New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-12-24
ARMY AND NAVY NOTES..
SECRETARY LAMONT EXPLAINS HIS PLAN
OF REORGANIZATION.

,,-eb,rg,o, Doc 23-Secretary Lamont has had
rranored a statement explaining the importance
and effect of his proposition TO increase anu '.
ganize the Army an outline OF which "ieasui no.
been given In these dispatches. The statement say
that the underlying feature OF the scheme ies''
mon the belief that public requirements no" u'
mand an Increase in the enlisted force when mas
remained at 5000 since 1874. number o,oVt less
than fixed by the act Of 1870, and actua!iy heeue'
at present. Another consideration moving " ."e
recommendations is the fact. adplltted py Ill 'i''
tarv students that the organization OF 'iie uoop'
into small battaons for tactical purposes Is nuns
pensable to efficiency. Officers who have paruei-
ma ed I'm modern battles agree, 1t is SAID that III
order 10 push home attack against an enemy
who uses weapons Of to-day that XIII at 10" yaruS
successive lines waves are necessary aS wen a.
the distribution OF the attacking front into groups
dep,oyed so az to take advantage or every ioo' Vi
ground that offers cover or protection Modern con-
d,tIons increase the difficulty Of controlling the
fighting force and make necessary reduction III
the strength Of the unit 20 a NUMBER VIII" SIN
gle leader can direct. The requirements can pes' De
met Secretary Lamont says by sub-dividihs 'he
regiments into three battalions OF I'D or 4V men,
and placing each under the command OF h!ea Oh
nc-rs Formerly one colonel could keep In hand the
movements OF 1000 men In close order NO" s''d'
battalion depoyed in open order covers more
than the front OF regiment diu u"'e' ''e 'N 80
TEN. -,
The infantry Is regarded az inc aim UPON
efficiency of which depends the final result Oh d
battle The Secretary OF Wars proposition LOOKS
to the addition OF two companies to each oil 'ne
present twenty-five regiments, and requires t"e
twelve companies to be sub-divded IN pdltaho"',
TO be commanded by one lieutenant-colohei anu
two majors respectively. This gives speclhc ell
ploynent to the Northumberland. whose duties
arc not now clearly defined. and adds one major TO
each regiment. The artillery now has hVe resl-
ments each with colonel ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
three majors and twelve companies. Two Oh THESE
.,-a - ,~.,ri,.d az field artillery The
remaining companies are drilled Tor service III
sea-coast ports and as infantry: The secretary Is
unwilling at this time to recommend an increase III
the number OF artillery regiments but he urges the
addition OF two companies TO each OF the present or
ganizations. This will give twelve 1901 pat'e''e''
organized into three battal!ons or FOUR batteries
each The field batteries are to constitute an aa-
ditIonal battalion Each battalion is TO be com
manded by a field officer. The cavalry, IT Is saiu
needs no Increase in numbers as the importance
NJ mounted troops is gradually growing less anu
the present force Is adequate Tor the lndlah IRON
49, II, ,iues NJ neace Now the cavalry reg-
rnents have four field officers exclusive or the COM
rnander This is thought to be one squadron COM
mander more than is required. and reduction 10
three IL thought advisable Carrying into erect
these recommendatlo the Army would have sew
enty-hve battaons OF Infantry htteen OF ioot
artillery and five OF field artillery. THIS wouiu
,rovide an army OF $1,000 men. an organization
which conforms TO modern requirements. Inc IN
crease In the number OF enlisted men would De
lsi per cent that OF the effective force 20 per cent
and that Of cost Of maintenance per cent.
The secretarys statement goes somewhat into
details as to the effect OF the proposition upon ON
GERS No additions in the grades OF coiohei UT
lieutenant colonel in any arm VIII result IL the
measure becomes n law. Each regiment Oh IN
,,ntrv will gain a major. and the promotion OF
air will be
can,sins OF artillery or cavalry Will be promoter
Each company OF artillery which now mas ,h'ee
uoutenants will lose one. making the total re-
auctions In this arm and grade sixty IL Is sa'u
that this number OF leutenants can well be spared
a. a battery to-day does not need more than TWO
ucutenants efficiently to perform the required
duties Nv the proposed hanges In operation Sixty
nine neltcnants OF infantry. sixty heutenants
~ artillery and thlrty-two lieutenants OF cavalry
or a total OF los lieutenants Will at once become
CAPTAINS and future chances OF promotion VIII Dc
much brighter.
Giving tho rank % captain to resimental al
iutnnts aud quartcrmastcrs is said to be feasible
and advisable and the increased cost only StSo a
wear II Is proposed that these oihcers shhh per
form the additional duty OF post paymasters ana
commlssarics under the direction 81 th' f's'
mental commander II IL argued that the pro
nos.d system OF promotion by rank now hed py
officers rather than according TO length OF service
- NOR. ilgt and simpler In execution The latter
Man would be dinicult OF solution. ana result IN
much confusion at the War department anu !"
Congress Relative to suggested changes III INC
number aud pay OF veterinary surgeons 'e0'o
,arv Lamont says that under the present Id" an
anomalous condition exists whereby four res'-
,,.,,s NJ cavalry have two such officers while the
o,ber six regiments have but one. The recon-
nendations would give each regiment one 'eteI-
mary surgeon. at the equal pay OF fl,p per 6rar
10 erseant 70 SIS and 1884, respectively,
would remove the present unjust , us h nntors
OF law which authorizes hlsher pay loi W. ~ IA
in rank OF these Important nOn-coinnhlssiole III,
GERS Relative to the question OF cos' VI va
scheme Secretary Lamont says that the saa,o 10 IA
and promotions and additions IN the Objects 0'a''
ssS.Otc ,..,n, .rs rrsrar,nx
plans FOR active service by the ships compUsims
Ma, ~ Tho vessels OF each feet have been under
going repairs at naval stations ana nave u"ue
has decided that the vessels shall 90 to sea Win
the least possible delay IN order ,' if and
and men may be exercised In their dulles a aus
the interests OF the country In different ports bs
looked for more closely me snlps sa ., M M
repairing shops. The Atlanta. now at Norfolk rs
viii first vessel to receive sailing orserS
jamaica and will for the present cruise opout r tns
Mes ,be rnnSitons may seem to require The At
lanta will take her departure some ,line II, .nd
rho Columbia will proceed home, and receive Ger
tain repairs Among other changes decids "a UPON
tho modification OF the presen, ga sni d" Tho re-
nairs to the flagship New-Nork have so Jar
progressed that the ship Is counted upon as prnV
West Indies early In January, with Admiral Meade
on board. The Montgomery Is now AT Mooie,
making occasional cruises in tho cur or MrASo
to test Southern coal. The experiments VIII ne
concluded in January. when Commander bavls
vel, he orde ed 10 report to Admiral Meade; The
Raleigh is expected to be in cruising condltion IN
n few DAYS she has undergone extensive chalseS
I'm her ventllating system to insure Increased CON,
fort to the men In the fire and engine r'oms si e
for the Yves, Indies when ready. The Clhcihnati
is also having notifications made In her ven,iia,,
additional openings and placing in bafie plates 20
defect and keep in motion the hot AR peow' -, rs
being installed. BY the plan the hot air VIII re
kent alive" and more comfort to the engineers
force result. The repairs are advancing satls,ac,
sorle time In January. Her commander Will also
report Admiral Meade There IS a question