The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1900-04-29
THE WAR DEPARTMENT ARMY ELL.
The senate's Revision Considered where the
Bin Is Strengthened The Artillery sections.

To THE EDITOR OF TuE SUE-Sir: The
provisions Of the army bill. as revised BY the
Senate, In the order OF their importance. are
as follows:
First The reorganization and increase Of
the artillery.
Second-The reorganization OF the stan
The first provision is Of such pressing neoes-
sity that the Secretary OF War was willing
to give up all the other provisions In order
to insure It's passing and becoming a law. Tne
artillery is everywhere In a congested condi-
ton. Emplaoements and guns are being con-
tinually erected and mounted al all our coast
forts, and the artillery, which has 10 take care
81 them, Is Of the same strength and compost
ton us II was before they had them; vet these
new guns are in addition TO the old and not
directly in place Of them, most OF the old still
remaining But even were the old entirely
removed, the new armament requires far more
care and attention than the old, and In add
lion the men and officers must acquire ia
mila-ity not only with 4 new gun and Us drill
ana firing, but also with the electrical and
ranGe-finding apparatus In a modern fort.
A recent order from the War Department
requires the artillery troops Ia driii at the
guns at least three. hours n day. and this on!
j. necessary in order 10 teach the manual Of
and TO keep the men familiar with their work
But IL leaves very little time for oiner work
hlllI kOlHS on al every lori E1TntlN, UlOlliltllk
new carriages and guns, the care Of the public
grounds, the care OF the extra guns for which
there are no troops available, &c. Zach unit
Of ORGANIZATION has now about three tines
or one part Of the bill Il Ia presumed the
Secretary Of War cannot approve. as II does
That in filing The vacancies that may be Gre
ated by this act officers OF infantry or cavalry
who Mt the time Of the passage Of this act are
not above the rank Of Captain may. IN the dis
rrnflCp nf tho President ha trlngfArraf IN
the artillery arm.
Now, the duties Of infantry and cavalry
are, entirely distinct from those OF artillery,
aud IL is evidently absurd 10 suppose that any
officer Of the former branches - capab.e or
undertaking the duties Of m officer Of artillery
M Mnt, 4, any NY preliminary Z, 'prn,nlnn,gyl N ha tnst hs Arm }.
quarter of century OF service,
such n provision would open the way for as
much political interference as the provision
for promotion by selection, and Is or exactly
the same kind. without the redeeming dun.iy
Of being correct 10 principle and right per Sc.
y,inad ne ne, entire increase q ,he ar'aisry prG o
Of once. II would not increase the artillery
beyond what Is absolutely Necessary low,
pm as the gradual Increase would Giye the
Is preferred by ths Army. This section Of
the bill directly counteracts this good point
Of the bill. in giving 70 the artillery men yh2
are not trimmed to their work for the gradual
increase means slow accreiiOn from below
(among the Second Northumberland there Ia
time for training before responsibility 10 any
great extent comes into play, with time for the
training of these accretlons before they reach
the rank Of responsibility, but the transfer of
Captains or even First Liertanants of infantry
or cavalry means an accretion In the higher
ranks. AZ once. without proper training, aud no
time Tor proper Instruction before responsible,
ny comes into play since Majors command
independent posts at once.
Congress could pass no more pernicious
bill as regards the Army, and nope This
section will be duly considered before IL Ia