The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1893-11-21
ARE 1HS Nkw rAo,Ics yAUlrr,
so-s Crttieis-s IN che Driu Regulates
rrouN A-mv Sources.

able features in this years reports on the
condition Of the army Is a disposition to Ind
fault with the new drill regulations. which
have taken the place Of Uptou's tactics. It
is observed that these criticisms have been
m ade upon part OF tho new system to which
particular attention was paid in framing IT.
on account Of lite Importance. namely. the ex-
tended order movements. Our experience In
this respect Is not without precedent. and, In
deed. II may well take n considerable practical
experience to determine how lar any now
system Of tactics performs the work Intended.
Gen. Breckenridge finds that the reports and
comments which he has received from his
subordinates in the lnspector-Generals De-
partment usually approve the close-order
movements. both for the infantry and cavalry.
but are not so universally favorable to the
extended order drill. The i'm pression. he says.
largely prevails among experienced officers
that il was a mistake to give up the single
rank formation Of Infantry; that the extended
order calls for too many leaders. and gives
them too much authority, and that this. under
the excitement OF battle. is sure to result In
confusion. The extended order Is an actual
necessity under the murderous IRE OF modern
weapons, and this being So IL apparently be-
comes Impossible to put the same degree OF
immediate control in the hands OF a few
officers that was possible when formations
the non-comm lssioned officers must now ex-
ercise degree Of authority which belonged
only to commissioned officers In former days
However the method Of carrying out the
change il one of the points In dispute.
The feeling is also said to exist that the sys-
tenn ot extended order IL not adapted to small
companies and hence il inanrlicdble to our
army in time Of peace. because 1t cannot I've
thoroughly taught without bteaEinE ur or
ganizntons and thus inIuring their efficiency.
Gen. Breckenridge says that II IL questionable
whptlpF pn ave ia
relied OF in armies rs hastily raised and In
structcd "a ours IN time OF war. lie links
these various criticisms to be worthy vi pro-
found consideration.
It's u,uHt to ether make drill regulations suit the
mount. the dr,ll regulations and all cnninrmngt
tna, Hrssen to nntS n"E'rgieI IN, prneip,r RI
future ronslrtation Of the matter wOuld dn Nrlo
ton Of som" Of tho infantry rssent,. notably Inc
-n eSnIm.ns pTeyents ' as f 1 u, S nt ts r
rsguia,r.ns they should have. aud renders dsri
1tarrears alsoth It the criticisms on the light
artillery drill regulations are far from favor
able the ground being that they should be
trated. ant entirely free from all MA Uiguites
some time ago Col. f.. VI. ITeyl made a ape
ciul report OIL tho drill regulations. containing
the following suggestions:
The open order system Is now obsolete in Europe, or
~ ami oniy ryqaire. Ievsion but the extyndgd or.
End in confusion defeat It is applied
by American tTouus
Although / have heard adverse criticism on many
points In the new regulations as well as Ad.sre ths
regarded as an advance ~ the old tactics Of course
to te. Arm o""k inoronTny ihe crucia, experence
II Satractral imp"ssihnty to devi.e perfect .vs-
ton as want Of exprrtnce ant practical Acquaintance
M s %2Gr" ssy T SS Srs on s ~S n.
tcer -oder t. nvht our battles Snd that Tor the rapid
rcd"red to the minimum ami containing only the
movements essential OF the march AMI in the field.
. > 10
and tSoronsI5 understood witGoat aasst,on, ''"'
lie proposed. however. that. before any
an extensive field test OF tbam should be-
held at some suitable place. Ike Fort Riley.
M.n Rrrc r HS 81 two d
pltal and signal detachments in n campaign
Q; three m months , duration comretsGnt
drills and manu'uvres. drawing the proper
lesson from them Capt. !. n. ee reports
drill regulations meets with hut little favor
among the majority Of oin,a's of experi-
ence. The detects become nc 70 and me ore APP
parent. War is the crucial t. OF any system:
hut to enter upon hOs,ilr campaign with
@0 iSe Sts cts to TiHs
is very strong language; and on the other side
nay be G%Ot fr,r ths dt,riara;ion Q, cGl L. l.
drill regulations are. behave. more nearly
what Is needed than ANYTHING preceding
extended order rs "a step In the right direc-
ton being In net. an absolute necessity.
",
his Judgment, 10 carried out successfully in
war without an Increase OF the number Of men
in a company.
Then, unde- tho drln regulations. the presence
OF greater proportion OF officers necessary win
Their tnAn under The pton tactics yet the
late :" place greater number OF lIne officers de-
So FAR our non commissioned officers have not shown
aitsss trom The fact that old ssdsrs ar. rather n
duced TO leave the service than encouraged TO
emission o she arm Is the omission Of stirmisf
Of the old skrmish line and under The new dri'i the
IND yldg.liiy OF nc skrmshsr Is lot ~ the squad
mean. Of SUPP lying ammunition % The nI,ng me; A
Il viii be observed that tue new dr regulations do
stances. Tls. rssprc'fuIly submit ga grave and ia;
hs. never yet been .SS sets TO Th@ rySs drdsa Of
.ounisT ri'ask Gntn IN. new lhsSry la, tesntri
should not abandon the tra,tion Of our race.
While, also, on the whole he favors the new
little worth until it has been tried in LATHE or
by simulated war movements Of at least full
division Of m ;I N0piPions formed on the
Col i. i. Tearson. Tenth Infantry. recon-
mends that the single rank formation be add
send, twelfth infantry. takes The same
ground:
should have p,.,s,,sd the "a rP,on. tactics WIZ
* lrinish dr and with lew otaer molt cations but
We'll sdap'sd 10 our wants, / wonid "ry sursC.r one
change fEat Is that the singlsTnu form
ali exercises where Il " Admissible be prrnitel asst
Ia ths d"uhs rank obligatory. AMI, with tho
panirs stal a. at tImrs become. Il l. mpOss
bic o perform the exc, czcs and instruct he men.
Major c, c. Hood says that he does not be-
lieN" tho eNtendcd-order exercises TO DO at
all we'll adapted to lead any command up to
success Ia action. authority and conIrLl being
inverted or wrong end foremost This Is u
very serious matter. and a most dangerous de-
feet. Suborilunt officers Immediately with
troops should lead rather than follow in hat
tie" Ma. or j. ", Powell. Jr.. Twenty FIRST In
tantTy. holds that the present drill regulations
are not adapted for OuTrOuRtry, or FOX hasti-
Uniformed leyirs; the latter point must always
be borne In mind. The tendency 70 cutting
across lots and instil.nE . disregard for pre-
clsion has n marked tendency 10 encourage
'looseness, which would be of evil effect on
the field OF battle"
Of course. there Is much 10 he said on the
other side But IL is well TO note these points
Of criticism, in order that they may lead
toward any improvement required