New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-01-20
TO REORGANIZE THE ARMY LINE.

REPORT OF THE MILITARY AFFAIRS COMMITTEE
PRESENTED TO THE HOUSE.
Washington. Jan 1s-Representative Hull. of Iowa,
chairman of the House Committee on Military At
fairs laid before the House to-day the report OF that
committee on the bill 10 reorganze the line OF the
Army. 1t shows that successive generals OF me
Amy and Secretaries Of War for fifteen years have
recommended that new organization be adopted Tor
the infantry that each regiment shall be COM
posed OF twelve companies. making three battalions
OF four companies each General Sherman, before
his from active service. pointed out that
the National Guard Of the country would reorganize
on the same lines. and that there would then be
throug the country these small handy battalions
OF four companies. instead of the large cumbersome
regiments Of ten companies--a bad tactical unit and
IN practice always scattered The Secretary OF wars
report for 1883 contains earnes; plea for an in
creased force OF the enlisted men result OF this
proposed reorganization. his argument being that the
strength of the Army should keen pace with the pop
nlauon- Subsequent reports show that the three
battalion organization has been adopted by every
warlike Power. the only exceptions being Persia,
China and the United States. which adhere 10 the
1870 shows that II this country ever met military
contingency II would be forced 10 adopt such an or
ne report Explains that since rifles
came into general use six shots can he red minute
these circumstance if the same tactical formation
Of Infantry were PROBABLY SsS een ne na
Misunderstanding smooth bore musket add 10 this
the powerful machine guns used. such the
Calling and Hotchkiss." the report continues. and
the rate Of death 10 the closed files Of double rank
would be terribly increased This Is that makes
suicidal one and that has caused its abandonment
!n other civilized nations For line to live under
these changed conditions means that /, shall be a
single line with intervals or spaces between the men
who are 10 receive attack or make assault" ,,,,
n devoted to the reorganization Of the artillery.
II shows that when the system Of coast DC,
lie Syil re- a a
enlisted men 10 provide relief for all the guns
and mortars On peace footing the seventy
heavy batteries would have triae over 1900 men,
With the maximum strength now contemplated,
their number would be nearly 10000 men BY a
further possible increase Of the enlisted strength
men scattered among the old organization would
provide the war garrisons first needed for the
important harbors. In any event there would be
. carefully trained body OF at lens. 400 gunners
rious fortifcations for the training of volunteer
organizations In peace dcd a. mucous for the gar
sulting from suf.ci>a. number of properly trained
gunners viii be apparent when II Is considered that
II costs for powder ana pI9jec, ,e alone sS 10 ns
from lo-inch rifle. $56l fire one round from a
l2-nch rife. and $3.50 to fire round from Ia
inch pneumatic gun. The cost OF round from
q n-iLch mortar is $2l9.
Under the proposed reorganization 1890 men would
be added TO the Army. giving TO the cavalry thirty
coast and fourteen light batteries Of 5000 men: to
the infantry seventy-hve battaons OF 1900 men.
miscellaneous force in addition bringing the total
strength Of the Army up to 5000. Such a force
considered with references TO territory of 1900 90
miles. The total expense TO the Government OF this
proposed increase would be $1,000 more than is
Army.