New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-05-02
NATIONALIZING THE ARMY.
A WORK TO WHICH THE PRESIDENT IS
pEvOTING MUCH ATTENTION.
TT ,s PROPOSED so TO ORGANIZE THE voLUN-
TEFR FORCE AS TO FREE IT FROM LOCAL
AND SECTIONAL INTERESTS - CON
cENTRATIoN POINTS UNDER

Try TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIDrSE.l

wasbing,on Nav 1.-The President is giving
n,s cIosA nersonal attention to every detail OF
the volunteer army organization ana Is sCiu'i'i
Ting with an experienced military eye all mat
ters affecting the formation Of this force LIVER
regardful Of the comfort and welfare OF 'iie III
dividuals and smaller organizations whl0h nave
resnonded TO his call he is not the less insstent
upon the thorough naturalization OF the Army
and the elimination from 1t of sectional ana
local interests Those who have talked with
him on the subject have come away with the
ccnv,ction that whether or not peace shall he
achieved before the volunteers have encoun-
tered an enen,y's fire the mobilization viii nave
been OF vast benefit to all parts of the country
and the great expense involved Will be cheer-
fully borne by patriots for the permanent sood
resulting to the entire Nation
The principal work Of the chief officials OF me
War Department to-day was in the direction OF
framing project for accomplishing TINS OBJECT
While the commissary and quartermasteT de-
partments were actively engaged in securing
food and supplies 10 be forwarded 10 the state
points of concentration. Adjutant-C General Cor
bin and his staff were devoting their en'ne GU
erges TO mapping out an effective orsai''%"'
of nearly two hundred thousand men, wh'Ch wiz
constitute the military force al the CNi'o" '"'
within the next week or two.
Closely following the requirements OF law re-
Gently enacted the great Army VIII De diNiueo
into five or six corps. with three companies !" "
battalion, three battalons in a regiment 'liee
regiments in a brigade three brigades in divi-
sion and three divisions in an army corps. III,
strength of such corps approximating "oooo
men One of these corps will be restricted TO
the Regular Army already in III; field, ara at
least four will be compos ID largely OF Volun-
+cers with however one regiment or battalion
OF Regulars in every division. IT is proposed 10
adhere strictly to the promise that the organ
izations Of regiments AMI battallons iurnlsheu
by the States shall be maintained intact out 10
more than one regime II or pattaIioh IRON" any
State will be attached TO single brigade
It is determined that the troops OF ono state
shall be thrown into contact with the troops Oh
as many other States as Is feasible. anu "iiie
Their, may be a brigad, OF New-Engiano reg
nents. or one here and there of regiments from
the Middle. Southern or Western states eao"
division will. so far as possible, contain men
from several sections of the country and IN each
corps the entire Nation will be equally repre-
sented This policy of mixing together the men
Of all sections is calculated 10 have most bene-
fetal results Aside from the valuable acqualilt-
anceships thus formed. a spirit of emulation be-
tween commands so thrown together Will II -
thought, tend to preserve just enough Oh Iocas
the corps and broaden the individuals IN H.
THE POINTS OF CONCENTRATION.
Another matter Of great importance consid-
cred to-day was the location of points or con-
centration for the Nationalized volunteer forces
II Is practically decided that each corps snail
have its own camp. and al least two and PROB
ably three Of these camps will be on the AL
lantic seashore. General Merritt, commanding
the DEPARTMENT OF the East, has been directed
70 recommend localities which could be utilized,
having due regard TO the water and food supply
health conditions protection from attack ana
facility for speedy evacuation The chief re-
ouirernent is that Of water supply, which from
the investigations made of a number OF points
already offered appears to be exceedingly rare
Chickamauga is held 10 meet every requirement,
and one corps will undoubtedly be concentrated
there within easy reach OF Florida another
Long Island near Montauk Point. which is
thoroughly defended by modern coast batteries
with a deep harbor capable OF shelterlng A Meet
as large as Admiral Sampson s, and possessing
pure water with abundant food near by ms
situation is also advantageous from me ldct
that troops may be transported most readlly oy
sea and with scarcely less facility by lana.
Connecticut has offered excellent site at
Mantle, which has been used as the state MILL
tary rendezvous. and the New-Jersey camp
ground at Sea Grit is also under consideration
The effort to have camp near Washington
has led thorough examination OF the sur
rounding country. and. except the vast field
pears 10 possess the essential conditions. The
desirability OF having forces near the National
capital Is thoroughly recognized. and a. least a
division IL not a corps will be assembled here.