Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-12-15
efficiency. has notably declined in tn
past few years.
THE COfrnTS- MARTIAL.

compared with 2.1Sg for the previous year
OF inferior courts martial lo,Hg', con'patou
with 1906 last year. thus corropora"ns
the reports from all officers OF a Hot1
worthy Improvement in the norhi5 anu
discipline Of the army. Authority y asaln
asked from Congress 10 compel ONni. aI,
TO testify before general coufts-nnai''di
when such evidence Is necessary.
BY far the most essential need or our
army to-day IS the adoption OF the three
battalion formation. The reasons Tor TINS
change and way 10 proNlue il "e''
stated in the report Of the department ior
1891. which | here repeat in substance
If earnestly recommend That Congress
enact the legislation necessary 10 ealap-
fish I'm the army the battalion formation
now adopted By the armies OF every other
civilized nation. As necessary 10 enc.
that change / recommend the removal
of the limit OF p O0) men fixed by the act
Of June is. 1894. and a return 10 the lInlt
fixed by the act Of July -. 1870 Lesisla-
i've approval Of these two propositions
VIII restore 10 the effective force about
1000 enlisted men. bringing the actual
strength OF the army up 10 the nominal
strength now fixed by law. 10y these
changes the army viii be increased IN
efficiency 20 per cent, In numbers about
lSl-2 per cent, and IN cost OF mainte-
nance only about per cent In brief, II
is proposed that two companies be added
10 each OF the twenty-five infantry resi-
ments, so that each shall consist OF three
battalions of four companies, and that two
foot batteries be added TO each OF the
five artillery regiments No increase In
the cavalry is proposed
A MATERIAL CHANGE.
The organization Of the line Of the army
has undergone no material change since
tho close Of the civil war During this
period of thirty Yeas every large foreign
army has been completely TeoiE2n'z'd.
Changes and improvements ia arms. am
munitiou, and equipments cave forced
upon the leading strategists ana iactl
clans of tho great armies Of the World
the necessity of a broad departure from.
tho old systems. All have adopted the
battalion as the tactical unit for infantry
and artillery serving as Infantry. and
nearly an the equivalent of the squadron
as tho cavalry unit. The light-artillerS
battalion has q similar composition.
Should our army ever be brought into col
asiou with disciplined foreign troops our
present formation would prove so deiec-
tnc 40 20 probably turn the scale against
Us 100 o. conflict on terms otherwise equal
For some years the secretaries Of war
the generals commanding the army, ana
the most eminent authorities In military
science in this country have urged the
adoption Of the battalion formation, ana
our most progressive and best-nformed
officers believe that the organization Of
oar small army should embOdy this unl-
versally approved result of modern mill
tary thought.
-Four companies are as large a body as
it is HOW possible for one officer 10 lead
and control ia action. Formerly and down
o. % recent date. the colonel could see
and direct the movements of all the men
Of his regiment. who marched and fought
n double tanks with touch Of elbows.
Under such conditions regiment Of 1000
men occupied q front on the batte-line
10 eLeater than would now be covered by
q small battalion OF one thitd that num-
ber \ few years ago small-arms fire was
ineffective at distances greater than 800
%. 500 yards. while now it Will be deadly
al ranges OF 1000 yards, OF at even greater
distances. IN modern warfare the men
will act in small groups or singly. and
the advances Will be mTtle in successive
lines in open order Perfect organization
aud perfect control by the commander Of
each unit will be absolutely essential 10
efficiency and success in the field
The national guard OF several OF the
States, more progressive than the General
organization. and our OWE army is being
instructed as thoroughly as our defective
system viii permit. battaliors Of from two
% five companies being imD4OVised in the
different garrisons.
WHAT RESTORATION MEANS.
BY restoring to the military establish
ment the strength allowed Up TO 1874. and
providing for the battalion formation. with
Il few minor changes. the organization
will be-:
Cavalry-Ten regiments OF three squad
rons each: I colonel, J Lieutenant
extra captains for adiutant and quar-
termaster non-cOmm.s siOned staf;
each squadron j major OF lieutenant
colonel and 4 troops each troop ] cap
tain. lieutenants, and 30 enlisted men.
Artllery-tive regiments of three foot
battalions and l field artillery bar5lion
each; l. colonel, j lieutenant-colonel .
extra captains for adjutant and quarter
master and non-commissioned stan;
each foot battalion ] major or lieutenant
colonel and batteries; the field artillery
battalion. I major and field batteries;
each foot battery. ! captain, lieutenants,
and o. enlisted men; each field battery.
captain. lieutenants, ana % enlisted
men.
Infantry TWeuty-hve regiments of .
battali0ns each. ] colonel, 1 lieutenant
colonel. extra captains for adjutant
and Quartermaster. non-cOmmissioned
staff: each battalion. ] major or lieu
tenant-colonel. and 3 companies; each
company, ! captain 2 lieutenants, and 81
enlisted men.
The battalion Of engineers would remain
as now, with companies of 800 men,
making an aggregate of 1850 Of all arms,
and sufficient number remaining for
| the hospital corps, nOn-commisSiOned
I staff. ordnance detachment, Indian scouts.
/ and other unattached men, 10 make a
total OF $1,000. When deductions are made
/ for the sick, ahsentccs. etc, the effective
strength of the army would be about
5000 soldiers. and 40 field guns.
GREAT EXPANSION.
The formation devised admits Of rapid
ana great expansion 20 meet the
/ edgencies Of actual warfare, ana Is espe-
ciallv adaptable 10 the small force con-
stituting the peace establishment Of the
United States Twelve years ago, before
retiring from command. General she! man
pointed out the great advantage OF suct
an organization as enabling us 10 pat
a large and effective force !n the Held
upon short notice. 10y merely existing a
sufficient number of additional private
/ soldiers. the regiment being always ready
FOR this expansion.
Resolving the effects o. these changes
into money. il appears thar Tor pay ia.
lions. and clothing of the increased num-
Der of enlisted men proposed an increas
If 81 .9O0OO ia annual appropriations vii
be required Retrenchment in the adj
ministrative branches of the War Depart
m.nt has considerably reduced eNpenii
lures. and the estimates contemplate fur
Their retrenchment. These economies Do
the administration of the War Depart
ment may properly be tvihed 70 lh'
benefit of the army, ana 80 iesuHea' lh'
nronosel increase in numbers and m
higher efficiency I'm organization Of Tat
l.. -. IILI Il l-LIn