New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-03-19
NeW-York. March Il. 1875.
REORGANIZE THE INFAATRf.
THE SMALL BATTALION SYSTEM ADVo-
CATED-How THE CHANGES COULD
RE MADE.

To tho Editor OF The Tribune.
Sir: In preparing the country FOR defence oy No'-
ing for more money AMI men for the Army anu
Navy II seems &c me Congress mas overlooked one
verv important point VIZ. tho infantry is still or
ganized according to tho system of nearly century
ago The United States Is the only civilized cohh-
try on the globe which adheres 10 the obsolete ten
company v battalion system. To be sure. the war
Department has. contrary TO the law prescribing
the organization OF the Army, "skele ;onized' two
companies OF each regiment. assigning the men 10
the other eight companies. and has directed the
colonies 70 divide their regiments into two bat
talions four companies each. and when there are
not sufficient "aed officers present. which Is
usually the case captains arc taken from their
companies TO command battaons. This is done
without authority OF law, in order that the we'll
recognized principle OF small battalions TO insure
greater mobility may he subserved
II the small battalion system IL the proper one,
ana II seems be 80 considered by all authorities
on the subject. why do not our own people through
their representatives at the seat Of government, in
sst upon improving the infantry OF our
vice by authorizing a modern organizaton7 The
three-battalion system is the one which has been
adopted by the nations possessing large standing
armies. but the chief thing IL to provide number
OF small battalion units easy 10 command. which Is
rendered necessary by the extended order In mod
ern tactics 1t is necessary to increase the size
Of the Army in order 10 provide proper organiza
ton. 1t may be accomplished In three ways, with
out the addition Of an enlisted man TO the service.
First-1ncresse the number OF regiments OF in
fantry to thirty and reduce the number OF COM
panes OF regiment to eght-two batteons. each
with its own major in command This would give
net Increase OF twenty-five officers only
Second-Retaia the present number Of regiments
twenty-fve-and authorize two more companies 10
the regiment 70 form three batta.ions-ths third
battalion 10 be officered. but to be enlisted
for Il except In time OF war. in the judgment Of
Congress discretion OF the President. This
would add hundred officers TO the infantry but
would provide an expansive system for time OF
war. The addition OF sufficient make
hundred 70 company would give FOR the thirty
regiments tventy-four thousand infantry for war
and for the twenty-five regiments thirty thousand
for
Thrd-The number OF regiments could be reduced
and the number OF companies regiment in
creased 10 twelve which would he preferable 10
presen; organization: but anything like reduction
Is deemed Objectionable the present time as not
conducive 10 enpansibiity in time OF war With the
thirty regiments first proposed provision might be
made Tor the addition Of third and even a fourth
battalion OF infantry in time OF
The regular Army Il 50 small that 70 be effective
II should be perfect as organization in all
branches. and. IN addition. model for the reserve
force-the militia. in fact. some Of the militia regi-
ments have already the small ba ttaion system
and in that respect al least superior 10 the
Regular Army. X X X
New-York. March Il. 1898