The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1895-12-15
monts. No increase in tho cavalry is pro-

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 ana
tacticians OF the great armies or the
world, the necessity Of broad departure
from the old systems
All have adopted the battalion as the
tactical unit for infantry, ana artliery
serving as infantry, and nearly al ,hf
equivalent of the squadron as the cavalry
unit The light artillery battalion has
similSr composition. Should our army
ever be brought into collision with us
ciplined foreign troops. our present lorna
tion would prove so defective as to prob
ably turn the scale against as IN con-
nict on terms otherwise equal.
For some wears the Secretaries OF war,
7 the General commanding the army, ana
the most eminent authorities In military
! science in this country have urged mo
adootion of the battalion for nation, ana
! cur most progressive and best informed
/ officers believe that the organization OF
/ our small army should embody this uni
vcrsallv approved result OF modern MILL
tary thought.
-Four companies are as large BODY as
II Is now possible for one officer 10 lead
/ and control In action. Formerly. ana
{ down TO a recent date. the colonel could
see and direct the movements OF all the
men of his regiment vho marched ana
foutht i'm double rank with touch II ell
bows. Under such conditions regiment
! OF 1000 men occupied front on the battle
line no greater than would now be cover
ed by a small battalion OF one-third that
number A few years ago small fre-
arms were ineffective at distances greater
than GOO or 500 yards. while now they VIII
be deadly at ranges Of l0U yards or at
] even greater distances
In modern warfare the men will act
I in small groups or s:ngly, ana the ad-
vance will be made IN successive ilnes III
omen order. Perfect organization and per
feet control by the commander of each
unit will be absolutely essential TO ell
cheney ana success I'm the field.
The National Guard of several OF the
! Sta.ss more progressive than the gen
eral government, already has the batta-
lion organization, and our own army Is
being. Instructed as thoroughly as our
defective system will permit battalions
of from two to five companies being I'M
provised in the different garIiSons.
BY restoring 10 the military establish
| ment the strength allowed mp 10 1874, and
! providing for the battalion formatloh'
with few minor changes, the orgahlza-
ton will be.
Cavalry: Ten regiments OF three squad
rons each. enc colonel enc lieutenant
colonel. two extra captains for adjutant
and quarter master. five non-commisslon-
ed staff. each squadron one major or lieu
| tenant colonel, and four troops: each
troop one captain. two lieutenants ana
fifty enlisted men.
Artillery: Five regiments OF three foot
| battalions and one field artillery battal-
ion each: one colonel. one lieutenant
colonel two extra captains for adjutant
and quartermaster and five ncn-comins-
stoned staff; each foot battalion one ma
ior or iieutenant-c colonel and four bat
teries; the field artillery battalion one
major and two field batteries, each foot
battery one captain, two lieutenants, and
sixty-fve enlisted men, each field battery
one captain. three lieutenants, and seven
ty-fve enlisted men.
Infantry Twenty-Five regiments OF
three battalions EACH one colonel, one
neutenant-colonel. two extra captains foi
adiutant and duartermaster, five non
| commissioned STAFF each battalion one
major or Northumberland and four com
panies: each company one captain. two
lieutenants, and ffty-fve enlisted men.
The battalion Of engineers would re-
main as now with four companies OF
500 men, making an aggregate of 2ISS
of all arms. and a sufficient number
remaining for the hospital corps. non
commissioned staff. ordnance detach
ment. Indian scouts, and other unattach
ed men. TO make total of 10000 Wher
DEDUCTIONS are made for the SICK absen
toes. etc. the effective strength of tn
army would be about 25,0O soldiers an
fOty field gums.
The formation desired admits of RAPID
and great expansion 10 meet the eXigen
cies Of actual warfare. and is especially
adj ptable to the small force constituting
the peace establishment of the United
States Twelve years ago. before fetir
ing from command, General Sherman
pointed out the great Advantage of suci
an organization as enabling us TO put
large and effective force In the fell upo
short notice by merely existing a sufii
Gent number of additional private sol
| dicrs. the regiment being always read
5 for this expansion
I Resolving the effects OF these change
= into money, ii appears that for pay, ra
0 tons. and clothing of the increased NUN
I ! Der of enlisted men, proposed an incrcas
of 81 .2O0. 600 in annual appropriations WI
! | be required Retrenchment i'm the admin
4 | trat,ve branches of the War Depa tmer
! has considerably reduced expenditures
. | and the estimates contemplate further 70
4 trcnchment These economies in the az
. ministration of the War Department ma
( | properly be turn ID 10 the benett or IN
n army 6nd so regarded the proposed II
i crease in numbers and the higher eff
I cheney in organization OF he eniiste
l. men may be obtained at a cOmparativel
small increase over sums hitherto apprc
o priated annually for support Of the regt
!, lar force
4 The proposition outlined contemplate
o an increase in the Number Of line Officers
{ in.folving an increase for salaries o
: about $4,000. This increase OF expend
- lures should be met and more than Over
d come by reductions in the expenditures {
r the staff.
THE MILITARY ACADEMY.
@ yhe superintendent of the Miltar
I Academy at West Point reports that II
number of cadets on September l. 1873
G including one foreigner admitted by sp'
II cial authority OF Congress- was 32i bein
r as less than the fun number authorize
y by law. Notwithstanding the desire
+ large numbers OF the youth of the cour
. try to enter this institution, there al
e every year many untitled vacancie
mainly because Of failure on the part
Il representatives I'm Congress 10 make non
q nations and the restrictive laws COZ
u corning appointments.
J. IL is highly desirable to keep this e'
= pensiye plant in operation 10 its fu
y capacity and various methods TO increas
u the number have been suggested l r.
II new the recommendation OF my last n
G port. that the President be authorized
name ten cadets at large each year.
Y one Of the most pressing needs of ii