Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1898-12-09
General Miles Army Bill.

Major General Miles, commanding the
army of the United States, has submit
ted to the War department, the draft
of a bill for reorganization of the army
based on the strength of one soldier to
each 1000 of the population of the
United States, and two soldiers to 1000
Of the dependent colonies, or approx
mately 100, 900 men. This is the figure
that the public generally has come to
recognize as about correct, in fact about
the minimum considering the
tremendous growth of this republic
within the last 10 years, and it's sudden
expansion of territory and population
due to the Spanish American war.
Still, in view of the small size of the
regular army since the reorganization
and consolidation after the civil war,
this sudden increase is calculated to
make the average citizen stop and
stare for a moment until he gets his
bearings anew and realizes that this
land of freedom is becoming what the
late lamented John Phoenix Squibob
would call exceedingly some"
General Miles estimate is really mod
crate and conservative considering the
present armament of European coun-
tries, one of whom, Germany, can, on
declaration of war, pot 1000. 900 of train
ed soldiers into the field without DELAY.
and whose peace establishment is on a
basis of from 500, 900 to 900, 900 men. Gen.
eral Miles properly calls attention to the
insufficiently remembered fact hat the
United States has 1000 miles of coast to
defend, with q principal harbors where
of people are located and prop
erty of inestimable value, And in addi-
ton to this continental coast line, the
United States has now harbors in it's
newly acquired colonial possessions to
put into a properly defensive condition.
The bill provides for so regiments of
infantry, Is regiments of cavalry, IA
of light artillery, and two regiments of
engineers. The regimental organization
in all branches of the service is of the
three battalion formation, with three
and four companies, troops or batteries
to the battalion. Each regiment of cav
airy shall consist of 1000 men, heavy ar
tillery regiments of 1900 men each,
light artillery regiments of 1,032 men,
and infantry regiments of 200 men. The
bill further provides for reginental field.
and staff and non-commissioned Of
ticers. and institutes a change in the
general officers entirely new to this
country. There are to be a full general
of the army, two lieutenant generals, |
six major generals Of infantry, ma
jor general of cavalry. one major gen-
eral of artillery, with is brigadier gen
erals of infantry, two brigadiers of cav
airy and two artillery ~brigadiers. The
.hree branches of the service mentioned
ire to be divided into two army corps,
ZACH with three divisions, which are sub
into three brigades each, and
.hree regiments to a brigade. The adju-
ant general of the army is raised from
, brigadier to a major general and his
assistants are correspondingly promot-
ID.
Criticism will of course be offered by
press and other sources of eminent
military intelligence on the proposed
Measure, the senate and house commit
ees on military affairs will have a
vhack at it, army officers generally will
'oint out chances for improvement, and
notifications will no doubt be made.
But changes are likely to be in matters
f detail rather than in any structural
Iteration. However. capable critics
ere advise that the number of light ar
illery regiments be increased to five or
tx, as the present allotment of only two
egiments to so Of infantry and Is of
avalry is away beneath the proper
roportion. The bill will be introduced
ITO congress and referred to the proper
ommittees and acted upon in the regu-
II course Of business, and it's course
ill be closely watched.