The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1894-12-02
TO DOUBLE THE ARMY.
TT rs pROPoySED 10 CREATE zN
ICTJpE RESERPE.
Three Tisns May r. f<aid Befoae Congress
-On@ .A-h- for an In crease or S<O0e Mes
nnd the Other 10000. tnder tke Present

Three plan. Way r. r<is Bero.~ Congress
-On@ .A-E- for nm Increase OF 5000 Mes
and the other Cader the Present
System Advantages os Tire Third.
One Of the important questions that will be
brought mp at the nc&t session or Cong ress re-
latcs to the increase 81 the regular army. The
expcricL &c obtained In the great railroad strike
last summer makes it probable that an increase
will be urged with greater earnestness tlSNn ia
the past. The report ~ Adjt. ten. RuggleS re-
Gently published, ndvocatcs the enlargement Of
the enlisted force by the addition VI 5000 me n.
This would result ia n numerical strength of
10000 mon. OF the present forces Gen. Hugglea
says only 2C.OOO are available. In the event Of
an Increase to 5000 the effective force would
be "a 200.
The direct result Of the report OF the Adjutant-
General was the drafting 81 "a hill which pro-
yidLcs for the Increase advocated by the war
Dep ,rtment. Another bill has been prepared
by those vino believe that the regular army
sho,. Ii Immediately be doubled. IL is said that
the War Department believes that the army
shoui 4 bc doubled. but that the officials hesitate
To- ask for the necessary legislation in the face Of
shc enc Tmous increase ia cost involved. The cx-
pcnditt Ips would lie more than doubled, as the,
erection of quarters for the accommodation of
the Igw men would mean extensive appropria-
lions. \ third plan has been proposed under
these CHI cumstances. II Is understood that tho
department approves IL and has requested army
oh'ce-s OF high rank to give their opinion Ut ii.
The bill prepared TO carry out this plan pro-
vidcs for The classification Of the army Into
three divisions, VIZ, the active, the active re-
Thc active army is 10 consist Of 25. goo men, as
az active yemen meh viii P6S be made =" The sctiye u re Serve
army Is to be composed entirely, OF veterans.
have serSed honorabiy for fifteen years in the
regula ? army aud who are then serving in 1t
,ESy S rs y. sery go h1nor sfi,yG for invent twenty yea Sear mf in
the regular army and who are then serving In IL
"a, az II ttreasnt pf thpaa men retired under the
prmyisions Of the present army regulations: -,
be arranged In districts. just ms the active army
is row arranged III departments. Each district
will have for it's commanding General the Gem
eral commanding the DEPARTMENT OF the active
armv in which IL is situated. The men will be
required, to live within the limits OF their dis
tricL- They will be permitted to work as citi-
zcrs. always holding themselves in readiness for
military service. In time OF duty they, will re.
viii have, an nrmory capable Of providing quar-.
peace half ~rations or Communication for such will
DC provided for the men, as well as n clothing
allowance Of one-half that granted q soldier IN
required L 70 perform II months field duty. every
year and TAKE part IN the rifle competitions OF
system Of discharge and all other regulations
established for the active army shall operate
discipline and administration are concerned.
The .oficering of the active reserve is a point
petent will become district commanders, re-
pbTlluk u LII totItllhilutEp VI tho
active army. The other field and line officers
down. to but not including Captains will
s sS S a ne f50tn and the lih %youn aiiicers and On m ,ss
retired list. The CAPTAINS and First and
second Lieutenants. will he taken. from the
n-comlnission officers of the active reserve,
promotion to be by competitive examination
under existing rules modified in regard to age
and minor qualifications. In special cases Cap
taltrs may he taken from retired commissioned
officers. All commissioned officers of the active
reserve are to be subject TO retirement under
existing laws, with rank, pay. and allowances
as now in force.
The active reserve will be limited to 25. oOG
men, whose maintenance will he half that of the
$4,000 men of the active army. II is evident
that economy and efficiency are what the pro-
jectors of this plan aim at. Army officers favor
tion. Enlisted men will favor |, for its peculiar
advantages in atfording capable non-commis-
stoned Otiicers,who are too ole under present
requirements to win commissions. and in pro-
viding tine chance for soldier TO try the outside
world again.
IL Is estimated that 1000 Of the present army
of . 5000 are men who have served faithfully
fifteen years or Whereabouts. They will form the
years 1000 more active soldiers would Join
them. For the next five years 5000 more re2u-
tive army. In ten years 10000 men and more
would transfer from the active army.
One Of the high officials of the army COM
1t. will surely succeed. ! am confident. Il
would be n stimulus for those in service. and an
join the army. II would be a decided benefit To
the, country at large, as IL would return all
To citizen life afterihf teen years service.
n the same time giving the Government a regu-
lar trained body OF men unim peachable for
discipline. and behavior under trying
he President. It's effect would also tend to
lessen the necessity for state militia, an institu-
ton which perhaps may be rather a hindrance
han a help In slppressing the troubles OF the
future because OF the sympathy of the militia
men for the Troublesome; Its cost, as is appar-
would be marYellously small"