The evening times., 1896-08-20
DISTRIBUTING THE SOLDIERS.

Ihe artillery regiment now on the Pacific
coast is the Fifth, which has batteries \,
C, l, L and NJ, and light batteries and F
at the Preside Df San Francisco; Il and h
at AlcatraZ Island, L at Fort Mason and
II at Fort Candy, at the mouth of the Co
lumbia. Battery G is Oh the Atlantic coast
at Fort Monroe.
But the difficulty is to say exactly how
any redistribution can be made TO advan-
tage. II has been reported that another
artillery regiment is to be sent to the
Pacific coast, but that would be Prepos-
tcrnus, not only because it would strip
existing forts ON the Atlantic and the gulf
of the garrisons they now have, and GER
tainly need, but also because the proper
ton of two regiments on the Pacific To
three Oh the Atlantic aud the gulf would
be absurd.
The present ratio of one regiment on the
Western and four on the Eastern coast is
about right in view OF the relative magni-
tude Of the Interests to be defended. When
the artillery is increased, as sooner or
teries will be available.
One important matter to be remembered
is that the new batteries thus spoken of
are affairs OF the future. A few heavy
guns and mortars have been mounted at
New York, San Francisco and Boston, but
the work OF the engineers OH cmplacements
has so far dragged behind that OF the
Ordnance Department in providing guns.
aud the work of the latter in furnishing
carriages is also SO far bbehind the turning
| out Of guns, that Congress has been not
without excuse in delaying to Increase
the artillery arm.
INCREASE IN THE ARTILLERY.
When 1t sees more new guns actually
mounted it will probably provide the men
| To take care or them; but IL is reluctant
to increase the army for purely prospec-
tive uses One of the reasons. also, why
redistribution would apparently be out of
place now. is that barracks and quarters
| must he providedn season for such changes
Such a provision is now going on, for eN-
| ample, at Sandy Hook
| Another question is as To the manner in
! which the art!leryarm should he increased.
| One statement is that Gen. Miles is DESTROYS
| OF having the batteries scattered among
| n greater number OF points, in order to
have more forts garrisUned. But the bill
| pending In Congress proposes To increase
| the five regiments TO seven. whereas u
1 former measure WAS based OH the idea
! OF simply adding more batteries t" the
| present nuniler OF re giments. OH the ground
that 1T was additional batteries that were
| required and not additional regimental
| organizations.
| Stiii. these latter are also advocated.
| on tie ground that they will fur rnish more
| promotion, while preserving the three bat
| tailon. twelve-compauy idea. Altogether,
| IL would seem that there is no Immediate
| need of redistributing the artillery. an,l
| that the most sensible aud economical plan
| would be To await the action OF Congress
| atthecoming sessiouon Secretary Lamont =
| line reorganization bill. II that bill, or
| even the artillery part OF it, becomes u
law. the assignment of garrisons TO the
| new batteries hereafter to be built will
| be an easy task.
| Some interesting experiments will soon
| be made in the manufacture of ordnance
material under a recent act of Congress.
| Provision was made by that body for the
manufacture and trial OF 10-inch counter
poise carriage, invented by Commodore
| Howell, of the navy. and OF n 12-incb car
| riage, invented by A. Fl. Emery. Still an
| other provision was that for making and
| testing au S-incb gun, to he cast in one
piece. on the plan of R. j. Gatling. As
TO the carriages, OF whatever their intrinsic
merits. it will be a gain Ii they serve
| to hurry forward the 12-inch type car
| riage now under construction.