New-York tribune., 1899-12-23
THE REGIMENTAL ORGANIZATION.

Before this war reglmental organizations were
comparatively little recognized in military ad-
minstration. This radical change from the
habitual to the legal unit Of supply upon the
outbreak OF hostties is a noticeable feature
deserving attentive consideration. and may be
fundamental 10 our bureaucratic system and
overburdened force. Even the companies may
feel its effects. But the regiment is universally
recognized as the unit Of administration for war,
and everything should be done to insure eff
cient and experienced regimenta commanders
and staf, and confirm them in their legitimate
duties and accustOm the men to their methods
and personal equation, especially in the first
swift stages Of war; though the calls for Off
GERS are so great elsewhere that the percentage
must be quite small Of Regular regiments which
went 20 the assault on the first day OF the last
fiscal year under their own colonels. This is
one Of the many fruits OF maintaining a merely
skeleton military organization without an or
ganiZed and prescribed system OF reserves and
mobilization. To compare this situation with a
similar grade in our sister service, what would
be thought II nearly every ship at Manila or
Santiago had gone into action without It's cap
tain? Certainly such a situation would be ex-
ceptional and not the rule in warfare by the
regular Navy on the sea How ought similar
and essential contingency to be provided for
avoided on land2
II our Army practised the art OF mobilization
annually every feature and requirement would
be thoroughly prescribed and organized and be
as familiar a characteristic Of military training
with us as with foreign countries. and as per
fectly and easily done as company drill The
only thing that prevented this fundamental pre-
liminary practice in times of peace was lack OF
money. IL depends wholly upon the appropria-
ton bill Within the decade all that could be
done simply at the posts has been carefully ana
instructively carried out. so that military prob
lens and minor tactics have become familiar as
household words at the Western posts. and the
Junior officers were generally thorough masters
of their art And years ago General Miles had
given out the problem for one post TO assail the
force at another throughout the department he
then commanded so that the instruction was
not confined 10 a single post, but embraced two;
and one year there were larger camps, com
mands and mannuvres for actual practice and
instruction at Chilocco under General Merritt
and at Camp Crook under General Brooke, where
a brigade or more assembled. How made
ouate and nfrequent this united experience was,
and how earnest and persistent were the efforts
10 continue and extend II, and what were the
obstacles that proved insurmOuntable, and how
even the inadequate field equipment was re-
duced are doubtless evident TO all and well
understood at least in the Army. The National
Guard also had its experiences, and had accom-
plished a most commendable work OF instruc-
tion.
An an indication how our arrangements met
the actual exigency OF war II is noticeable that
the General commanding at Santiago was and
Is stationed in San Francisco, and the General
et Manila in New-York Whether the Navy has
assigned it's commands In relation to the con-
tingency that actually developed is doubtless
also historically interesting
THE VOLUNTEER ARMY.
our wars have been habitually fought by the
,,olunteers and the Spanish war not an