The record-union., 1898-12-08
INCREASE OF REGULAR ARMY.
BILL INTRODUCED IN HOUSE
BY HULL OF IOWA.
The Measure Cast on EMtirely Diff
ferent Lines From That Pro-
posed by General Miles.

| WASHINGTON, Dec. 7.-Represent-
ative Hull, Chairman Of the House
Committee on Military Affairs, to-day
introduced a bill increasing the regu-
lar army to approximatelys1O LOG, 900 men
The bill was framed at the War De-
lpartment, and has the approval of the
| Secretary of War. It is not the bill
framed by General Miles, as this meas
ure has not the high rank proposed by
the Miles bill, and some of the appoint
ments are open to officers of volunteers
or from civil life.
It provides for Lieutenant General
and what is considered a sufficient in
crease of Major Generals and Brigadier
Generals to command an army of 1OO,-
600 men, scattered from Porto Rico to
Manila. The artillery arm is reorgan-
lied, separating them into coast and
field artillery, but promotion to be by
seniority of. the whole arm. A de-
crease of the enlisted men is made. so
that the army can be increased by re-
cruits in case of war to full strength.
The cavalry is increased two regi-
ments, the infantry five. The enlisted
strength of an infantry company is not
to exceed 145, SO that in case of war
new regiments would have to be
formed, probably all Of which would be
volunteer, but the regular army would
make a substantial first line.
The bill provides for three battalion
formation. The staff corps are in
creased about 40 per cent, and, with
the exception of the Adjutant General,
Inspector General and Ordnance Off,
Ger, are open to appointments from the
volunteers or civil life
The most noticeable change is that Of
the Medical Department, in which pro-
vision is made for a hospital corps Of
5000 privates, with the necessary nom
commissioned officers, with a largely
increased number of surgeons and as
sistant surgeons. All officers and men
serving in the sub-tropical countries
are to have an increase of 25 per cent
in pay. Under the immediate control
of the President inhabitants of the new
country may be enlisted in the organ
izations there serving
The bill gives a total Of fourteen regi-
ments of artillery, twelve of cavalry
and thirty of infantry
Chairman Hull's bill is cast on en-
tirely different lines from General
4hiCS Jill, ~ tIldl ueldueQ comparison
is difficult. The Miles bill is based on
the theory Of one soldier for 1 900 popu-
lation, while the Hull bill is based on
the idea of a total force of 100000, the
organization being constructed so as to
reach that total. General Miles pro-
vides for a General and for two Lieu
tenant Generals, while the Hull bill
makes no provision for a General, and
has but one Lieutenant General.
The regimental organization of the
artillery arm is discontinued, and that
member is designated as the corps of
artillery The distinction between coast
and field artillery is similar to the
Miles bill, but more elaborate in detail.
The Atlantic division of the coast. is
defined to include from the Atlantic
and the Gulf seaboards and the coast
of the great lakes, 'sand shall ultimate
ly include the coast line Of the West
Indian possessions OF the United
States The Pacific division is defined
to Include the Pacific seaboard, ssand
shall ultimately include the coast line
of the various possessions of the United
States in the Pacific Coast .
The corps OF artillery embraces IA
batteries Of coast artillery and twenty
four field batteries. Each regiment OF
infantry consists Of twelve companies.
organized into thirty seven battalions
OF four companies each.