The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1897-03-02

increase in the army's efficiency will be
IS per cent-certainly good return for
the money if any increase in efficiency
is needed.
The objections to an increase in the
navy used to come from western con-
gressmen and senators-the very men
who were friendly to the army. The
strongest advocates of the new navy
naturally enough were the men who
lived on the coast, and they have al
ways been the most earnest advocates of
large appropriations for coast defenses.
A great many events of recent years
have helped the congressman from the
interior to a realization of the need for
a strong navy.
But the army stands on different
footing. Congressman do not see SO
clearly the value of the army for defense.
Nothing has happened yet to bring it
home to them. A few years ago the
army was needed to suppress Indian up
risings. Now the danger of Indian at
tacks is very slight, and a new use has
been found for the army-suppressin
riots growing out of labor difficulties.
Since the Pullman strike this has been
regarded as the army chief mission. A
great many congressman object to this
use of the army, and from them there is
naturally objection to the provisions of
the bill to increase the army force from
its present modest number-25, 71O-to
the proposed limit of 10000.
Finally there is the inevitable objec-
ton to the maintenance of great stand
ing armies. We have but handful of
soldiers compared with the other great
nations of the world, but there are men
IN, 70
these dismissed.
Regiment Formations.
In proposing to reorganize the army
the war department cares less about in
creasing the number of officers and en-
listed men than about a change in the
formation of regiments. General Sher-
man suggested it back in the seventies
and renewed the suggestion when he re-
tired in 1888.
Sherman s proposition was to add two
companies to each regiment of infantry,
so as to make the number 10, and break
each regiment into three battalions of
four companies each. Almost every CIV
i1ized nation in the world has adopted
the three battalion formation, but,
though the secretary of war has urged
it again and again on congress, and one
favor of it, no action has been taken.
Army officers of experience say that
four companies are as many as one Off
Ger can lead and control in action. When
small arms were ineffective at more
than 600 or 500 yards, men marched in
double column with elbows touching,
and it was possible for colonel to keep
his entire regiment under his eye. Now
that small arms have been made effect
i've at 2, 900 yards, the men march in
single rank and with a space between.
The battle line, then, is three times
longer than it was, and the colonel can
not control an entire regiment acting as
q unit.
This is plain enough, and there are
enough old soldiers in the house and
senate to make the reorganization sure
of a great deal of sympathy, if that
alone was needed. But when it comes to
question of appropriations congress is
likely to be critical. That is one reason
the reorganization scheme may fail
again as it has failed so many times be-
fore.
Army Men In Congress.
The presence of veterans of the civil
war in the house and senate is a good
thing for the army at times, but it has
its drawbacks. The veterans, like doc
tors, sometimes disagree, and when they
get into debate over an army bill they
almost always fight their battles over
again and pro1ong debate for days, to
the great peril of the bill.
AS the ranks of the Grand Army be-
gin to thin the veteran in congress is
disappearing. In the 100 or more new
members elected to the Fifty-ffth con-
gress from northern states not more than
four or five served in the Union army,
and the proportion of Confederate veter-
ans from the southern states is not much
larger. One of the veterans among the
new members was here a few days ago
looking over the congressional field
James A. Norton of Tiffin, o. He was
less than II years old when the war be-
gan, but he was not long enlisting, and
he served until October, 1865. He was
wounded severely in the battle of Chick
nmauga. He has a commission as first