The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1894-09-21
4 CORPs OF MARINE ARTIIIEsr.
TAe Dssi Proposed Fsr the Heavy Batteries.
The Innsnerx. ana tie Mnrfne Carr.

TAe Ds.i Proposed Fsr the Heavy Batteries.
the Isrsnsry, s.s the Marine Csrps.
WASHINGTON. Sept. 20.-some speculation has
been INDUCED in rs to the action which the Sen
ate COMMITTEES on Military Affairs Is likely to
take At the coming session. upon q novel and
rather interesting measure referred 10 H. for the
creation Of corps to be known az the Marine
Artillery Of the United states.
The hill was introduced in the closing hours
~ the last session. and hence attracted little at
tention. II Il. however. quite an elaborate meas
ure, on an important subject, and its radical
character is evident from the fact that II pro-
poses tC combine the entire artillery Of the
army, except the llglf batteries with the ma
rine corps and TO place the resulting body I'M
der the Navy Department. The new corps Is TO
be charged with the supervision Of the main
and auxiliary artillery ses-coast defences, their
establishment. design, armament, and equip
ment OF all kinds" Fourteen Of the present
batteries OF artillery. having the most dstin-
guished records for service as horse or mounted
field batteries" are to be reserved for the field
artillery Of the army.
1t Is hardly necessary 10 ssy that this meas
ure does not commend itself to the approval OF
the artillery, however II may be with the ma
rine corps. There Is a certain idea in the pro-
ject which Is worthy OF consideration. namely,
the strengthening Of the artillery force in order
TO make II adequate for the imperative needs Of
coast defence Many new and heavy guns have
been built, and many more are to be furnished.
and the process OF mounting them has also
begun. New batteries have had to be provided
for the purpose. and IL IL quite evident that the
force Of artillery men must sooner or later be
increased. The project of obtaining this increase
from the marine corps has obvious elements
Of merit, and It might lessen the difficulty which
Ia nj t,l
ment the enlisted strength Of the army above
It's present legal limit Of $4,000 men.
But why should the new corps be placed under
til e Navy Department. That department is con-
Ger ned with the floating and not with the fixed
defences. Certainly II cannot be said that the
Navy Department has too little to do in tax ing
charge Of the chips and their crews constantly
engaged as they are In all parts Of the world,
and with multifarious and important duties in,
NOlying international relations continually de-
urged that, with the almost total CESSATION OF OF
indian hostilities, the management u $4,000
soldiers and their officers IL SO onerous TO re-
of coast defences. which IL has had since the
foundation Of the Government II the bill pro-
posed to create q coast defence artillery corps.
and 10 put II under the charge OF the army. Il
would be quite another affair.
result would be to give an Increased army and
navy strength. For section Q Of the bill pro-
vide est that to make up for the transfer q the
strength Of the navy shall be increased BY $500
men; while. TO make up for the transfer Of
regiments shall be increased TO twelve COM
Panies each. SO that the total number Of en-
This would insure much promotion to the in.
fantry. with Its coveted three battalion organi-
that arm as well as Of the marine corps.
oG n,rdn il'le e at The details Of the bill which
for Mr. Sherman. !, IS seem thai the new S mspne
artillery corps Is TO be commanded by Major |
General, with two Brigadisr-Generals under |
Captain and a First and second Lieutenant.
privates. The President, when he may deem IL |
necessary can increase the battery organization |
an armorer. sergeants and Corporate and an. |
Other Other, second Lieutenant; These 90 batteries |
the battery offcerS already mentioned. The |
manner in which the officers shall be appointed |
Vacancies in the grade OF second Lieutenant tin in
pontmens of srSdgates from s the Naval Hea9
envy envy each year; This would result, Of course, IN
AZ 70 the fourteen batteries Of Geld artillery,
They are to form two regiments. one Consisting
Of the regiment Of horse artillery" with two |
satt =, on zach having three horse batteries.
Major, and an AdJutant,. and each battery a
Captain and First and Second Lieutenant
while Colonel commands the regiment. There
Il a similar set OF officers for the regiment Of
mounted field artillery" which contains four
batteries In each battalion. or eight batteries in
all, 1t is provided that the, President, may
designate and equip one battalion OF the horse
artillery as mountain artillery: and he may In
tent fixed.
II Is difficult to see how the artillery is to be
benefited by this change. On the face OF IL the
scheme proposes TO reduce the artillery strength
Df the army 10 an Insignificant fraction OF its
present force. and as fast possible 10 make
The new coast defence corps completely naval in
personnel. AS II would be at once in control On
The other hand. the artillery has a very good
prospect OF the enactment OF its own bill in
'reasng II TO seven regim ents instead OF i've as
low, with abundant promotion while remaining
N the army. The infantry also has a three |
battalion bill In prospect. although, II Is true,
Without an increase OF enlisted strength. In
hort, this measure makes the mistake OF trans
4 the boot were put upon the other leg. and tine
marine corps transferred to the army, the case