New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-12-05
THE WAR DEPARTMENT.
THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF SECRETARY
ELKINS.
THREE BATTALION INFANTRY REGIMENTS
LARGE POSTS INSTEAD OF SMALL oNES
IMPROVEMENT OF THE Ma

TIONAL GUARD.
Washington. Dec. 5.-secretary Elkns In submit
ting his annual report to the PRESIDENT oesh' -
saying that is gratifying to be able 10 sa'e ''"' ,n
Army has maintained throughout the year is s"
standard OF discipline and efficiency. Loohhs '" 'l'
future and the possible necessity OF rapuiy 'ah,,o"
Ing large number OF citizens into enecuVe soiuleis
n Il n matter of vital importance that the regular
Army I'm organization and personnel, should repre-
sent AS nearly as may be perfect model. lie adus
In part ,.. ,
since the present organization OF our Infantry was as
adopted many changes have 'ak snp p'i in material
modification OF the form OF Infantry rsgnehs. op
stationary condition in this respect M mas Which, however
nave been so exhaiistively discussed In former re-
ports from this department that they are only rs
urgently renewing the recommendations Of nearly oil
my predecessors n behalf OF three battalion d6 9anu
eXnense would accomplish the end IN view mas passed
the Senate, and Is now pending IN tb de hin I'M" law
would be OF great advantage to the ARMY anu W 'ne
Nation. , ,o.,r, tho Army the
reorganization OF the artillery arm has peen recon-
mended and urgently pressed upon 01ie;s in rho
hi relating to infantry reorganization All that now
remains for the War Department 10 90 IN the premises
is TO represent the meriorious character OF IN. pro
nosed legislation and earnestly recommend II 10 lne
attentive consideration of the House OF represents
rGe interests Of the Nation demand that the adj
minsiraton OF military affair; shall De ATTENDED, WIN
dignity and authority. TO this end 1t Is necessary
tiot the commanding general should be conSpicnousY
superior In rank TO oil subordinaes Expelients mao
shown That rss az Vitality al in any military organ
zaton ofimportance ACCORDINGLY II Is
that the eutenantgencralcy be revived as peihia'
grade Of Army rank.
ENLISTED PERSONNEL OF THE ARMY.
The general conclusion gathered from all sources
Is 10 the effect that while the enlisted personnel OF
The Army is as whole, vow much better than at
any time previous much remains to be @c9npHshea
In this connection before we can rest ehtre salshe
Every possible effort has been made 10 secure uVc
enlistment OF desirable men. Tho recruiting service
has been administered with exceptional vig0r ana sue,
Qualifications nas been raised until the test at re-
crung rendezvous Is 50 critical that only = per cent
OF the applicants for enlistment were accepted luihs
The fiscal year ending June 30, 1922 II seems That
almost everything has been accomplished that - !,
thls however many men succeed In entering the
Army whose character and antecedenS are ,lch as 10
render their presence detrimental to the service ana
the complaint T. general aS 10 scarcity OF maerih
for nOn-cOmmls stoned officers.
improvement IN administrative mem as may CIR
rect some OF thee evils but II T. thought that me
hest remedy lie through small increase IN com
pensation II good men are wanted Tor me Mn,
they must he paid something near wla, Waeee9Tnr,ls
receive In the oIcnary pursuits OF civil lie. tnler
The pressure Of National prosperity, representative Hen
The Army, under favorable conditions should be
one Ct the most desirable trades OF youth and there
can scarcely be- doubt that bright ana advrhturous
Young men would seek color' In considerable mum,
bcrs IL generally understood that c'urags ana
merit would be suitably rewarded. Under present
conditions there 4 scarcely any pecunaly DehrI 10
attract a man TO the ranks. Promotions 10 c9inl,,
stoned grrd"s sarily few. and tn" difference
Letween the .ir OF private and non cOnini> stoned
officer Is hardly appreclable when considered III me
llghf OF an lnducpmcnt 10 enlistment II j. therefore
recommended that n least the pay o! all noncomms-
Toned grades BE- increased to the extent OF making
rcr"by Including the enlistment of inc very best
torn ~ compete for The advantage, Of promotion 10
bt Grade ~ boih commits stoned and non commissioned
Considering that there .H-f srr-caflfS
~ all grade, and l.Gli cOrpOras II Is apparent that
The induccmcnt sh0uld be- ample enough o Justify
9onne men Of characfer capacity INDUCING the
expectation # Ultimately securing adequate c1mpensa
ton and recognition.
II -TRIRUuoN OF THE ARMY.
II Is believed that our Indian wars are about at an
end In the march Of population anG civilization
westward that which was long known the frontier
M. DISAPPEARED The necessity Of massing troops in
The Wcst no longer exists seventy per cent OF the
Army I, now located west Of the Mississippi River,
Inc total number OF posts now S1rrhaned by United
states troops. not including arsenals and armores Is
unctysx oil these thirty three are located east OF ,e
N..i@.lppl River. The remainder are west OF the
mississippi River. Five Of these are regmental posts
and located follows: one IN Illinois one III
Minnesota one In Nebraska one IN Wyoming ana one
I'm Tnh These five posts are, strictly speaking, req
mental Their are posts howrycr I''r as inpor a,,n
hr commands made up OF parts OF different reSi'
mcni>. - ,,,o,. Fla, should
govern the distribution and location oi the Army
pr,.,,.,, for consideration and settlement II tendency
# distribution hitherto III Dttu 10 dhAli"'"
Isolated posts ana concentrate we H,"p' !" az
garri>ons This has been attended with good Ir|iils
roGp can be- ore 'eonom'Iy na'S't tey -,
large than In small Sdrrison, 1t !, ouSE,,,'u. c,, d
FORE that the small posts be gradually ana u"'u n
ha, reEmenta posts he establishes IN ircm o' rh ,.y
larger states which are now without mem, ~
-houd De- located at or near he principal comm'rvh
centres. where transportation facilities are imp ,y
movement, 81 both men and supplies may oe rnpu i
and economically made. The Army couiu pe man
tanned undcr these conditions much cheaper man STSr
before In IT. history. II IS thought mat ne Gus
near which such posts may Doe located should De re-
fcent land say 900 acres. In consideration OF huit
ing and maintaining such posts In their llm'ua'e
vicinity.
MILITARY ACADEMY At WEST POINT
The high standing Of the Military Academy ut West
Point has been maintained The reports OF the boaFu
II Visitors and OF the superintendent show marked
advancement and sneak we'll Of the condition ana
management OF the Institution. Its capacity IS not
oyrraXed Vacancies In the list Of cadets constantly
exist II Is recommended that the President b. gwen
authority To appoint cadctsat large each year
The recommendation ~ the 'uperlntendent lnal .i.e
senior assistant In III" departments 4i u" anu
shall he plnced on the footing ~ To pay ana
,molumons rs thos" Of Other departments OF 'Iie
Institution is concurred In There seems =" =" no
should not have the same privileges a' the Others
PosTGEADUATE SCHOOLS.
On the 9Th Of December, 1906. the first President
In an address to Congress, declared that IN pro-
portion rs the observance of pacific maxims might
exempt nation from the necessity OF practising the
rules Of the military art. ought to be ~ care IN
preserving and transmitting. by proper ESTABLISHMENT M
the knowledge OF that ART For ulis purpo,e Nv
recommended the establishment Of military academy
In accordance with these views slch Snool was III
t,ct located nj West Point a few years subsequently,
The art OF war. however hy process OF c'"slns
natural expansion, has become ~ comprehehsNt any
complicated that II is EOw Impossible 10 incIudS Az
It's branches In Il single curriculum In order there
fore. 10 insure In the future. HS IN me past we
services Of small number Of Thoroughly 'unca'ta
officers, II has been found necessary To supplement-
the Military Academy by certain post graduate Schools
devoted to tne progressive development OF commls
sGned officers by means OF special instruction con
nnrd exclusively to the functions FOR which they are
respectively commissioned. .
The artillery being special arm OF exclusively
technical requirements the fast OF the coDalant
arms 10 feel the necessity Of wider scope OF study
than Is possible In the time allowed ~ the Mlhtary
Academy. Accordingly school devoted 10 lis II
terrsts was Organized at Fort Monroe Va, In ir1,.
During the intervening years the evolution OF inns
Institution has been progressive In II marked degree,