The Helena independent., 1890-09-20
NE ARTILLERY IN FAVOR.
len. Schofield Inclined to Give That
Branch Of the Army
Showing.
Iheridan a Partisan of the Cavalry
and Sherman of the
Infantry.
I Nu,N-- 80 AH~~ E~R~ v1s.n
ai,ns of These Three Arms OF the Service
to the strength of the
Army.

WASHINGTON. Sept. 19.-The artillery is
idently to have it's innings during Gen.
khofield's command of the army, just as
e cavalry was sure of good show under
en. Sheridan and the infantry under Gen.
herman. albeit the last-named officer was
mself of the artillery in his youthful
Tvs. What is more, everything indicates
lat not for many years has the officer COM
hnding the army had more influence with
e war department than now. Gen. Sher-
an and Gen. Sheridan used occasionally
find themselves at odds with the secre-
rv of war in the traditional conflict be-
keen the war Office and army headquar-
rs; but Gen. Schofeld's policy seems to
rather that of alliance than of antagon-
h. and the result will be seen in current
my administration,
no anv personal prediction which Gen.
hofeld may have for the artillery, as his
In arm of the service prior to the civil
Lr, is Joined the much more important
nsideration of the growing needs of the
untry. During the last twenty years,
lat with Indian outbreaks and the neces-
les Of guarding the pioneer settlements
the far west, the cavalry and infantry
We attracted the greater attention. But
ese necessities have unquestionably de-
based of late, at least relatively, while
importance of securing larger person
in the artillery is plainly manifested by
preparation of new forts and new guns
coast defense, which will require far
ger number of troops to care for and
ndle them. The first step taken to Sc
re this increase in the artillery. was the
l, still pending in congress. for lncreas-
the number of regiments to seven.
len should this be followed by no
dition to the total enlisted force
the army, it would secure large mum
of welcome promotions to artillery
beers. But while this bill still remained
der consideration the war department
bk another very important step in con-
idating the other two arms OF the ser
te by its famous and X infantry and L
M cavalry orders. These transferred
officers and enlisted men of two COM
nies in each infantry regiment and two
bops in each cavalry regiment to the other
mpanies or troops, thus reducing the
mber of companies in an infantry reRi-
bnt from ten to eight, and the number of
bops in cavalry regiment from twelve to
b. The effect was to practically discon-
(ue seventy companies and troops in these
b arms. At the same time no such change
s made in the artillery. The orders came
on the army as complete surprise, and
provision was made for at once carrying
pm out the changes were actually
progress before the astonished officers
hcerned had a chance to consider how
by would be individually affected. But
N some of them have come to the conclu-
n, as one of their number expresses it,
It "the cavalry and infantry. have been
"a out very quietly and cheaply in the in
est of the artillery This view is sup
Eted, they think, by Gen. Schofeld's sub
uent order allowing each battery sixty
enlisted men, which is much more than
batteries have averaged hitherto.
r department in disseminating these or
nizations is in violation Of law. Their
kument il that the statutes prescribe the
mber Of companies that shall compose a
kiment. and also the number of non COM
ssioned officers and privates that belong
the company. Hence, it is said, court
|rusted with the Interpretation of the
|tutes would not hesitate to pronounce
action of the war department to be un-
Fful.
Il is hardly probable that this point will
practically raised, at least before con-
Fss takes up the question of army organi-
lion, which probably will not be until the
1t session. But meanwhile it may be
nted out that the war department has
Ftainly avoided the violat ion of the stat
prescribing the number of companies in
eRiment by very ingenious device. It
be not attempt to abolish any company
bssly provides that the records Of and
hnd L and NJ shall be sent to the respect
regimental headquarters, "in order that
by may be kept complete and continued"
the same time, officers now belonging to
her companies and troops, but absent
pm them on detached service or on pro-
hged leave, are transferred In companies
and K and troops L and u. Thus it is
dent that the infantry and the cavalry
iments still have the number of compa-
Is prescribed by law, although seventy of
pm will no longer have any enlisted men,
are companies hardly more than in
me.
\ point which deserves more considera-
n u founded on the statute which de-
res that every company of infantry shall
htain at least fifty enlisted men. It is
kued that this statute puts the war de-
tment in the dilemma Of either abolish
else of reducing the number of enlisted
Ia below the prescribed maximum, which
Equally has no right to do. On the other
nd, it is admitted that a cavalry troop is
contain ''such number of privates not
bedding seventy-eight as the president
" Direct" which would cover the recent
Ialry consolidation. The statutes on the
nposition are anything but methodical
language.
leaving the experts to discuss the legal
military points involved, the popular
MON must be rather IN favor of concen-
tion in order to secure efficiency. At
sent, with the large number of details
officers. the proper instruction of
listed men must be rather difficult.
discrimination which has been
de in the consolidation orders of the
department in favor of the artillery
is some justification in the greater need
that arm for the increasing coast de-
ses. Still, the cavalry and infantry, il
v cannot deny that point, may say that
war department could at least have
tied until they saw what congress was
ling to do for the artillery under the
ding seven-regiment bill. They suggest
It the present scheme of the war depart
ut practically nullifies all that it has said
many years past as to the urgent
portance of twelve-battalion organiza-