The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1891-09-30
THE NEW DRILL BOOKS.
Cavalry, Artillery, 1nnnntry, ana Marines
VIII Re distracted In Revised Tactics.


wAsurNoroS. Sept. 2o.-The army and the
navy will soon bc hard at work practising the
new drill regulations which have 80 long been
In preparation. since they are now In course OF
printing and issue. They have been approved
by Secretary Proctor.
1t cannot be said that there has boon lack
OF deliberation In producing the new tactics.
Tho Army Board on tho subject was appointed
years ago. while Gen. Sheridan was In COM
mand OF the army. 1t consisted OF three in.
fantry officers. Lieut.. Col. j. c. Bates. Capt. J.
7. Haskell. and Capt. J. G. Gilmore. besides
Lieut.. q. Andrews as Recorder: two cavalry
officers. Major q. D. Sanford and Capt. +. b.
Godfrey; two artillery officers. Major A. G. Has
brouck and Capt J. NJ Lancaster. This Board
was composed OF officers much lower In rank
than its predecessor, the Upton Board OF 1907.
which had but one member under the grade OF
Colonel Perhaps II was thought that field and
company officers. accustomed to use the tactics
in garrison drills and In the routine Of field
service would he likely to understand the
shortcomings OF the existing system and to
take great interest In It's proper revision.
The work required OF tho Board was also
different from TINT Of preceding Boards. who
were called upon to pass judgment OF accept
ance or rejection upon systems or tactics
already completed. like Casey's and Upton's
s was rather to Ss exsg
was to DO submitted to the commander OF the
IT held many meetings. made many changes.
anu more than two years ago caused its pro-
sssa TGsh si fr here sy "nS d
% xs ss% faa sas
were also high commen,latiohs Last autumn
the Board reassembled to consider the various
fFsiIeis%s wh hsa troys sss c study sd
llttazelle. Eighteenth Infantry. who was for
as whole: Col. E,lmunds Of boston criticised
with special special reference to It's being adopted
Changer tic nnyy e pOsSR S ssS Ssa
fSSssS .ss y H. Tsf,ss
The nav. drill book was prepared under the
Bureau OF Navigation. BY Lieut.; C. L. Coiahan
al a1e naSy a sY hsVt J. Kenn mo- Of the
finally 81 mani .s T' Tho Ssns
Here the criticisms and suggestions ars, to
With those, Of tho army. With he nscessary
t snd sh ee ys aes4 fsr
IS prepared 6y. Lieut.. Colahan. and the inian-
new army drill book.
=, Nc, one can question that It ia time to revise
the drill regulations so as to conform to mod
erp needs. Before the Army Board met. prob
ably dozen different. officers had been at
work on this task. and three or four Of them
tactics. Gen. Sheridan had declared that the
advances made In arms and ammunition and
other appliances Of warfare required vital
changes In the matter Of handling men in ac-
des ss IN ysRR Ta to Msr
~ md hnon in I'm I,x,
Gpton's in 1857. Now y it viii be nearly quar- II:
ter OF century before the revision Of Upton Is
put into actual use.
Pr3.t.ahly ne chief criticism is that the move
pc tho basis q the new tactics. is not carried
system OF Tours is regarded BY some as in
judic!ous. and additional condensation and
has been called for. 1t Is held that there are are
still useless tactical moyements retained In
battalion and brigade drill which are inprao-
ticnble Ia battle. On the other hand. It Is adj
United that much attention ts given TO- the open
order of formation. The old-time wheel also
Of course Is well known as q present snbsti-
tute. takes its place habitually The manual
OF arms is also greatly mpltied by abolishing
not only, such occasional positions as reverse
arms and rest on arms. but even the support
the greatest satisfaction. The number Of mo-
tions In changing from one position Of arms to
another is also reduced whore this Is prac-
ficable. The setting drill is much ampli-
ss so 81 to 20 elaborate system
have been a. great as modern demands require
can hardly be known until the new regulations
have come into general use in the army. the
navy. and the National Guard.