The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-11-30
DAILY. SO A YEAR
: CENTS A COPY.
WEEKLY 2-TIMES-A-W WEEK 81 A YEAR
SECRETARY LAMONT'S REPORT
THE CONDITION OF THE ARMY AND
COAST DEFENsEs.

He Recommends Legislation Neces-
sary to Establish the BattaIiOn
Formation in the Army-What
Would Be Its Strength Under That
System-BecOmmend as to
the National Guards.
Washington. Nov. 29-The Secretary CT
War makes quite an elaborate report
respecting the army, coast defenses and
river and harbor Improvements The
following are brief extracts from the re-
port
BY far the most essential need Of oar
army to-day is the adoption of the three
battalion formation. The reason for this
change and a way to provide It were
stated in the report of the department.
for 1894, which 1 here repeat:
i earnestly recommend that congress
enact the legislation necessary to estao-
lish in the army the battalion formation
now adopted by the armies Of every
other civilized nation. AS necessary to
effect that change 1 recommend the re-
moval of the limit of 5000 men fixed BY
the act of June IS. 1874, and a return to
the limit fixed by the act Of July Is,
1870. Legislative approval of these two
propositions viii restore to the effectivs
force about 1000 enlisted men, bringing
the actual strength of the army up to
the nominal strength now fixed by law.
BY these changes the army viii be in
creased in efficiency 20 per cent. in nuns
bers about 16ia per cent. and in cost OF
maintenance only about per cent.
In brief, it is proposed that two compa-
MES be added to each Of the twenty-Gvs
infantry regiments, so that each shall
consist Of three battalions Of four cora
panies. and that two foot batteries be
added to each of the five artillery ragt-
ments No increase in the cavalry is
proposed.
THE organization of the line of shs
army has undergone no material changs
since the close of the civil war. During
this period of thirty years every large
foreign army has been completely reor-
ganized. Changes and improvements In
arms ammunition and equipments have
forced upon the leading strategists and
tacuclanS OF the great armies or Tie
world the necessity of a broad departuro
from the old systems All have adopted
the battalion as the tactical unit for in
tantry and artillery serving as int8n-
try, and nearly all the equivalent of The
squadron as the cavalry unit The lghg
artillery battalion has similar compO-
sition. Should our army ever be brought
into collision with disciplined foreign
troops, our present formation would prove
so defective as to turn the scale against
us in conflict on terms otherwise equals
For some years the Secretaries Of War,
the generals commanding the army, and
the most eminent authorities in military
science in this country have urged the
adoption Of the battalion formation, and
our most progressive and best informed
officers believe that The organization OE
our small army should embOdy this uni~
versally approved result of modern mili-
tary thought.
Four companies are as large a body as
1t is now possible for one officer TO lead
ana control in action. Formerly and down
to a recent date the colonel could see and
qlrect the movements OF All the men OF
his regiment who marched and fought
in double rank with touch of elbows.
Under such conditions q regiment of 1000
men occupied a front on the battle line
no greater than would now be covered by
a small battalion of one-third that num-
ber. A few years ago small arms fire
was lneitectiNe at distances greater than
600 or 500 yards while now it viii be deadly
at ranges of 1000 yards or at even greater
distances. In modern warfare the men
Will act in small groups or singly. and the
advance Will be made in successive lines
in open order. Perfect organization and
perfect control by the commander OF each
unit viii be absolutely essential 70 eff
ciency and success in the field.
The national guard of several of this
states, more progressive than the gem
eral government, already has the bait
talon organization, and our own army
is being instructed as thoroughly as our
defective system viii permit, battalioss OF
from two to five companies being impro-
yised in the different garrisons.
there would be an aggregate of 27,S5O of all
arms and a sufficient number remaining
for the hospital corps, non-cOmmlssi stoned
staff ordnance detachment, Indian scouts
and other unattached men, to make a
total of $1,000 When deductions ara made
for the sick, absentees, etc, the effective
strength of the army would be abouB
2OOO soldiers and forty field guns.
The appropriation for the national
guard has remained unchanged for many
years, although the cOuntrys population
has multiplied many fold. Repeated re-
Communications for an increase of this ap-
preparation have not met with a faVOra-
Bile response from congress, though the
reasons for such increase seems obvious.
1t is now suggested that authority be
granted TO the department to sell to the
states, at cost price such arms and
equipments as they may require, and that
the proceeds of such sales be credited to
the appropriations for supplying and re-
placing such arms and equipments
1t rests with congress to determine
by its appropriations the period which
shall elapse before our coasts shall ne
put in a satisfactory condition Of defense
The amount required fer the eighteen
ports is about $50 ,0)0 and the entire
work can be completed within ten years.
The rate of progress will be slower in pro-
portion as appropriations are kept below
the amount which can be advantageously
expended