New-York tribune., 1901-02-17
MILES'S ARTILLERY PLAN.
HOW THE CORPS is TO BE ORGANIZED
UNDER THE NEW LAW.
TBY TELEGRAPH 10 THE TRIBUNE. ]

Washington Feb. l6.-The intentions OF Lieuten-
ant-General Miles regarding the reOrganizea artil-
lery which under the new law is placed wholly
under his jurisdiction. with chief attached TO his
stan are exceedingly interesting especiaIy in
view OF the ambiguity OF the language of the new
law which has aroused keen discussion among ar
tilery officers 10 the mode Of increasing the
rorps and supplying the requisite number Of skilled
officers.
In a statement prepared by the general COM
handing, after giving the views entertained by
members of the corps and quoting from official
ports 20 show the immediate needs and past OBJ
jects OF the military authorities ne says that in
order carry out this plan under the act the bat
teries OF artillery should he divided Immediately.
This viii give an enlisted strength 10 each battery
OF ffty-siX fifty-seven men, which with the
captains provided for in Section IS Of the act will
enable the new batteries and companies TO be re-
cru,ted gradually and the increase of officers pro-
vided for Olrst and second leutenants) should be
appointed in proportion the increase OF the men,
Tile Is said 10 be stristy In accordance with Sec
tion 3. which reads:
All vacancies created or caused by this act shall
be filed by promotion according 10 seniority IN the
Srtisry shah be only in proporfion TO the Increase
Of men.
General Miles continues:
Note the distinction between increase and promo
of officers in the artillery but only gives 10 them
equal advancement with officers of cavalry and IN,
captain created by the section - in the cav
airy artillery and infantry are 10 be hied by pro
spectively. Vacancies existing after the promo
number TO he reserved for the next graduating
class al the Military Academy. An examination OF
the Army Register Will show that II the promo
ton Of artillery officers Is delayed proposed, IL
will enable six sieutena nt-oolonels 70 jump -FOUR
observation-disclosures Of artillery whose length OF ser
vice is from three TO SIX years longer man shst OF
viii jump five majors OF artillery, including Major
story who entered service five years before him
Captatn Craig OF the cavalry, will jump Captain
i or,ta ~ the artillery who entered service seven
years before him. First Lieutenant Pattison. Sd
sftv artillery officers including Lieutenant
schumm who was gradnated az mes' 1Rs,s ON, SIX
sJh OsNsns; s; second Ieutenants OF artillery who
P arss 40 ~ iSss sixteen who entered IN 1899 and
nineteen who entered in 1860 Twelve ieutenaht-
coloneis OF infantry viii jump i've lieutenant
i've years longer service as connmissoned oiicers
septrv will Jump six majors OF artillery. Captain
Eastman, l4th Infantry, will jump hNe seniors OF
who was graduated in June, 1885 with lAo more
rst eutenants Of infantry will JUMP F1rst sra Lsu-
ated in SS eght Years before Hutton % ana niIE r1I
eight other hrst ieuenahts SI , ~, s,s
Gilmore Wheeler Fleming and Payne who were
graduated above him at West Point
General Miles proposes 10 select OF the eighty
,o connpanies forty-four OF the number whose sta
-ioDs are such as 70 AFFORD the best facilities for
recruiting equipment and instruction, and make
each of these forty-four companies OF lls men TWO
companies completely organized one or hfty-seNen
men and the other OF hfty-siN men. This VIII
,,royide al once the authorized total OF l26 coast
companies each OF which Will he completely or
anized thirty six OF these VIII have each total
enlisted strength az liS men, forty-four OF nfty-
seven men and forty-f0ur OF hftysiN men each. ana
she total enlisted strength OF the coast artillery
viii not be increased single man by this first step
General Miles points out that the enlisted IN
crease can then be made rapidly. economically and
without serious detriment 10 the service enciency
OF the whole by recruiting each OF the eighty
eight companies affected up 10 the authorized
strength al the posts where now stationed No ad-
ditional recruiting officers viii be necessary, and
the new men viii thus be absorbed gradually with
out materially lowering the drill standard OF the
companies since the nOn-cOmmissioned ofnceTs,
first and second class gunners, etc, Will all be men
OF longer service. -
This suggestion. II carried into effect, will permit
the immediate promotion OF officers OF artillery 10
III al vacancies in the grade OF field officers and
captains, while fully meeting the requirements
and intention Of the Law IN regard 10 gradual In
crease the total number OF officers by limiting the
number OF immediate vacancies IN the grades OF
first and second heutenants.