New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-06-05
ENGINEERS FOR THE ARMY.
A RECIPIENT OF EXPERTS NOW BEING
RECRUITED.
THEY MAY HAVE TO DO ANYTHING FROM
stovI;IJIyG DIRT TO MAKING MAP

STORYTELLING DIRT TO MAKING A MAP
Engineers and men who are engaged in KIM
drcd work are deeply interested in the engineer
regiment which is now being recruited. Officers
in the Army watch the movements with mucn
Interest because they know probably better than
the civilians how necessary an organization OK
that kind is at the present time One OF the
men who are taking an active part in the matter
said that in all Army operations construction Is
an important feature. and while rfe-pts, earth
works and fOrtiications were essential In tho
Civil War the requirements will be much great
er when the Army reaches foreign and hostile
territory.
The changed character Of the ordnance also
requires better class OF men for the work
than those who constituted the Engineer Corps
in the Civil War. Then they were sappers and
miners but with the new great guns Of the dis
appearing kind. to which the ammunition u
carried by electrical machines. there must be
men who are versed IN electricity. HarDor
mining cannot be properly done now except by
the use Of electricity and in all the various
branches Of construction men are required VINO
have knowledge OF up-to-date mechanics Az
the close of the Civil War per cent OF the
regiments were Of the engineer class, ana IL II
desired to increase the present force 50 that
the proportion VIII De the S1Inc io IL "ao '"e"'
but the men will be Of n superior class
In the circular issued by the recruiting ofhcer
the following information is given:
ARMED AND DRILLED AS INFANTRY.
The engineer troops will be armed and drilled
rs infantry. They are line troops. ana must
take their place in the line OF battle wheh
necessary Their engineering duties will be the
construction and destruction of fortincatiohS'
field works. intlenchments, bridges, roads rail-
roads and tunnels. and field engineering work
generally, map making AMI held reconnaissance
work photography operation Of stationary and
locomotive engines and electric APPARATUS etc
Recruits therefore. must be engineers foremen
skilled mechanics If various sorts hanhy-h
ami first class aborers. machinists. electricians
telegraph lncmcn. carpenters, umbcr-iranerS
bracers tunnelinen briigemen. erecters. IRON
men. riggcrs. basters. lumbermen. boatmeh.
railroad men, etc. Two COOKS are also feputcu
TO each company.
The mon who become members OF the en-
i,ineers organization will not be called upon to
A., as engineers At all times They must be
nreparcd % work with pick and shovel when
occasion demands and 1t all times act as handy
mon. when large works are to be erected or
,hen the men forming the Engineers Corps are
unable % carry On tn, work alone the regular
troops vii. be- detailed to assist. and at such
times the non-comnissioned officers will act as
for"rnen.
The men who are most desirable as officers ~
the regiments are not those who have had much
military experience. but men who have had
charge II large bodies Of men. working on large
contracts.
II IS believed that such men. with foremen
aal assistants from the engineers regiment
ard regular troops 20 10 the work, will be able
20 accomplish the best results.
The first regiment Of the brigade II en-
ginecrs will have one battalion from New-York.
one from Philadelphia and third recruited in
Baltimore and RCstcn The regiment will prob
ably ar divided. a"i a battalion may be sent
wi n ,he army Of INVASION 10 Cuha. another
With General Merritt - Manila and the third
possibly 20 Porto Rico.
MULTIFARrOU5 DUTIES
IN enthusiast on the subject said that there
WIS nothing frcm building fort and making
A nap to sNovell:ng dirt that the members OF
me corps would not be called Upon to do. and
a circular from headquarters seems to justify
the assertion. This document states:
The officers will be selected for their skill as
military civil electrical. mechanical or topo-
graphical engineers An effort will be made 70
recruit the enlisted men from every branch ~
the engineering profession and OF mcchanicdl
skill Machinists steam engineers. blacKsmltns
carpentera plumbers. tecgraphers. topograph-
.rs draughtsmen. photographers. railroad men,
riggers boatmen and those skilled IN the Use OF