Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-01-26
INJUSTICE TO THE ARTILLERY
An Army Officer Oriticises the Hull
Bill. -
More Rapid Promotion in the Cavalry
and Infantry Branches of the Ser
vice-Some of It's Results.

A distinguished officer of the army called
the attention of Star reporter today to
what he denominated rank though pos
sibly an unintentional injustice to the ar
ullery arm of the army in the Hull bill
now under consideration in the House. ITO
properly understand the effect of section
five of the Hull BILL relating to promotions
In the artillery ARM said he sit is neces-
sary to consider the status of the artillery
cavalry and infantry arms before March
8, '9S, the date of the passage of the ar
illery bill; then after that date but be-
fore April 2G, the date of the act reor-
ganizing the infantry, then after such reor-
ganization, and then consider the effect of
the changes proposed in the Hull bill
Before March 8 batteries of artillery
mad one captain, two first and one second
lieutenant. Troops of cavalry and COM
panies of infantry had one captain, one
first and one second lieutenant The Army
register, January 1, 1888, shows the senior
hrst lieutenant of each arm to have been
promoted to that grade as follows: Dick
man. I'd Cavalry, January 49, 1895; Adams,
3th Artillery, March ,, 1871; Palmer, 9TH
Infantry, June 49, lSS5-artillery fifteen
years behind cavalry and twelve years be-
hind infantry.
March s the artillery bill left Weaver
I'd Artillery, first lieutenant since October
=, 1888, senior in artillery, thus leaving
the artillery still behind both cavalry and
infantry, but the three arms were organ
lied on the same basis and We're nearly
equal, except as will be seen later
April III, the reorganization bill increased
the infantry by one-fifth in company Of
hcers and doubled the number of majors
or Increased the field officers by one-thrd
leaving the artillery three years behind
the cavalry and six behind the infantry.
rms was the status at the beginning of the
spanish war not taking into account the
promotion in cavalry or infantry between
January l. 1898, and March s, 1898. which
would place the artillery still further be-
hind
This increase in infantry officers April
26 was confined to the infantry solely:
whereas, had it been desirable to euualiZe
promotion in the three arms, that was the
time to do 1t, and not wait until afterward
when ofhcers of artillery would be placed
below the juniors
The following list shows how the pro-
posed measure will affect the individual Of
ficers of artillery-the number following
each name shows the number of cavalry
and infantry officers that would be add
vanced over the artillery officers named by
reason of more rapid promotion i'll the past
in cavalry and infantry:
Glass of 1SS9-Haan 2: Jordan. 81; Both
ell. s: Rarrol. 10: Skerret, 45; McGIochlin,
A; Campbell, 80; Haines, 50; Lassiter, G.:
Irwin. 81.
Glass of lsao-Todd, AZ: winston ~;
Mauldin, 81; ketcham 80: Snow. SO; Nc
Nair, SO; Galley, SO: LamoreuX, 1S5.
Glass of 1s91-Lyon, 156, Hero, 1876;
Horn, 1876
Class of 1so2-Harris, , 81. Blakely, 10:
Chase %: Coe. 90.
The class of '93 in artillery loses an av-
erage of 60 flies, and of "a an average of 81
Promoted Over Older Candidates.
'Skerret and every man following would
have not only their own classmates above
whom they graduated "a the Military Acad-
envy, but number of men who graduated
in classes after theirs advanced over them.
Lamoreux and those followihg him would
be placed below men in the infantry who
graduated in the class of s94.1
Thus 1t will be seen that some of the
officers of artillery might serve in batteries
commanded by officers wing entered the ser
vice after, them; and this Injustice will be-
come more apparent as their service is pro-
longed5 milking these men serve at posts
commanded by men their Junior in point of
service and of experience in the artillery
arm. While this Inequality may be u mat
ter of months only, now, it will lengthen
into years as the higher grades are reached
by these officers. st-- .-r
1T must also be borne in mind that the
officers in the artillery We're recommended
specially by the academic board of the Mill
tary Academy for the artillery, while with
few exceptions, those in the cavalry and in
fantry were not; and the knowledge of this
fact was held out to cadets as an induce
ment for effort for class standing and the
consequent choice of arm Of the service.
The Value of specialization.
Success in professional life has developed
and emphasized the necessity of SPECIALIZE
ton. An officer who has devoted all his
energies to one arm is better fitted for that
arm than one Who may have spent a great
er number Of years, however ably and con-
scientiously, in another arm exclusively.
From the very nature of the service, the
artillery arm, and 1t is said without detri-
ment to the other arms, is more scientific,
comprising coast fort...catiOpS with guns of
various calibers, their care, preservation
and manipula on, the use of high oXplo-
siveS, torpedoes and mines, electricity in its
varied uses, baliistics, vessel tracking the
use of complicated machinery and delicate
instruments, steam engineering, and vari-
Gus other details which do not enter into
the profession of the caYalryman infan-
tryman. The artillery for field work is also
complicated, III cluding field, siege and horse
artillery, with mortars and howitZers and
officers of this branch are subject to pro-
1T is not for me best interests of the SER
vice to permit officers to enter one arm for
the purpose, solely, of reaping the benefits
of promotion, transferring to another arm
for this purpose again, and so on, because
it engenders a zeal for personal advance
ment without regard to the effect it will
have on the military profession.
IN all equity section should be amended
so as to provide that all vacancies created
or caused by the provisions of this act in
the line of the army shall be filled by pro-
motion according to seniority in each arm.
as now provided by law"