The evening times., 1898-12-07
GENERAL NILES PLANS
FOR A GREATER ARMY
SCOPE OF REORGANIZATION
suggests n Force of 100000 Men
aud the Revival of thu. RanI<

OF lu0,OO0-one soldier to each thousand
population of the country and two to
each thousand in the colonies. The pro-
posed measure also provides for three
new offices-a general and two lieutenant
generals.
The reorganization proposed Gen
Miles states. Was advocated by Gen
Sherman and Lieut. Gen. Schofield, and
Is in accordance with the practice of
modern military nations
In the bilRiuis provided that the militia
ry establishment of the United States
shall hereafter consist of fifteen regi-
ments of cavalry. fourteen regiments sea
coast artilleTy, tYo regiments of field ar
tillery, twos regiments of engineers and
fifty resimerts Of infantry
Cavalry reginients are to, be organized
as now provided by law, but important
changes arescontemplated in the artillery.
which is toscopsist of sea coast and field
artillery. Thes sea coast artillery is to
consist of fourteen regiments of twelve
batteries each, and the field artillery of
two regiments of twelve batteries each
Each regiment of sea coast artillery shall
regiment of field artillery of 1882 enlisted
men, with the necessary complement of
officers.
Section If the bill provides that the
| infantry arm of the service shall consist
OF nifty regiments of three battalions of
Tour companies each, each company to
be organized as shall be provided in this
act: Provided. that the regiment of in
fantry shall consist of 1900 enlisted men,
ana provided further that the infantry
arm Of the service be organized on the
basis of two army corps of three divis-
ions of three brigades OF three regiments
each
Each regiment of cavalry is to consist of
cne colonel. one lieutenant colonel. three
majors or squadron commanders, twelve
captains, fourteen first lieutenanls. twelve
second lieGtenanGB, one veterinary SUI
eeOn, one sergeant major one quart"rmas-
ter sergeant one chief farritr. one chief
musician and one chief trumpeter. The
officers are 10 be practically the same IN
all regiments.
Section 3 provides that there shall be
one general of the army two Heutenau=
generals, six major generals Of infantry.
one major general of cavalry. one ma ior
general of artillery, eighteen brigad.cr
generals Of infantry. two brigadisr eencr-
ais of cavalry and TWO hrieadier generals
| of artillery, who shall be entitled 10 the
personal aide-de-camp and the military
! secretary now provided by law.
1t i also provided that the major gem
| erals and brisadier generals of artillery
and cavalry shall be assigned TO duty as
chiefs and inspectors of artillery ard cav
! airy and to such commands as the Prezi-
| dent may direct.
! The adjutant generals department. is to
| consist Of one adjuiant general, with the
rank OF major genera; two assistant adiu-
| tant generals. with the rank of bTigad!er
generals; three assistant adjutant gener-
ais with the rank OF colonel; SIX assist
ant adjutant generals with the rank of
| lieutenant colonel; twelve assistant adju-
| tant generals, with the rank of major. ana
| tweutE-siX assistant adjutant generals,
| with the rank Of captain: mounted officers
now in the adjutant generals depa tment
to retain their present rank and be pro-
moted by seniority as vacancies may &C
eur.
All the original vacancies in the grades
| Of assistant adjutant generals created by
| this act or otherwise are to be filed in
each grade by detail of officers Of a cor
| responding grade from the line OF the
army. who shall retain their relative sta
tus in the lineal list of their grades OF the
branch of the service; at the expiration
| Of the term of detail or when promoted
they shall be returned to their arm Of
the service and their places filled by "A
similar detail subject 10 the same Emi-
tati0nS.
In section 70 it Is stated that there shall
be on inspector general of the army. with
the rank of ma ior general; one assistant
inspector general. with the rank Of brig
adler general; three assistant inspectors
general with the rank OF colonel: nine
assistant inspectors general. with the
rank of lieutenant colonel, and five as
sistant inspectors; general, with the rank
of major.
The quartermaster' department here
after is to consist of one quartermaster
general with the rank of brigadier een-
eral; eight assistant quartermasterS gen
eral with the rank of colonel: sixteen as
sistant quartermaSters general, with the
rank of lieutenant colonel; twenty-eight
quarterma sters. with the rank of major
ninety assistant quartcrmasters, with The
rank of captain. mounted, and one militia
ry storekeeper, with the rank of captain
Officers now in the quartermaster' de-
partment are To retain their present rank
and be promoted by seniority in that de-
partment as vacancies may occur among
their number.
Not to depiete the number of officers
available for duty with the line of the ar
my all original details to fill vacancies
in the list of assistant quartermaster gem
eral. QuartermaSter and assistant quar-
termasterS are to create vacancies in the
corresponding grades of the arms of the
! service from which the detail is made,
which shall be filled by promotion III that
arm.
The subsistence department of the army
shall hereafter consist of one commissa-
ry general of subsistence, with the rank
of brigadier general: four assistant COM
missaries general of subsistence with the
| rank of colonel; three assistant commits
saries general of subsistence. with the
rank of lieutenant colonel; twelve COM
| missaries of subsistence, with the rank of
major: thirty-fve assistant comm issaries
with the rank of captain, mounted.
Officers with the rank of brigadier gem
eral are to be in command of the ord
nance pay, engineers. and signal depart
ments or corps. and each of them will
have numerous assistants.
Original appointments and promotions
in the army are to be made as far as
practicable by seniority, where the senior
possesses the necessary qualifications.
which will be determined by efficiency
physical and mental excellence, exper,-
ence, commendable services and record
and general qualifications and fitness to
discharge the duties of the office to which
the officer is available for appointment.
In order to promote the general welfare
of the service, as we'll as the experience
and efficiency of the officers. transfer can
be made below the rank of colonel from
one arm of the service to the other or
from the staff to the line of the army.
and vice versa. whenever the best inter
ests of the service may warrant such