New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-07-31
BATTLE TACTICS.
THE NEW DRILL SYSTEM OF THE UNITED
STATES SERVICE
NOT ADAPTED TO THE WANTS OF VOLUNTEERS
FOREIGN TACTICS-sIMILAR SYSTEMS Be
ING ABANDONED IN EUROPE

ADAPTED
FOREIGN TAcrIcs-SMILAR SYSTEMS Be
ING ABANDONED IN EUROPE.
TO the Editor Of The Tribune.
sir: 1t is an oftrrpcated statement among his
torans that nation to preserve itself must keep pace
with the improvements in the art and science OF war;
and that when those adjuncs TO permanent govern
ment were neglected the downfall OF the nation was
not far distant History has proved this and there
fore the Republic Of the United states should lose no
time particularly when It's policy tends to accession
Of foreign territory In placing It's military force on
footing commensurate with It's position among The
nations OF the world.
1t is true that the next war must d" Fought Dy 'he
American volunteer for the people VIII never consent
to standing army 70 rely upon. In addition TO this
It must be fought by generals. colonies and captains
who POSSESS only theoretical knowledge OF warfare
There will be but few OF those with the
practical experience Of the battlefield to command the
divisions corps and armies for all such are rapidly
passing away Therefore something should be devised
not only TO give the younger Ocers OF the Army ex
perence in field manoeuvres, but to enable large
bodies OF the National Guard to be associated with
these manoeuvrcs. to afford the latter opportunity
TO get the instruction necessary for participation In
future wars. One million dollars annually should !"
epproprated by Congress for the transportation OF por
tons Of the National Guard TO some point in the
country OF SUFFICIENT size 10 present theatre OF war;
where regular troops cOuld also De lo'
unity Of action.
The DAYS have gone by when regfmental or brigade
camps with their never-ending routine Of company
and battalion drills, dress parades and "show ma
noenvres' form picture TO tickle the fancieS OF the
visiting public. What need and must have
IS work. No system OF tactics will ever BE- de-
veloped system is tried In actual warfare or
at least in the semblancc Of warfare Two-thrds OF
the regiments of the small Regular Army OF the United
States do not possess the around sufficient about he
stations TO experiment with the new system OF URN
regulations provided for battle tactics. Forces, al
though friendly must be brought IN opposition TO each
other to develop the theories contained In an untred
system OF any kind and the great military system we
are seeking for is that which will produce the most
effective shock action with troops.
To charge a lot OF men upon a position where even
the element Of little blank fire upon them from an
opposing does not obtain only creates rdicuie
and possesses inspiration for the assaulting party
But H. on the other hand. problems OF position were
mapped ont and the advantages of securing these posi-
tons were credited to the troops who first occupied
them by strategic movements forced marches mot to
injure the effectiveness OF the troops when coming
into action. etc. officers and men would then learn
something besides drill that into the elements
Of all wars. and the thorough knowledge OF which
must decide the fate OF a struggle.
The board which prepared The present system OF
battle tactics appears 10 have forgotten that the Ma
tional Guard would have 20 them and acted
upon the belief that detailed portions OF certain ma
noeryres could safely be omitted, account OF these
details being entered into by other textbooks which
the officers OF the Regular Army required TO study
II the present system should be maintained, however
II will become necessity TO have handbook OF de-
tailed manoeuvres In extended order for the use OF
the National Guard Of the country.
We have not ovcr-confdencc In the present sys-
TEN ourselves only Judge OF It from the view
point Of actual experience In the last and there
fore must remain In doubt to its utility until ii has
brought into In last against the system
used by the Confederate army under General Lee
would have developed weakness part that
would, believe, have proved fatal 10 the Union
arms on every battlefield.
While endeavoring to approximate to the battle
tactics In in the great armies Of Europe the board
has only raced the details of manoeuvres, but 1t
hns raced the system TO such extent az, 10 our
mind, render II impracticable for service. The
error Is that only portion OF the European system
for fighting has been embodied in system. In
other words We have only two lines while they have
three. Our tactics only require that the first line
shall force the enemy but after all its hard work by
rushes to gain position, require II TO make the
sault thus throwing the entire burden OF the action
half the force and II the be called TO Join
I'm the assault there is nothing 10 confirm
ward OF the effects OF repulse. The following
diagram shows a battalion formed for attack In what
may term the first zone within Of artillery
IRE under the American system: