El Paso daily herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1881-1901, 1901-03-12
THE NEW ARMY BILL.

The reorganization of the standing
army which is provided for in the bill
just passed by congress has been earn
estly recommended by military ex-
perts for twenty years. There is no
doubt at all about the fact that we
were far behind the other nations of
the earth in our military organization.
We are not referring to mere num-
bers. but to formation and arms and
staff and all the multitude of things
which go to make an effective militia
~ establishment. The marvellous
Improvement in firearms" said Con-
gresham Hull. chairman of the house
committee on military affairs, made
the organization prescribed by law at
the commencement of hostilities with
Spain utterly worthless. The law re-
CURED a regiment to consist of ten
companies. with only three field officers
No army so organized could have won
victories. Congress was compelled to
organize an army after war was de-
, clared.''
In 1899 a congressional act directed
the three battalion organization for in
fartry. This made regiment consist
of twelve companies divlued into three
5attalions. and gave each battalion a
major. But a proviso to this act re-
duced the army to about its old proper
lions on July list. 1901, ard this pro-
vison made legislation at the present
time absolutely necessary.
The bill just adopted gives us an
army of about 100, 00e men. command
ed by one lieutenant general. six major
generals. fifteen brigadler generals, and
the necessary line onlcers from coll
onel down. The artillery corps num-
bers 1920. The old regimental form
of artillery is done away with entirely.
1t has been obsolete in practice for
many years, and it is said that one of
the oldest regiments of this arm of the
service has been together, as a regi-
ment, only twice since 1920. and then
only for the purpose of transportation.
and it was Immediately broken into
batteries on reaching its destination.
Under the new law the battery is made
the unit. In this connection it is use
full to note that the larger part of our
artillery forces is for seacoast defense.
the guns being fixed and immovable.
The law provides for chief of artil-
lery who shall serve on the staff of the
general commanding the army.
The infantry arm is composed of
thirty regiments, organized under the
liberalization form. The cavalry arm
is composed of fifteen regiments. In
addition there are thoroughly organ
lied corps for the adJutant generals,
the inspector generals, the quartermas-
ter generals. and the paymaster gen.
erals departments. A strong engineer
and signal service corps is also provid-
ed for in the new bill, Is we'll as an
up-to-date organization of the medical
department. And in addition to all
this there is constituted a pensions de-
partment and a corps of women nurses.
The army is now permanently fixed
at 100, 200 men. This is the maximum
and, in the Judgment of the president
and his official advisers. the number
may be reduced to $4,000 men. 1t is
provided. however. that there can be
no reduction in the strength of the ar
tillery. 1t must be maintained at the
maximum number of IS. 800 men all the
time. 1t is evident that congress has
not forgotten the unprotected condition
in which we found our seacoast at the
breaking out of the war with Spain
When the Filipinos have been sub
dued the army undoubtedly will be re-
duced to about the number of men pro-
vided in the minimum figures This
means that there will be one soldier for
each 1910 of population, or considerab-
1y less in proportion than President JET
ferson had in his army. And this is
the consummation and extent of that
awful crime charged by the democratic
party against the republican party I'M
der the name of 'militarism',