The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1900-04-24
AN ARTILLERYMANS VIEW.
Statement of AN Officer Concerning
the Root Reorganization BILL

The Army. and Navy Register" Prints
the 4cllowing statement prepared by IN ar
tLiery officer who has given sonic con-
sideration to the artillery features of The
Root Army Reorganization bill:
From the time of the civil war to March
8. 1898. the artillery had two FIRST and one
seees1d lieutenants to each battery while
there was only one first and one second
/ hertenants to each troop or company. The
result of this was that it required Only
half the time TO pass through the grade of
/ hrst lieutenant in either of the last men
toned arms that it did in the first named
arIa- Il required from eight 10 fifteen
I more years Of service in the artillery TO
reach the grade OF captain. than in either
/ OF the other two arms. In other words,
the artillery was that number of years
I behind tie other arms OF the service dur
ing ali thet time. and ii has never at any
! time asked either of those arms to share
thei: promotion with it. but has waited
patiently for Congress to recognize its bad
I state and remedy it by legislation.
After the legislation of the last two
years. II is today one year behind the cav
Z airy. and seven years behind the infantry
in the matter of promotion Notwithstand-
+ ing this fact. IL is now proposed to trans
4 fer officers from the other arms TO absorb
the vacancies created by this bill
The bill provides for an increase OF six
/ co!eaels. i've lieutenant colonies, fifteen
majors. foTty-eight captains. forty-eight
: hrst lieuteDants. sixty-evo second Iieuten-
ants. one-tfth Of which to be made each
year, as neaFl. as possible. The increase
F S1seh year would then probably be as given
I in the following table.
First year-Colonels. /: lieutenant col
onels. 1; majors. 3; captains. 10; first lieu
tenants. 10; second heutenants. p
Second year-COionels. 1; Lieutenant col
/ oneis. l. majors. 3; captains. 10; hrst lieu
4 tenants. 10; second iieutenants. T.
Third ysar-Col0neis. l; lieutenant col
oneis l. majors. 3; captains. 10; first lieu
tenants. 10; second heutenants. ~.
Fourth year-Coloneis. 1; lieutenant COL
/ onels. 1; majors. 5; captains. 9 first lieu
tenants, 9; second lieutenants. H.
Fifth year-Colonels. J.: Lieutenant col
onels. /; majors. 3: captains. 3; first lieu
/ tenants. 3; second lieutenants. 70.
Totals-ColoRels. 6; lieutenant colonels.
\ ;: majors. Is; captains. as; first lieuten-
ants. As; second lieutenants. 81.
The promotions in each grade. each year.
would be as given in the following table.
First year-COlonels. 2; lieutenant col
Onels. 3; majors. 9; captains, 10; first
]
Second year-Colonels. l: lieutenant col
| onels. 2 majors. ;; captains. Is; first lieu
4 tenants. %: second lleutenznts, 81.
Third year-ColoneIs /: lieutenant COL
onels. 2; majors. 5: captains. Is: hrst Iieu-
{ tenants, IS second neutenHnts, 81.
/ Fourth year-Coionels, i; lieutenant col
I onels. 2 majors, .. captains Il; first lieu
tenants. %; second lieutenants, g.
Fifth year-Colonels. l. lieutenant col
onels. ?; majors. 5: captains Il; first lieu
/ tenants. %: second lieutenants Sc
Total-COlonels. s; lieutenant cOionels.
/ II: majors. IS. captains, y: first Iieuten-
ants. l22; second lieutenants. Is4.
/ From these tables IL will b. seen not only
/ that the increase is uniform. but small
4 each year. and that the number OF new Of
I fcers 10 be added each year Is not more
I than p. This number can t-sily be sup
piled by the graduates OF West Point each
1 year aad stih leave a large number for
cavalry and infantry from the classes of
/ those years The vacancies in the other
s grades should be flIed by promoting the
\ seniors OF the grade below
The wording Of the bill is so loose as te
4 allow ait Of the vacancies in each grade
B 10 be filled by transfers from the cavalry
and infantry: and as only sixteen captain
could be transferred from those arms the
board appointed 10 pass on their qualiica-
/ lions could easily find that number cut of
I 40 IN the two arms whom IL would no; re-
port united Tor transfer. Other officers of
I these arms. applying for transfer. would
have one. two. three. and four years in
/ which TO prepare for the necessary exami-
nations for the successive increases. 49, .
There IS no provision for even limiting
| the number 10 be transferred. and Il Is left
entirely 20 the pleasure Of the appointing
! power. except IL cannot exceed the total
/ increase
IL is important to remember that ths
i section provides for the trfrsfer TO TIE
artillery only. ard that the i..fantry is al
ready seven years ahead OF the a tiIlery
/ now and viii not be behind il at The END
/ OF the ave years when the increase viii
Z be complete. The artillery will be ahead
Z OF he cavalry at that time il no Increase
( IS made IN the latter arm. but the war
! with Spain and afterward more especially
/ the war in the Philippines has demon
! strated that cavalry Is absolutely neces-
I ssry, and that II cannot be maze effe-tive
/ from raw troops in time to be of any value
n vigorously prosecuted war; ttst 4
1 must be ready at the outbreak OF a VAT
because IL viii be the first called into TIE
4 field IL is honestly believed that this fact
\ is fully recognized by Congress. and that
/ this increase will be provided for when the
/ present volunteer army is mustered ont
/ July i, 1901 The infantry does not need
I TIE promotion. and the cavalry can afford
I 10 walt year for what is sure to csrre
] TO II. The acceptance of a portion OF What
I heionSs of right to the artillery aicne nav
Y JeCpardize the best Interests OF the cavsI
y and what Is Of the greatest moment to
I the whole service and to the couptrv H.
I self There never was a more erroneous
7 idea conceived than that the proDortion
! o. ae three arms of the service in tine of
war should be maintained in time Of peace
Account must be taken OF the tina needed
/ To make them from unframed undiscf-
pinned recruits. and TO properly oaieer
/ them. which latter is the most difiealt
( problem Of ali that have TO be SOLVED ~
i the outbreak of hostiiitiss Each arr,
should stand on its OWE merits
After the passage OF this ball the rate
( OF promotion in each arm is shown in the
I following: Retired TO IgIO-CavaIry %.
artillery, 80. and infantry. 81. Number OF
captains-Cavslry 40: artillery ie0 AND
4 infantry. $50. Per cent-CavaIrv q 80
artillery. 20 SIS ard infantry. p 81
thus II will be seen that even after The
! pa sage of this act the artillery will b.
p's-soted at slower rate than either OF
me othef Two arms. The present act
/ gives spasmOdic promotion which will
/ DTlng THAI OF the artillery almost uD 70
I that OF the infantry ahead of the cavalry
I Tor snort while, but which will droa
BACK TO a slower rate immediately after
the contemplated increase is ACCOMPLISHED
rus. too, is under the superstition that uo
4 change is to be made in either cavalry or
! lnfannxy, which sUpposition is not enter
tanned bysthe officers OF the two arms Tba
] temDOrary increase in the ra+o -