The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-11-29
REORGANIZATION OF THE ARMY
Lieutenant General Miles Letter to
the Secretary of War.

| the Secretary of War.
The letter of Lieutenant General Miles
to the Secretary of War on army reor-
ganization was made public yesterday.
The recommendations for an increased
army were published on Tuesday. The
| letter is as follows:
THE heterogeneous character OF the
Army during the long period of 12i years
has been occasioned by the varying condi-
| ttcns and vicissitudes through which our
people have passed in the times of peace
| and war and while undergoing gradual
| development from a few sparsely popu-
lated colonies to a nation of great magni-
tude. The protection Of the settlements
| against hostile Indians during that long
period, as we'll as the meeting OF the
conditions caused by the actual and
threatened wars with foreign Powers,
the Mexican War, the great Civil War
and the wars Of the last three years
the latter requiring large military forces
in both hemispheres-seyerely tested our
military skill and our systems Of organi-
| zation.
| ut will be observed that as far back
/, as 1914 our Government authorized an
| Army of s., 674 men Within seven years
| it was reduced to 6.126. In the reorgani-
! cation of 1866 its strength was 54.6il ana
! ten years later it was reduced to 2I.4I2.
I'm 1898 Congress authorized its in
/ crease to 6S,e69-its present strength
without, however. increasing or perfect
| ing its permanent organization. and for
the last two years the officers of the Army
| have been required to do more than dou-
| BILE their duty in the care and in command
of such a large force serving in different
parts of the world
The time has now arrived for the es-
Enlistment of more perfect organiza-
\ ton and feel convinced that 1t would be
wise and patriotic to fix standard oil
| strength upon which the Army could be
judieiously maintained. / have for years
in my official reports, recommended that
the Government decide upon certain
number of trained military men in pro-
portion to our population, rs the people
Of all enlightened nations recognize the
necessity of having an educated. skilled,
military force, without which the indie
pendence Of people or nation cannot long
be preserved.
This is especially true now when the
result of wars is determined more than
ever by the application of fixed science
rather than by prepondererce of num-
bers or mere physical force alone. While
the same principles OF efficient organiza-
ton should be maintained by our Gov
eminent. the conditions in, and necessi-
ties of, our country are to some extent I'M
| like those of any other nation in exist
ence. We have long exposed sea coast,
ana upon the safety of our many great
| harbors which are the avenues Of our
commerce and the storehouses OF our
wealth, depends to some extent the life OF
| the nation This necessitates larger
skilled force than is required by any other
Government.
THE advisability of organizing an ar
| tillery corps in place Of the regimental
organizations has been advocated by
some good authorities. There is no nee
essity for establishing another bureau in
Washington, and there is no more reason
for organizing an artillery corps than
| there would be to organize corps for the
infantry and cavalry. each having chief
in Washington: and considering all the
requii ements of our heavy artillery and
| the varied nature Of its service. I think
such course would be inadvisable. The
regiments now in service have just
| pride in their history and in the glory Of
! their achievements.
at is impossible to organize an artillery
corps with batteries suitable for every
| fortifcation, but regiment can be dis
| tributed or concentrated as the extGen-
| cies of the service may require. This Las
been done in the past, and the same
course can well be followed in the future.
While the heavy artillery regiments are
efficient for the defence of the coast. at
the same time they. being armed, drilled,
and equipped the same as infantry, are
always available to act as such. The
heavy batteries of the Third and Sixth
Regiments of Artillery have been doing
duty in the Philippine Islands in this way
for two years. ! therefore recommend the
retention of the regimental organizations
as being the best unit as well as the most
economical.
THE vast extent of our country and the
requirements of the service will make in
the future as in the past strong cavalry
force Indispensable
THE very great improvements that have
been made in field artillery. including au-
tomato and machine guns, render that
arm of the service most import
ant. necessitating the maintenance of
a reasonable proportion of field artillery,
TO be formed into siege. field, and mountain
batteries
The skill required to keep effective the
coast and field artillery and the cavalry
and the very great expense incident there
10 render it imperative that these arms
of the service should be maintained by the
maintained and rendered effective by the
States.
.The proposed organization Of the in
fantry-which is the main body Of all ar
mies-has been found to be most effec-
tive and the percentage to other arms as
recommended is based on the needs of
the country.
Taking into consideration all the nee
essities and requirements of the service,
septial that the infantry. cavalry. and
artillery be organized on practically the
sames bases. 1t has been found by ex-
perience to be most desirable that each
regiment of those arms should consist
of / 200 enlisted men, and the President
should be authorized as heretofore to in
crease or decrease the number of men
in each troop battery, or company as
the exigencies OF the service may re-
quire.
"rhe three battalion system. which has
been generally adopted, should be con-
tiuucd, with three regiments constituting
brigade. three brigades a division. three
divisions n corps and three corps an army
On this basis the proposed bill will give an
effective organization Of two aSmy CORPS
of three divisions each. and reserve di-
vision of ten regiments. which latter
would be composed largely of heavy ar
tilIery. ard reserve regiment of each of
the three arms. including recruiting de-
pots and stations from which the person.
mel could be furnished for the entire Ar
my.
The number of staff officers provided
for is approximately asked for by the heads
of the several departments.
LAS the present volunteer force of 35.-
0OG men must be discharged within eight
months. the President should be authoriz-