Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-02-17
AR MY REORGANIZATION
Gen Miles Makes Report to Congress on
the Pending Bill
A Strong Argument I'm Favor of an
Immediate Addition of Officers
and Enlisted Men.

Gen. Miles has made report to Congress
in regard to the bill for the reorganiza ton
of the army prepared by the Secretary of
War, in which he makes strong argu-
ment in favor of an immediate addition to
the army of sixty officers and 1000 enlisted
men. Gen. Miles says that the artillery re-
qulres more attention than any other
branch of the army, and should be
strengthened for the care and opera ton of
the proposed new fortifications and coast
defenses. He urges the speedy adoption of
the three battalion system to cradle the
use OF modern tactics.
The artillery is branch of the service
Gen. Miles says, that requires years of
study and practice to insure efficiency As
The government has now, at great expense
eStd i1shed mortar batteries and high-pow-
er guns at Fort Hancock, New York har-
Dor, 1T is Necessary that barracks be erect
ed there for a suitable garrison, protec ting
and tnaHHfng The batteries now III position
at that point
Details of Young Officers.
In addition to the artillery school at Fort
Monroe, Gen. Miles urges that details he
made from all the artillery regiments, es-
pecially from among the subaltern Officers
TO be stationed at Fort Hancock or the adj
jacent forts-Hami!ton, Wadsworth and
every day to Fort Hancock and witness the
testing Of the high-power guns and NOR
;ars. They will, in this way, he says
have more practical experience with mod
ein guns ana see more actual practice in
SHY days than they could possibly see at
ali the other artillery stations in the couu.
try in many years.
S0aSt Line Entirely Unprotected.
Gen. Miles shows that the coast line CT
the Gulf of Mexico and the southern states
including the important cities of Washing
ton, philadelphia. Baltimore, Calves: 1n
New Orleans Mobile and Savannah is en-
tireiy unprotected from foreign invasion
lie says that the few guns that are in po-
sition are obsolete and of little value, and
II cannot be expected that any one OF these
batteries could stop a single first-claSS ba l.
ueship, much less a fleet equipped with the
modern appliances of warfare. From an
inspection of the old batteries on the south
ern seaboard, the general has concluded
that they are worse than useless and their
removal alone will require a large appro-
priation.
Gen. Miles does not believe the safety of
the country can depend on any one branch
of the military establishment alone and
he is an advocate of formidable navy. as
well as a modern standing army and a
complete system of coast defenses.
A Strong Navy Needed.
This country, he said, could never be pro-
tected from foreign invasion by a navy, nor
could coast defenseS alone prevent an enc
my from gaining our shores. There must
be concert of action between the army and
navy. And while it will cost more to afford
protection TO the great commercial centers,
ii will he highly important that strong
navy be constructed to assail the enemy's
commerce. If there is $1W,tEsb.ttw to he eX-
pended on defenses, Gen. Miles would advo-
cate that s1o,OO0.UDO be devoted to military
purposes and the remainder to the navy
The plans for Notifications are complete.
and the general says all that is necessary
is approval by Congress in the form of APP
Preparations each year.