Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1897-02-10
NEEDS OF ARMY.
Important Reorganization Bill
Pending in Congress.
It Is Strongly Endorsed by All Promi-
nent Milit ny Men.
Gen. Miles Says Our Infantry Is Far Behind
the Times.

house, and one which great majority Of
the members would lie glad to vote for if
they could only get the chance, is a meas
ure for the reorganization of the army. 1t
is singular fact that Persia, China and
the United States are tho only nations adj
herring to the ten company regiment idea,
q form of organization which long ago be-
came obsolete among the best armies of the
world. A commission of our army officers
was sent abroad some years ago to study
foreign military methods, and on their re-
turn they reported unanimously in favor
of a subdivision of thcrcgment under field
leaders. They said no officer could proper
ly handle ten company regiment in the
field. The plan embodied in the pending
bill is not to reduce hut rather to increase
the size of the regiments increasing the
number of companies from 10 to II. But
the ~ companies are divided into three
battalions of four companies each, making
three tactical units where there WAS one
before, each battalion haring I. major at
the head of it,
Modern Formation.
This change was recommended very
bUoHBly ny Ntilt-ttl Dy htIltFill
Grant and by General Sheridan 1t has
been commended by all the secretaries of
war and by nearly all the prominent mill
tary authorities of our time. l inquired at
the war department for information as to
the advantages to be gained by the proposed
subdivision OF the regiment and was given
the following very interesting reply:
"All who have participated in a modern
battle, and all students of military science
agree, that in order to push home an attack
against an enemy who use weapon that
can kill at 1880 yards successive lines or
waves to I'LL the losses of the leading troops
are necessary as well as the distribution of
the attacking front into groups dcployed in
lines, SO that advantage can be taken of
every foot of tho ground that offers cover
and projection. Necessarily this greatly
increases the difficulty of the control of a
body of men and their proper leading into
hot fight when all arc armed with repeat
Ing brecchloaders, this owing to the dis
tribution and great increase in the depth
of the zone covered by the enemies fire
which has to be passed ovcr''
War with the single battalion forma-
ton would be national sllicide,' says q
prominent authority. The United States
cavalry and artillery now have the modern
formation. 1t is much more important
that the infantry should be put upon
modern basis, for it is the infantry which
wins battles and caves nations. A leading
officer of the British army said that in
fantry was and must always be the main
stay and backbone Of any army. Its fire
is more deadly than that of artillery Its
action is sure, while that of cavalry is fit
full. Upon tho infantry the brunt OF battle
falls.
Examples Of Progress.
General Miles tells me that, in the opin-
ion of our army officers, the infantry
branch of the United States army is now
SO far as organization is concerned, 100
years behind the times 1t is back where
it was when armed with the fiintlock mus
ket, carrying the buck and ball cartridge,
instead of the springfield breechloader,
with its deadly missile.
In n quarter of % century we have pro-
gressed from the muzzle loading, smooth
bore musket to the breechloading rifle The
muzzle loader meant at most two, and
usually one, shot minute, with uncer-
tainty of aim, execution at not exceeding
400 yards, and no assurance of q death
dealing shot at over 200 yards. The breech-
loader means firing six times minute,
with accuracy of aim, carrying the deadly
missile 1000 yards The increase of eff
fective range is, therefore, fivefold. 1t
would take IN advancing line 4 minutes to
pass through the range of fire from the
muzzle loader, and 90 minutes to pass
through the deadly fire of the brecchload-
ers. The revolution in military tactics
caused by the brccchloader is one great rea
son why the method of formation must be
changed.
In these times OF arbitration treaties and
talk of universal peace it may sound strange
to discuss the efficiency of arms and armies
But the millennium is not yet here. There
will be wars and rumors of wars. Nations
must meet conditions as they find them
and be prepared for offensive and defensive
operations. i was told by u military man
that in the same tactical formation of in
fantry which we have employed in the
past probably Is men would be killed by
the brCcchloadcrS where one was killed by
the muz2le muslets. Add to this the DOW
erful machine guns, such as the gatling
and the hotchkiss, and the rate OF death
among the closed files of double ranks I'M
der our present system would be simple
suicide. This is the reason why all civil
liked nations, except the United States,
China and Persia have abandoned the sin
gle battalion, double rank formation.
The Length Of Line.
When one of our present regiments goes
into action, it presents Il close line in dou
BILE rank about 800 yards long. There are
no intervals between the men. Every bull
let fired with accuracy takes a man. Ev-
cry regimental commander of our late wal
between the states will appreciate the diff
Guilty Of commanding this length of line.
In the din of battle neither voice nor bugle
call can be easily heard. The noise of bat.
tie has been greatly intensified by the in.
PRODUCTION of the rapid fire brecchloaders.
If the single line be heightened by
spreading of companies. as is nearly al
ways tho case in actual war, the regimental
commander cannot control his regiment.
He cannot reach them. They are too far
away. He could not even control one bat
talon In person and direct tho movements
of the others. For these reasons a division
ofsthe regiment into three battalions, each
with It's commander. is imperative. The
old line of battle formation used during
the civil war, in the language of q mill.
tary officer, belongs 10 the past with the
Macedonian phalanx, and the general who
weuid use it would simply invite the
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