Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-07-08
MILITARY DIVISIONS
The Subject Of Their Re-Establishment
Again Being Agitated
It Has Been Discussed Everywhers but .
Army Hesdquarters-Views That
Are Hold There.

The subject Of the re-establishment Of mil
itary divisions is again being agitated and Gen.
Schodeld is generally credited with being be-
hind the scheme. A STAR reporter investigated
the matter today and sscertained that although
such . proposition has been discussed in the
newspapers and at outlying posts it did not
originate at army headquarters, and in fact has
not even been seriously considered there. The
only proposition bearing any relation to the
military establishment submitted by Gen.
Schofeld to the Secretary Of War is
the one approved by the President just
before his departure from the city
extending the limits Of the department
Of California, abolishing the department of
Arizona and creating the department Of Colo
RADIO with headquarters at Denver. The pre-
ject to rs-establish the divisions abolished by
Secretary Proctor has apparently been dis
cussed everywhere in the army except at head
quarters. A number Of petitions have been re-
ceived at the War Department for the estab-
lishment of military headquarters at this, that
or the other place and for the rearrangement
Of the departments, 90 as to give particular
places = military importance not now enjoyed,
but none OF these plans has received the In
dorsement of Gen. Schofeld.
GEN soHorIELD's VIEWS.
4uht OuCoI uoo Uc0u I0pCoSooAy oAuouASO1
as favoring the Embellishments Of two or three
military divisions. when, ~ . matter Of fact,
he does not regard such a plan as at all prao-
ticable In the present condition Of the service.
In his opinion the military service can be better
administered under the present system of de-
partments than with two or three divisions.
II the latter system II to be restored there
should be no less than four divisions, viz: Tine
Atlantic, the Pacific and the northern and
southern Missouri. Any other geographical
division would be inequitable, according to
military experts, as with three or less divisions
one must necessarily be unproporhonateiy
greater in importance than the others.
THE DIVISIONS OF THE MISSOURI
The northern and southern portions Of the
former division Of the Missouri, commanded
since the war by Gen. Sherman and Gen. Sheri-
dan, have become so far separated in their mil
itary interests that it is no longer possible to
confine them within one division When that
division was established the military operations
for the control Of the Indians extended over q
vast territory, then forming our western
operation should be under the control Of one
general Those operations, however, re-
suited in the subjugation Of the Indian.
and the settlement by whites of
the present states of Nebraska, Kansas
and the territories to the west. The Indian
tflDes were bcpAfateQ IN tnl5 way, SO tudt IL II
no longer possible for them to have concert Of
action, thereby doing away with the previous
necessity of having the troops operating against
them under the orders Of one division com.
mander. 1t is said that these considerations
incline Gen. Schofeld to favor four divisions
rather than a less number, but has been
already stated, he is not taking any steps what
ever for q change in the existing military c.
tablishment
THE ARGUMkNr FOR TWO DIVISIONS
A strong argument in favor Of concentrating
the military into divisions with responsible
heads is that, a. such an establishment would
Be sbsoiueeiy necessary in time Of war, it il
essential in times Of peace; that the oficeri
upon whom the important commands would
devolve should receive all the advantages ac-
orulng from the practical handling Of largs
forces OF men. 1t Ii argued that If an officer Il
likely to be placed in command OF several de.
partments In time of war he should at least
have some experience ia that direction,
thing altogether impracticable under tho ex
isting system, where the three major generals
are performing the same service in command
ing departments ss are the six brigadier gen
erals
There is great inequality Of command under
the present system. For instance, Gen. How
ard who is q major general, has q less import
ant commsndiu many respects than Gen. Brook,
and Gen. McCook. who are brleadier generals
The major generals are on plane with tn,
brigadier generals. and there is no distinction
in duties, and sometimes the junior officer
have the more responsible work.