The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1897-02-21
ARMY REORGANIZATION.

The army reorganization bill, generally
known as the Lamont bill, and which was re-
cently tayorably reported TO the House, en-
oooles the main features of army organization
ior which the friends of the service in Con-
gress and out have been striving for number
of years.
Inc Dill adds two new regiments to the ar
tiLery, making seven in all, and gives the in
iantry the three-battalion organization, as in
all modern armies. The present infantry regi-
ment Is composed of ten companies, two of
which are skeleton" The bill adds two
companies, giving three battalions of four
companies each, one ba talon of which may
be skeletonized and the other two Kept on
fuil basis The cavalry remains at ten regi-
ments as at present.
In 1866. at the close Of the Civil War, the
strength OF the regular army was about 75,-
UOo and remained such during the recoustruc-
ton period In 1870 it was reduced to 80, 600
men and in 1875 to 25, 900. at which figure1t
mas since remained. The proposed reorgani-
zation viii give the army q strength of 10000
men, the same from 1870 to 1874, !. e.,
about an average of one soldier to every 100
square miles or one soldier to about every
22OO inhabitants.
The House Committee estimates the addi-
honal cost at $1,77O073 per annum, an in
crease OF 63s per cent over the present appro-
priations. However the effective strength OF
regiments will be increased about IL per cent.
Inc proportional distribution of the 80 900
men would be follows: Cavalry, thirty
squadrons, CLIO men; artillery, fourteen
hight and seventy heavy batteries, eghty-four
III all, 500; infantry, seventy-fve battalions
1o,525; engineers, one battalion, 500 men,
The balance is made up of the enlisted men
or the ordnance, signal and hospital corps,
quartermasters and commlssary sergeants
etc.
In our own, as in all armies, the infantry
forms the principal arm, while the cavalry
ana artillery are auxiliary or special. Our
small regular army is often referred to as the
nucleus" around which will gather the
armed masses of volunteers in case of war. No
matter how small our army may be it should
be standing model and one which may be
safely followed. In all matters of organize
ton, training and discipline it should be as
nearly perfect as the means provided will
admit
The three-battalion organization is in the
line of the tactical development of recent
wars, especially the Franco German. Its
adoption has been urged upon Congress for
years by our highest military authorities as
we'll as the leading experts in infantry tao
tics
OF the three line branches the artillery has
always been in the minority. Nearly if not
quite all OF the regular batteries were mounted
ana served as light artillery during the Civil
War, where their record ives a brilliant one.
On peace basis these batteries were nearly all
dismounted and relegated to the regular gar
rison duty, and for twenty years and more
they have formed, practically speaking, part
OF our infantry force, going to the guns for an
occasional drill or target practice, but in
other respects being distinguish ed from the
infantry only by the color of the trimmings
on their uniforms
With an ANTICIPATED system of forts and
guns but little could be expected in the way
of real artillery service, but now that Con-
gress has made liberal appropriations for
coast defense and with new forts and guns
steadily increasing In numbers the necessity
Tor an increase in the artillery branch becomes
imperative. The committee estimates that
when the proposed scheme of coast defense is
completed 90. 314 men will be required to pro-
vide one relief for all the guns and mortars.
To work the guns in time OF war three reliefs
Will be required or counting the men neees-
sary for the auxiliary services, such as range
finding and torpedoes, at least 100, 600 men
will be required.
Naturally the bulk OF these men must come
from the volunteers, and probably one-tenth
of this number would be required in time of
peace to keep the guns in order and perfect
the organization of sea-coast defense. With
at present over one hundred separate fortif-
cations projected and partially com pleted we
have only fifty batteries or companies of artil-
lery, or less than half company (about thirty
mem to each fertilization. This number will
evidently not suffice even care-takers, to
say nothing of the further defenses planned.
However providing forts and guns is only
the first step in the intricate problem of coast
defense, the most important step, doubtless
but to properly organize the details of an
effective artillery service will require the IN
renting labors of officers and men for many
years to come. Obviously If the time of officers
and men is all taken up with caring for the
N aterial, the other details will suffer accord
ingly. OF all the arms, artillery, both field
and sea coast, is the most expensive to provide
and to maintain in state OF efficiency and it
would be most unwise If the Government, after
expanding millions on guns and forts, should
fail to provide an adequate personnel.