New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-07-23
SELECTIONS FROM THE MA III.
ARMY REORGANIZATION.

THE INFANTRY SHOULD BE STRENGTHENED.
not WEAKENED-NEED OF 5000 MEN.
To the Editor Of The Tribune
Sir: II is FOR the people Of the United States 10
determine how large and what kind Of an army
they VIII maintain. II IS the duty OF the peoples
representatives. in Congress ascertain the peoples
wishes and enact them into law II is the province
OF Army officers citizens, to assist In determining
the wishes OF their fellow-citlzens, and experts,
possessed OF certain echnica. knowledge and skill,
10 advise as to the numbers and organizations that
shall. be maintained TO meet the necessities of the
country.
At the close of the reconstruction period Congress
determined 10000 men 10 be the maximum number
for which they would appropriate. but In fact have
appropriated FOR 5000 ony. and the burden Of the
reduction necessitated thereby fc upon the in
fantry. which was reduced from forty five reg-
ments. Of ten companies each. TO twenty-five reg
ments. The cavalry and ar cry, whose organb
eaton caiied for twe.ve companies to regiment
were eft intact. and have been since maintained
In order to do which. the infantry companies were
reduced 70 thrty-hye or forty-ive men each, and
We're thus rendered inenective-next 70 useless.
The notifications In arms and tactics rendered the
organization and numbers (of men in companies OF
infantry ~ nearly obsolete and ineffective that
after strenuous and futile efforts the part Of
al concerned 10 secure organization In con-
sonance with the advance and changes in military
each Of the infantry and cavalry regiments in order
to keep the remaining companies efficient
btis AMI to-day We. one Of the most populous,
wealthy and advanced Of civilized nations. have an
Army inadequate 70 our wants, and organized ac-
cor!ng to system nearly quarter OF century
behind the times
The changes in the Indian problem have rendered
"A larger mounted force che cavalry. the most
pcnslve portion OF army. u Jess apparent use
fumes but IL IS an arm that cannot b" raised and
instructed in a brief time and tIst proportion
should be kept up. In Of any possible emergency
complication. our cavalry has been maintained
without threatened reduction IN The number Of reg-
menis. bur some Of the proposed schemes FOR
organization would ieave the regiments without
enlisted strength.
The demands OF our Vas, frontiers. in view Of
the advance IN great guns ans armament have
made an increase IN thc artillery imperative.
tbs AZ thu Expense Of the other armsespocl clay OF
tn infantry which 1t Is proposed to reduce from
twcniy-one regiments Of twelve companies each.
The infantry = admitted on all hands to b. the
over iha, force 20 which all other branches are
fn~r- aiiuhcis auxiiari"s and dependencies. with
'or so '' ' ''''' ''''' '' ' - "
Tho improvement, in sna.i arms AMI the require
rn~uis ~ the modern battlefield have only made
n" Infantry NOR" prominent. and necessiiaie a
ihan Increase il. and IL efficiency Is Threatened by
To- n..nclous teaching that u con BE- created ana
enlistment pr ,hihi.on II rs"n.isiment and fancfu
division ami modification Of rs attributes be made
tn economic sense 81 demagoguos.
IN their zen 10 conform 20 me erroneous Wow
Il Congress as 20 the d,manls Of the country ia
respect % i-- military establishment. and - meet
'h- lioffcI criterion As 70 numbers and cost The
ofiicrrs ~ ,he Army. who have attempted 10 formu-
.lf~ pans 90 REORGANIZATION. have too long over
cooked or been silent upon the r"li ISSUE The DO
mlu3 q -. hour II may a. wei be- stated first
Last. oar Army has been too snail FOR years
= f., Sa,; :, arsw@r evcn ill., p,icr p1rpos>s dr
th~ prer~nt u Is incorfncn~urat. WIN the growth
go population ana wcllth ~ me Nation. II ought 70
Doc increased 20 j)'-p mon ~ ~" 'easi. ana whic
fair proportion - hat increase should x - the
wn.ca instead of being DIMINISHED should be
~ % ne s'auaarl u modern warfare This thing
oi y."s % ~inr'zr qn1ri oti OF pin' cup rs ms
s.- b1' a. rN"cu,iyc force. orgauizei for var
~. n uinler - .ounx men hy a lew year,
cHl!.ng iu The ranks %" art ard srenc" Of war
'he ,na.sc Is abou, as absurd a. can be conceived
end ought 20 hc exploited ana shown 20 be a. rdicu
Ttc etp~rirncr Of All ascs is ina, an army Is
effective IN PROPORTION 20 ~ flScip.'nc ani 'his
,,.,,,,,.- trg,r',,,,"n 70 ,o' has been ln,en,oi
81, l.m tar.e. 80 man can serve two masters"
\ solder must De- s,.iier An army must be An
r. ne United state, continues TO keep up
military pc" es''h .shm"n' u sf2n'I De msrn
tain Jr0 20 he fh. l,as' number ne most eco.
r.ucn. number Z MGR. 'h1f can BE- kept ~ ana
sly- ~ from needless shame AMI iu)Ttincthpn
The force should De- dyiicl approximately "a To-
ions.
10 i.s monte { ,a,a'r, 'rr.p~ zach -" men
r..fr.rf Z isht 4rtl..ft - batteries . 200
10 regiment, artillery !. hai"ri~- rh H'b
uen's . infauff u e'nG 1Bi'f Is =" men
IT,, .......... 5000 men
1hi- ,eaves zoo men for engineers. ordnance.
nulrf.rmasfrrs subsistence signal and hospital
CORPS and d.tachm.nts 81 recruits n d"p0ts and
r.nIrZvoD-
Thus tie different arms. corps AMI detachmen,s
could b.. Organized IN accordance with modern
urinc,.rs and ,hr c0mbliaui force be kept up 10 a
meet immediate require n-u's. ind De r'liSce
- q Nation - faeH.r1 IN population. possessed ~
2Ge ~ square mics ~ territory and aggregate
- over ST. frne1,vl IN wealth.
tn. p1Icf 80 wisely adopted. % concentrating N"
troops into lnrsr bodies near the centres - popu
.nflYu. AVA me building - .arg" posts for which
t,prpDrilt .Ju- hiN" already Zen made and
rendri ha. diminished ~" . - miint"ntnc" 10
such degre, tina; iDl") troop. can IN maintained
nnw fIr about "a" same sum was necessary -
keep 500 scattered on the pains and frontiers and
10 concentrate them IN emergency. Let ms be con
ssf~nt then and make Army to numbers.
orlan.zltion AM equipment ln such keeping with the
advance ~ The country and the times that w. shall
b.. prepared fOr not internal lissrps ions, bit
abe 10 stand on t,rclEn INVASION until A snfilcrnt
volunteer army can be raised and prepared for
successful defence
The cost 81 such an army II bat fair charge
fpr much Insurance a. every wise ana prudent
f .