The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-12-02
doubt that the present regulation furnishes
tho wise nns Mar 10 this question"


IMPROVEMENT IS ARMY ORGANIZATION.
On the subject of improvement In the organ
izMtion OF the Army the report says:
l. Two propositions seem TO me fundamental
First ThSt hS real al obec Of an army
,nsSeS9d Thst the regular ct bl nsh1 IN
itself the whole machine with which any war
~ think the following steps may be taken to
III That an ermy war college should be IS. ss,
heads S Es s,n re pforey 's sS
eDmnr,snt Officers Of heh rank in tne army
for, service "e in the thee, college for lin.
iegc shall be continuous in records, char
meter nnh performance, 1t shall continually
Il should So th Sn %uty Of til. BODY OF oeers 10
direct the instruction and intellectual exercise
q the army. TO acquire the information. devise
Gated and to advise the Commander.in.Chief
upon nll questions Of plans. armament. trans
nortatI9n. mobilization and military prepara-
~ That every officer ofthe army below the
rank Of Held officer. and not already gr9dn-
detailed for some fixed period during his
service to receive instruction at this college 10
stan. nnd in NIL matters pertaining to the ap.
blicatlon Of military science to national
...t3l That all stan appointments should here.
after be made from tho inc OF the army for.
,lxed period OF. say. four or Ave years. the
period. and not TO be eligible to reappolntment
until after at least ono years service in the
able rcriod tho selection OF staff appointments
should be made on the basis OF proficiency and
toiore in the service schoois,. including as ele.
ments for consideration both the work done
turing the period Of detail. and the postcard.
pr gallant and meritori GUS conduct In
tons Y" o SS i6n Srsnet
promotion made during, the progress
OF war and executing that for the technical
aud scientific branches OF engineering. ord
nance and signal service examinations should
Re b. nS e., ,hs all n the sa
appointment. com bined with efficiency OF SER
80 That the present systcm ofpromotion by
seniority should be notified az TO ali officer.
now or hereafter below field rank. by making n
specihc proportion Of he promotions TO each
grade Tor seniority. aud specific proportion on
the basis either Of efficiency records in the war
college. or heretofore in tho service schools.
actual attendance aud subsequent thereto or
for Rallnntry, in the, field during war. or both.
accompanied in each case by evidence OF faith
IN performance Of the ordinary duties OF the
line. ,rr.,
APPOINTMENTS and for stan promotions and for
line. promotions other than those made for sem
iorty. should lie made by boards OF officers an
pointed for that purpose. upon an examination
lRe the grounds Tor appointment or promotion
ABOVE stated. Nothing can he more important
thnn that the officers OF tho army shall feel
that their rise in rank depends upon what they
90 that ability. intellectual activity faithful
performance OF duty and gallant conduct are
more certn IN claims TO preferm"nt than social
or political Influence A system OF promotions
which Is divorced from tho efficiency record ia
nor merely unjust. but IL destroys ambition
hhd checks the effort OF the army.
These provisions will GO far toward &C.
complshing results which are provided for in
Tho organ Zntlon OF every considerable army in
the world. and which under our organization
are not the business Of anybody in particular
and for the most part can not be accom- shed
hy any ono whomsoever; and II Congress will
then mako the appropriations necessary for
periodical mobilization and mnnnuvres the
four requisites OF preparation Of war above
stated can be- substantially attained
, There ar" two special changes which, am
GEAR. the same principles require. One IL that
the artillery branch Of the service should have
q heal. This ofllccr should be a member Of
OF the Maior-General commanding He should
not be the head OF an additional bureau The
other change referred to ia the increase OF the |
number OF INSPECTORS general. 20 that the |
insEected
The second proposition which I stated as |
underlying the consideration OF this subject |
That the regular esta shment Is not the whole |
has been too signally illustrated both in the |
XVII War and in the war with Spain and the |
-trati9n Our method ia. and ALWAYS Will be. |
create ar. army Of which the Regular Army on |
,tS peace footing forms hut n part and usually |
put small rart. and the great body OF which |
Is composed OF volunteers"