The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1893-03-05
GET A MOVE on, SOLDIERS.
TALK OF an OFFICER WHO WOULD
SHAKE UP HIS COMRADES.
A Complaint that the Army Has Too Many
Old FoTie- mud Too Few New Ideas
Changes Thought Necessary md Pressing.

forms in the army around n bedroom table In
the Grand Hotel the other day. and they gave
re porter for The SuS. who was present. the
idea that there are forces and influences at
work among our regular soldiers which are
pulling strongly in opposite directions and OF
which the people know little or nothing.
1t was evident fromthe talk OF these officers
that somewhere In places OF great influence
in the organization are men who are eX-
tremely conservative. while throughout the
whole force are many men-some young md
some who are not so younG-who are eager Tor
great reforms and chanGes. After all. 1t Is an
old situation. and ono that must always ex-
list. with more or Tess right on both sides. 1t
Is the difference between the stan officers and
tho line officers The stan officers are mostly
bureau or office officers" while the line OIL
GERS are in active duty in field and garrison.
This was better understood by the reporter
aftcrward than before the interview which
followed with ono Of the officers after tho
others had withdrawn. The reporter asked
him what was the trouble.
There Is no trouble he replied" or. rather.
there Is not trouble enough. There are two
parties In the army. One Ia composed OF stag
nant officers who like to live like pensioners.
satisfied with the glory Of the men of'3l. who
mostly are dend. Another is formed OF men
not all young by any means-whowant tho army
improved. They want the.whole organization
stirred up and forced to SEQ what Ia going on
In military circles all over the world. so that
we won't cut an utterly ridiculous figure IL we
have q war. But. as I say. there isn't any
trouble. Congress and the Government do not
! take sufficient interest in us for thereto be any
| trouble. Not that Congress has failed In Its
| duty. but l suppose that the truth is that there
is SO much wire pulling and log rolling for I'M
| just preferment and promotion. that all the
other branches OF the Government tire OF us.
and. perhaps. hold us in less esteem than they
otherwise would
as not the army in as good shape rs 1t was
in 1SGO-G1 2"
"Oh. yes: it is ready to begin another war
with n Bull Run. II that is what yon mean.
The standing army was little. il at all. better
of Mt the outbreak 81 the civil war than it is
now. but the American people. who arc the
brightest people on earth and tho most
easily adaptable t. circumstances. lcarcd
into the field. and not only disregarded
tho condition OF the standing force. but
created a new army OF their own. This
they distinguished by making it the vehicle
OF more surprising advances in warfare
than the world had ever seen made in So short
a time. The monitor. or nrmored battle ship.
and the torpedo occur to you asthe creations OF
our people at that time. but there were many
other things. too technical to be popularity UNI
derstood or appreciated. Perhaps the Amer
lean soldier himself who made all these Won
derinl innoyations,wn the greatest triumph
tysburg amazed the worli-in the way Of sim
pie. but appalling lighting every man II hero
with the feeling that the fate Of his cause de-
pended on each individual. That undaunted.
mneNampled fighting power hs showed-on
both sides,in many another enGa:emrnt. SO
can do or have done is OF no value in Judging
the regular army. and brings no especial
when the war ended. the people Vent back
to work. pulling themselves out OF the march
ing lines and out of the uniforms. and leaving
behind them that little nue. Gus they had So
powerfully swclied the standing rmy 1t is
that with which we now have to deal, 1t has
peace; no patience with the fuss and feathers
n neces sns s@ caste sn and q the 'l saadsa or an T', som rae
times, pompous authority Of the men who wear
H. s ~ thas'' STRAPS shey say ,f" While fnn w S.y are all 1T y Spr
business. We went into it up to the neck when
there was an occasion for our doing so. but
when peace ceases. We OF the standing
force, can call to the men Of tho country for
should be- ready. for that time: ready with
an active. quick Drained; resourcefui body o:
and train them according to the latest the%.
ries OF warfare. Are we ready? DO our lead
ers possess the ready knG"wIeaGe by which
mon suddenly thrust upon them? Is the
matter Of the equipment OF such an army be-
hundreds and hundreds OF regimental. corps.
vcrsed in what has been tried and aIopteior
ans Aust St,t.t and ms 81 G"w nn infen G.x Gs prot 81
Surely, no man, who knows, orr army
is it necessary to ask whether our military
leaders are ready with well. prepared strate;;
any other countries. islands. or places. A
high old example we are setting to the Ma:
tional Guard and a fine mess wa will make OF
mobiliZing a volunteer army L. We have to-
What are you driving att"
WHY; i l We're m, a writer Mer,G and nut at wt the same
fence: Get a move on. soidi.rs.'" We are a
people. No others are more So. That goes by
common consent: Put our old line officers are
them are crsaturss apartNthe most old.fogy.
ead,nnd;aliye fSlnGglsn men IN the country
fhat ths o. ol ycS5 po''@ of Hys@" has s'a always is Sesn.
eysrywhere. 2 conseryatiyS. That is be- BE-
to study the changes and the demands and
chances f1r change that military proEress de-,
and they do. In a measure. control ours. The
fact is that q great many Of them regard the
for life. and while they recognize the fact thar
It engages In rarades and builds new wagon
ways: they resent even those eXhibitions OF is
means by which they obtain. houses built as
they want them at the new Western posts and
elsewhere. ana others are active only IN. wire
n n"i!' !hsS 2. s Ias Rf fssI Il. %SS s lave t ns rs Cd @ d S"a%Sdi
and trained to q, grand profession and have
got nay tor It.. We have been well kept in the
bargain. and for meE to repine because they
have been II quarter OF II century in tho service
and arc not all Generals as many OF them
do-is shameful. They are the sort OF men
who would have tho army an aristocracy and
themselves ennohled II they could"
Aren't they doing their duty 7"
=" Not II they are merely drawing their sala-
ries. IL they are not active. ambitious, mod:
ern. and progressive 1t would be n good thing II
1t were understood that they are encumbrances
undeservinR OF promotion: and. for that mat
ter. OF nay. / am not lacking in respect for
those who have merit or have done good ser.
causes an ON to be satisfied even when he
Is a drone. and that clamors for more Of that
sort. 1t Is not more officers that tho army
wants. What It needs Is better ones. 1t IS
suuip, n great urmy when we have to raise one.
but | hold that our in.tficiency is greater than
our insuniciency. We have n Uig enough
staff; MS nig as the people are willing to keep.