New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-07-26
ARMY AND NAVY NEWS.
THE LINES REPLY TO THE STAFF IN THE
CONTROVERSY OVER RANK.
GENERAL. RuGER,s EXAMINATION OF SEA COAST
FoRTIFIcATIoN PoINTS-Two DISPUTED
CoURrs-M MARTIAL.
fsr TELEGRAPH TO THE TRrBuNE.l

rnents Of Asa NJ Mattice. former member OF 'he
Engineer Corps alleging Official unfairness on 'he
part OF certain line officers. and supporting the
general arguments OF the SIAN. Inc reply goes
fully into number Of points at issue between 'he
two branches such the question OF rank now en-
loved by the staff the meaning Of relative rank. the
objection OF staff officers to the rule when requires
them on occasion to make reports 20 ther JUNIORS
and the duties of engineers in battle In conclusion
the reply discusses the motive OF stan ofncers n
urging a change in existing law which VIII give
them actual rank This part or the reply VIII ~"
I'D the staff considerably. 1t reads
II the arguments and deductions presented are
sound Il is impossible 10 see what advantage IN
% the several staff corps the military ranks and
titles of tho line. while It Is very evident una,
desire which the staff officers have pursued and do
pursue with persstency and feeling me GENUINE s,
no sought II Is evident tina; they seriously wish
what they regard as positive rank e. the p haes
Ssss inression Of their duties and also that their
present commissions confer upon them positive
rank IN their corps titles which indicate their corps
and duties and agnO ample u aea Wha hsn
is the meaning OF this obstinate push for change
THE LINE TITLES DESIRABLE.
IT, under all the circumstances OF the case. stan
officers wish TO sink their own professional titles
and be known by those Of the lire. the conclusions
are unavoidable that they look upon line titles as
ton and generally being OF more official value the
grounds for this feeling are probably the following
The line Of any military organization. navy or
army Is the first and principal part or that or
ganization-the peg upon which everything else Is
hung All staff duties are adjunct. and are also
subordinate The essential importance OF THESE
duties is not denied and does affect this state
ment Whatever their Importance may be- they
came being solely to supply the necessities ana
increase the efficiency of the line-the hghting
force No staff officer attains to the command OF
military force as whole He Is always unuer
his rank This line officer may be the youngest OF
the ship fleet II his seniors are killed or u iss
abled. he succeeds to the command WIN All 's
There is no question here of the relative merit OF
men: no assertion that the hedglng ensign Is SUI
perior in Judgment, GOODNESS or genera hn t ~
naval axperience 1t H. simply that cardinal feat
ure Of military organization demands that tne se
beyond doubt and that every military consideration
and all military experience place IL h 'n rontinutv
from the highest to the lowest. II the relative
merits Of men were to be sonnaeTed co 5 III
These facts give to line commission more pres,
ge from Pgr nn I'a ar po navy regarded as
Whole. is a military organization this point OF
view the le oc TO Would be- in the ascendant and
in congress Of engineers the DISTINGUISHED men OF
disclaim this wish. but apart from change OF
title there is not an ATOM OF s.ran Which they
AK for The paymasters and engineers wish to
" This ' grcae s desirabty of line titles IN naval
organization not asserted or brought forwarn as
forced to the front by the efforts of the STAFF of
GERS to seize the distinctive titles OF the III 10 "a
to have these titles engraved upon their caras ana
written upon their letters IT, In TINS inc an. .h
occmpations Of staff any unfavorabe comparison Is
Instituted between their duties and those OF the
officers who wish drop their own for line titles
GENERAL MILES AT NORTHERN POSTS
General Miles has resumed his duties at Army
beadouarters In his absence from Wash
ington he visited number OF Northern posts par
ticuarly those in upper New England and the state
of Ney-York He gave close attention 10 tho condl-
.iors and needs Of the stations. and will embody IN
his next annual report certain recommendations III
relation thereto. He paid particular heed TO the
question Of coast defences for Forts Popham ana
MONTGOMERY and the ACCESSIBILITY OF rehaDiiitaths
these stations and locating there some modern lor-
tiecation works Last year the General spoke with
yigor about the country's needs In the mater OF
coast defences. This year he WIZ have more 70 say
an the subject ana IN rh's at the
posts he recently visited. The General deems IL I'm,
Roston be Increased and that provision In the way
OF quarters barracks. etc, be MADE Tor artuery ~
comrse means more artierymen. and Congress Is
TO be urged to make the necessary appropriations
lust what recommendations the General VIII
make concerning improvements az Pophha tl ian, anu
Montgomery cannot he said definitely at TINS tnie
fort II is south of Bath; Me. and is the nearest
American defence 10 Halifax where me brl hi
have a great naval station United states s pa
have gone up 70 Bath ana re % c Pg prepared TO
take the seas to meet hostile British fleet More
S s 5g s gone on to BATH General Miles was
coinmittal when asked what II was PROPOSED 70 90
Hs said however that ne regarded Popham as an
excellent strategic point. and one under certain CIR
cumstances that the country ought 70 keep In MIND
There is old fort there now without any Hiouern
ordinance .,. .. 49,, ,o,a,,,o,
of Fort Montgomery. This Is another old fort 1t Is
favoraby located especially IN case OF war @,h
ada would Of course be the first objective Of the
American troops If an offensive programme was ds
of the Canadian border on Lake Champain. i is
now in p need be- e0Hg qs could
be made for quarter.ng there 10000 troops, prob
ably a. large orSs eed 1f as 'e o
his recommendations relative TO improv Ms At
BESIDE: popham and Fort
Ethan Allen. Plattsburg Barracks Sacket Harbor
MAKE a western trip starting about the end OF
August He Is in need Of an outing. and while In the
West will devote most OF his time TO hunting and
fishing. -
TWO COURT-MARTIAL CASES.
Presiden. Cleveland has before him two Army
u-t-rartial cases which contain several unusual
features also severe sentences The cases are
those o. Captain Charles G. Ayrcs. 10th Cavalry.
and Captain VI. F. lamar. 14ih Infantry. Both Of
acsrs were found guilty OF the charges preferred
against them and sentenced 70 be dismissed the
Army In the case OF Captain Ayres n was al
Legged that he used false. malicious and libSlous
language concerning a brother officer. Captain
Vrliam Davis IT. 10th Cavalry. II seems that
Canrain Ayres was accused by Captain Davis Of
having sent direct to the adjutant-gensral certain
offical Information which should have gone through
intermediate channels. This charge the former
sented with earnestness. and In A colloquy that
ensled or subsequently, occurred used the language
accredited to him Upon evidence the Court reached
verdict o, guilty. The finding and sentence were
approved by General Brooke. commanding the De-
par.ment OF Dakota, and under the rule that no
Commissioned officer Is 10 be dismissed the Army
Will out the approval OF the President, the record