillery.
REGIMENTAL COMPETITIONS.
After the battery competitions, reg-
mental contests will be held, exigencies of
the service permitting at least once eveiy
TWO years. In regiments the stations of
which are such as to readily permit the
assembling of the battery detachmentS they
tachment TO represent the battery at the
regimental competition will be composed of
the necessary number of non-commissioned
Ulcers from the first and second class
gunners and Of the enlisted men who have
qualified as second and third class gunners.
No battery will be entitled to representa-
lion at the regimental competition until it
is able to select gun detachment OF four
teen men from its qualified gunners, of
which twelve Gncludlng two aternates)
shall be priyates. Nor shall there be held
reglmental competition in any regiment
until four-fiths of its heavy batteries shall
be able to select their respective competing
attachments subject to the above condi-
lions, The reglmental competition will
comprise three stages:
First stage-This will cover the same ground
as in the case OF the battery competition, and
Will be carried on SO far as Is necessary to
satisfy the board as to the relative merits OF the
vlduh instruction OF their members.
Second stage-(A). The service Of the piece.
This Will include the service of the pieces to be
used in the competitive firing and such others as
the Inspector of artillery may dlreci. (B) Me-
chanical maneuyers. This will include such
maneuvers as The inspector OF artillery may
direct.
Third staee-Competitve firing. This will
INCLUDE hiring with the elgntfnch muZ Zie- loading
rifle and The fiiteen-iuch smooth bore, or with
such more modern ordnance gums aud mortars)
as may be available at The time OF the competi-
ton.
The battery to which belongs the winning
detachment at this competition will be en-
titled to carry 'TegimeDtal prize guidon"
at parades and all other occasions of cere-
moDy. The officer commanding the detach-
ment, and each member of the detachment,
exclusive Of alternates not participating,
will wear upon the dress coat appropriate
and distinctive insignia, but the gudOn and
insignia shall be held only until the next
Tegimental competition, Immediately before
which they shall be forwarded 10 the regi-
al m IN ha ODD hx,b
upon receipt Of instructions to that effect
from the division commander to the battery
and the detachment which shall have then
become entitled to them. The battery of
the regiment serving as an instruction bat
terry at Fort Monroe shall not be entitled to
engage in this competition, except on special
authority.
GENERAL ARTILLERY CONTEST.
The general artillery competition will be
held at such time and place as the Com
handing General of the Army may desig-
nate and will be conducted by a board of
artillery officers appointed by him. The
competitors will be the battery attachments
which shall have been declared the winners
In the respective regimental competitions
Immediately preceding the general artillery
competition.
Each detachment will be commanded by
the commanding officer of the battery to
which he belongs, and this competition will
be similar In all essential respects to the
regmental competition, subject to such
special conditions as the Commanding
General oil the Army may from time to time
impose.
The battery to which belongs the detach-
ment declared the winner shall be entitled
to carry an artillery prize guidon" at
parades and all other occasions of ceremony,
and shall receive trophy as the Secretary
OF War may approve. The officer command
ing the successful detachment, the Lieu
tenant who commanded 1t at the regimental
competition and each member OF the de-
taehment, exclusive Of alternates not par
tcipatlng, shall wear upon the dress coat
appropriate and distinctive insignia. The
guid on and insignia will be held only until
the next general artillery competition.
EXAMINING ARMY OFFICERS.
The new system for examining officers
for promotion has quietly gone into effect.
Congress passed a law that the President
should prescribe a system of examination
OF all officers OF the army below the rank of
Major to determine their fitness for promo
ton, such an examination to be conducted
at such times anterior to the accruing Of the
r'ght to promotion as may be best for the
interests Of the service" If the officer ex-
amined fails to pass, the next below him is
promoted. and after one year the first officer
Is examined again. If he fails again he is
honorably discharged with one years
pay. Ii physically unfit for promotion
ne he IS retired from the army with
eho lain VI tlio Btduc Ht4b ABOVE MS
own. The Examining Board appointed
under this act for the Division of the Pacific
was constituted of the following named:
Colonel William r. Shafter, First Infantry:
Lieutenant-C Colonel William M. Graham.
Fifth Artillery; Lieutenant-C Colonel Francis
l.. Town, Surgeon; Lientenant-C Colonel An
son Mills. Fourth Cavalry; Captain Louis
Brechemln, Assistant Surgeon First Lieu
tenant William II. Coffin, Adjutant Fifth
Artillery. Recorder, and the following
named officers we're ordered to report for
examination: FRS: Lieutenants Erederick