The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1898-12-07
INCREASED ARMY BILL
General Miles Submits tho Measure
to Secretary Alger.
WILL BE PROMPTLY PRESENTED.


fafrs Committee, VIII Probably In
troduce the Bill in Congress-Some
OF the ProEisions.
Washington. Dec. THE measure
which will serve as basis for the leg
islation of congress this session looking
to the increase and remodeling of the
regular United States army has been
completed by General Miles, and yes
terday was handed by him to Secretary
Alger, who will transmit 1t to congress.
probably through the chairman of the
house committee on military affairs.
Representative Hull, after he has had
an opportunity to make any changes
he may deem desirable. The bill pro-
vides for one soldier to / 900 of the pop
ulatiOn of the United States and two
soldiers to 1000 population in the de-
pendent ies-approxmately 100000
men. In submitting the measure to
secretary Of war the commanding gen
cral says:
1.-THE proportion of artillery, cavalry
and Infantry is in accordance with the
immediate necessities of tn, United
States. We have 1000 miles of coast,
with 27 principal harbors, where are
located millions of people and prop
erty Of almost inestimable value. That
they should properly be defended is
demanded by every consideration of
prudence and good administration. In
addition TO this we have the important
harbors in Porto Rico. Cuba and the
Philippines to defend, requiring large
force of artillery.
THE organization recommended Is
such as to give rank in proportion to
the important duties and great respon
sibilities required of the different Off
GERS in our service and is similar to the
organizations which has been found
most efficient in the armies of all other
civilized nations and also to that which
was found to be most effective between
the years 1S61-65."
The bill is in substance as follows:
The military establishment of the
United States shall hereafter consist
of Is regiments of cavalry IA regiments
soacoast artillery. two regiments of
field artillery, two regiments of en-
gncers. 80 regiments of infantry, the
professors and corps Of cadets of the
United States Military academy and
such other force as shall be provided
for by this act, to be known as the
army of the United States.
The regiments Of cavalry shall be or
ganiZed as now provided by law each
to consist of three squadrons of four
troops, each troop to be organized as
shall be provided by this act. Pro-
vided, that each regiment of cavalry
1 i y,
the necessary complement Of officers
The military arm of the service shall
consist of seacoast and field artillery.
The seacoast artillery shall consist of
IA regiments of IL batteries each and
the field artillery of two regiments of
II batteries each Each regiment of
seacoast artillery shall consist of 1000
enlisted men and each regiment of
field artillery of ,O33 enlisted men. with
the necessary complement of officers.
The president may, in his discretion,
convert such field batteries as may
seem to him to be necessary from time
to time into siege batteries, horse ar
tlllery batteries or mountain batteries.
The infantry arm of the service shall
consist of so regiments of three bat
talions of four companies each. Each
regiment shall consist of 1000 enlisted
men. and the infantry arm of the SER
vice shall be organized on the basis of
two army corps. of three divisions of
three brigades Of three regiments each.
There shall be one general of the
army, two lieutenant generals, six ma
jor generals of infantry, lone major gen.
eral of cavalry. oIse--ma3or general OF
artillery, Is brigadier generals Of in
fantry. two brigadier generals of arti- |
lery. who shall be entitled to the per- |
sonal aide -de-camp and the military
secretary now provided by law. The |
major generals and brigader generals |
of artillery and cavalry shall be as
signed to duty as chiefs and inspectors |
of artillery and cavalry and to such |
commands as the president may direct. |
The adjutant generals department |
of the army shall consist of one adju-
tant general with the rank of major
general, two assistant adjutant gen.
erals with the rank of brigader gen.
erals, three assistant adjutant gen.
erals with the rank of colonel. six as
sistant adjutant generals with the rank
of Lieutenant colonel. u assistant adju-
tant generals with the rank Of major
and 26 assistant adiutant generals with
the rank of captain, mounted. Officers
now in the adjutant generals depart
ment shall retain their. present rank
and he promoted by seniority in that
department as vacancies may occur
among their number. In the various
other departments the same system
shall prevail.