The copper country evening news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 18??-1907, 1897-02-10
ARMY REORGANIZATION
An Important Bill Pending In
Congress.
INCREASED SIZE OF REGIMENTS.
1t Is Strongly Endorsed by Military Men
General Miles Says Our Infantry Is Far
Behind the Times-why the Bill VIII
Probably Fail.

Behind the Times-Why the Bill VIII
Probably Fail.
WASHINGTON. Feb 10 Special l-One
of the most important bills pending In the
house, and one which a great majority OF
the members would be glad to vote for II
they could only get the chance, Is meas
ure for the reorganization OF the army III
is singular fact that Persia China and the
United States are the only nations adher
Ing TO the ten company regiment idea,
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 return they reported unanimously In
| favor of subdivision of the regiment I'M
der field leaders They said no officer could
properly handle a ten company regiment
| in the field. The plan embodied In the
| pending bill is not to reduce, but rather
| to increase, the size of the regiments, In
| creasing the number Of companies from 10
to L. But the IL companies are divided
| into three battalions of four companies
each making three tactical units where
there was one before, each battalion nav
ing major at the head of it
Modern Formation.
This change was recommended very
strongly by General Sherman, by General
| Grant and by General Sheridan. 1t has
| been commended by all the secretaries oil
war and by nearly all the prominent mil
tary authorities of our time. / inquired
at the war department for information as
| TO the advantages TO be gained by the pro-
| posed subdivision of the regiment and was
given the following very interesting reply:
IAN 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 $500 yards successive lines or
Q waves to fill the losses of the leading troops
are necessary, as well as the distribution Oh
the attacking front into groups depioyed
{ i'm lines, so that advantage can be taken Oh
every foot Of the ground that oilers cover
2 and protection. Necessarily this greatly
{ | increases the difficulty of the control OF a
, body of men ana their proper leading into
hot fight when all are armed with repeat
ing breechloaders, this owing to the dis
= tribution and great increase in the depth
of the zone covered by the enemies lire
: which has to be passed over.
: War with the single battalion forma
c ton would be national suicide" says {
;. prominent authority. The United States
O cavalry and artillery now have the modern
:, | formation. 1t is much more lmportan
70 that the infantry should be put upon
modern basis, for it is the infantry whlcl
J. wins battles and saves nations. A leading
: officer of the British army said that infan
try was and must always be the ma1nsta
and backbone of any army. Its lire
more deadly than that of artillery. It's az
ton is sure while that of cavalry Is htfu
% Upon the infantry the brunt of battle fall
Examples of Progress.
* General Miles tells me that in the opil
A. ion of our army officers, the lntanti
branch of the United States army is nov
- so far as organization is concerned, IL
> years behind the times 1t is back whel
" it was when armed with the nlntiocK lnu
lp | ket carrying the buck and ball cartrldg
20 instead of the springfield breechloade
We with its deadly missile.
es In a quarter of a century we have pr
nc | crossed from the muzzle loading, smoo
-. hore musket to the breechloading rln
n The muZzle loader meant ut most TWO, al
~ usually one shot minute, with unce
III tainty of aim, execution at not exceediI
IS 400 wards and no assurance OF dea
lis dealing shot at over 200 yards. The brcec
IL loader means firing six times minul
with accuracy of aim, carrying the ueao
nd | missile 1000 yards. The increase oil eHe'
nc ! i've range is, therefore, iveiold III won
20 take an advancing line minutes TO pa
VI through the range of fire from the muz,
'es loader and 20 minutes to pass through I
lot | deadly fire of the breechloaders. The r.
OF | olution i'm military tactics caused by I
nd breechloader is one great reason why I
III method of formation must be changed.
oh In these times of arbitration treaties a
40. talk of universal peace 1t may SOUND strai
to discuss the efficiency of arms and armi
But the millennium is not yet here In
will be wars and rumors OF wars Natio
must meet conditions as they nnu th'
re- and be prepared for offensive and defens
aid operations. was told by military m
;.t, that in the same tactical formation OF
fantry which we have employed In the p
to probably Is men would be killed by
has breechloaders where one was killed by
My muzzle muskets Add to this the pow
It's full machine guns such as the gatling
her the hotchkiss, and the rate OF death amo
2 the closed files of double ranks under
vou present system would be simple suic,
,tp This Is the reason why AL civilized
tions except the United States China
Persia. have abandoned the single BAT
7 ~ Ton double rank formation.
IL" The Length Of Line
IN When one Of our present reg iments
the into action, it presents close line IN d
the BILE rank about 800 yards long There
hill no intervals between the men NV
bullet fired with accuracy takes m
Every regimental commander of our
war between the states will appreciate
tho difficulty of commanding this length
'no line In the din of battle neither voice
ieis bugle call can be easily heard The u
ian of battle has been greatly intensineo
the the introduction OF the rapid fire bre'
SOo leaders
am, II the single line be lengthened
ling spreading of companies, as is nearly
.hod WAYS the case i'm actual war, the regimen
% commander cannot control HE regim
, He cannot reach them They are TOO
hei away He could not even control one
talon in person and direct the movem'
reSS | 90 ,ha otbers For these reasons q dlvl