Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-03-16


Secretary Elkins late Yesterday afternoon is
suedan important order providing for the reor-
ganizing of the division of military intelligence.
The order has caused considerable comment
among army officers. 1: reads as follows:
The division of military information. here
tofore created i" the Office of me adjutant gen.
eral of the army, is hereby reorsanized as fol-
lows:
l. The division will be placed in charge Of an
officer of the adjutant generals department. TO
be selected by the Secretary Of War
2. In addition to its other duties the division
will be charged with:
(a.) The collection and classification of mill
tary information of our own and foreign coun-
served and available strength. natural and
artificial means of communication (rivers
canals. highways and rsilroads); the nanufac-
ture of arms. ammunition and other war ma
terial; supplies oil food, horses, draft animals.
&C., &c.
o. The preparation of instructions for the
guidance of officers of the army serving or
travelling abroad or acting rs military attaches
and the arrangement and digest of information
contained in their reports
(c-) The issuance to the army Of military
maps, monographs. books. papers and other
information on military subjects throughout
all branches of the service.
Id Correspondence with state authorities
and militia officers on questions affecting the
organization and armament OF the militia of
the several states and territories ami Of he
District of Columbia and the reference 70
proper authority of questions for decision re-
lating to tactical instruction. discinIine ard
equipment.
Sel The preparation of instructions to the
dnsa laA h,-s . IL
visit the several encampments of state troons
and to witness the movements and exercises of
the militia, as well as the digestlnp arrange
ment and preservation of all reports that NAV
be duly submitted by them.
ID The study and preparation of nlans for
the mobilization and TRANSFORMATION OF militia
aud volunteers and their disbaudment and for
the concentration of the military forces of the
United States at the various strategic points on
or near the frontiers of the country
8. The division Of military information will
also have charge of a museum TO be establisheJ
for the proper care and preseryation of snch
military relics as are now in the several bureaus
of the War Department or as NAV hereafter he
obtained.
4. The officer in charge shall perform such
other duties as naturally appertain to the dIvi-
sion, or as NAV be hereafter assigned 10 him
from time to time by the Secretary of War.
Al v,vwpn nv .a,,r ,,,.
1,,;,
fu,! oh 'ne part oi ofAh reportsramong
army omeers TO-DAY developed the fact that the
order issued by Secretary Elkins providing for
the REORGANIZATION of the bureau NJ nilit,r,,
information is of a far more important nature
than would appear ON casual reading IL t;sno,
a mere REORGANIZATION of tbe rout;no ,ln,;os "a
the bureau. but contemn,ates such an.
largemen. of its functions as IN n,aLe ire
INQUIRIES as far-reaching and It's nsofuI,ass
as practical and efficacio1s as ali simiIsr ;ns,;
tutions in the largest conptries of Errn,'.
Heretofore tbe bureau bas hao, rooosn.Ipp ~.
more or less circumscribed in its sphere of &C
tion, out under the new plan 1t will extend its
iito eseiy iorelgn neld, while at the
military intelipence in tbis countr, Es'o;o, =,
attention is to be given TO the collecti,p and
classification of military information con-
corning the armed. reserved and available
strength, natural and artificial means of
communication, the manufacture of
arm and all war material and supplies and in
fact every detail of war contingent both in
this and foreign countries One of the most i'm
portant duties of the reorganized bureau will
be the careful study and preparation of plans
for the mobilization and TRANSPORTATION OF fed-
eral ana volunteer troops and their cOncentra-
tn; on anu uisoandmeht al Strategic points Oh the
ceiyed the fnr cons;Seration rb;ch ,ho,, &c se-
served in this country.
Under this authority now the topography of
the country will be thoroughly studied and
every road and water course will be examined
with the view to ascertainng its fullest cana, ity
for Transporting troops in time of emergency.
DC, moving maneuvering them as oc-
casion requires. In foreign countries these
have always been matters of grayast
study. as illustrated in the Franco Prussian
x,h2 H.