Montour American. (Danville, Pa.) 1866-1920, 1901-03-21
ARMY REORGANIZATION.
Radical Changes Will Be Made
In the Service.
MANY PROBLEMS TO BE MASTERED


Glad of This-YounEer Set Will
Benefit Most by Changes.
A competent military critic who has
carefully studied the new army reor-
ganization act declares In the Washing
ton Star that it will subject the regu-
lar military establishment to greater
and more radical changes than have
ever occurred at any one time In its
history. He asserts that not only does
! 1t involve more careful and intricate
| labor on the part Of the war depart
ment officials than the reorganizations
of 1860 and 1869 but promises, espe-
cially as regards the lower grades, to
result in q more general rearrangement
Of the personnel Of the army. Aside
from all this, however he claims to
| voice the general sentiment c. the ar
| my in stating that, apart from some mi
nor details affecting the status of
few particular classes Of officers, the
new law Is most satisfactory as
whole and will result in unmeasured
; good to the military service both with
respect to general efficiency and specif-
ic individual advantage.
| Under 1t he states that the regular
| army will at last be organized on the
| lines recommended and urged by mill
| tary authorities for the past % years
| and promises that degree of elasticity
which would be equal to meeting the
| emergency for quickly required army
pending the naturally tardy work Of or
| ganizing and equipping volunteers.
Speaking of the proposed changes in
general, he declares that they involve
not only the Introduction Of large, en-
tirely new element into the regular
| service, but provides for the fortunate
selection at this time of that new ele-
ment from the experienced and well
| trained younger officers of volunteers.
| In this respect the regular army Is de-
| lighted. AS a rule in times past en-
| largements or curtailments Of the regu-
| lar establishment have worked grave
| injustices to veterans who, having no
| political backing and relying upon mil
| itary service alone, have been jumped
and overslaughed by younger men.
! This was especially so in 1866, when
volunteers 26 years Of age were ap-
pointed colonels over men who had
I graduated from West Point in the for
| ties.
But 1t is not so now. While provid
| ing openings in the regular army for
aspiring young volunteers, the regular
| officer already in the service will be
carefully guarded In his rights.
Nevertheless it will cause extensive
arrangement Of the personnel of regi-
ments and will In great measure tend
to upset that regimental esprit which
prompts officers to espouse the respec-
tive regimental claims of particular
achievements and traditions. This con-
dition relates exclusively to the line of
the army. The personnel of the stan
will not be materially affected, inas-
much as the additions to the staff be-
ing all at the bottom will enable the
| older set to be advanced each in his
own corps or department, wherein each
may cling to that esprit Of corps which
all are wont to maintain and cherish.
OF course so far as the three arms Of
cavalry, artillery and infantry are con-
cerned they will remain separate and
intact, unmixed with each other as In
1866, and the votaries Of each may still
contend and banter with each other
over alleged special merit and useful
ness. But on the creation Of new regi-
ments, the doubling Of the cavalry
strength, the one-third increase of the
artillery and the one-fifth increase Of
infantry the changes In the personnel
Of regimental organization must neces-
sarily be very decided.
For example, of the 1906 line officers
Of all grades on the army list Of today
$50 will be promoted by the new law.
OF the total 400 officers of cavalry 270
will be promoted, of the $40 artillery
officers 250 will be advanced, and the
same will be true Of $40 Of the 1,147
officers of infantry. AS far as prac-
ticable promoted officers will be assign
ed to their old regiments, but naturally
obstacles to this plan will arise by
reason of the scattered distant stations
Of officers, and besides 1T may be de-
cided to make a general redistribution
of regimental officers so as to preserve
q system of equaliZed rank and ex-
perience In both old and new organiza-
tions. Officers who desire especially to
waive advantages Of regimental status
and to remain with old regiments in
whose service they have long shared
will doubtless be gratifed. but all in all
the wholesale promotions bid fare to
cause a general upheaval of regimental
personnel.
Some idea Of the extensive changes
likely to occur in this regard may be
had from the statement that over $500
new commissions must issue, one-half
of which will be for appointments from
the volunteer force and civil life to the
920 vacancies or first and second lieu
tenants Of the line and 2S9 available
vacancies of first lleutenants, captains
and majors of staff, not including the
200 two year service volunteer sur
geons and assistant surgeons, the "a
retained volunteer quartermasterS, the
30 dental surgeons and the veterina-
rians provided for The vacancies to
be caused by promotions and retire
ments and appointments to 10 briga-
dierships will create new places to be
added to those for which original ap-
po.ntments Of volunteers may be made,
excepting Of course the number Of va
cancies to be reserved for the annual
promotion of meritorious noncommis-
stoned officers of the regular army aud
for this years graduating class of
West Pointers. The civilian aspirant,
though he be handicapped by the pref
erence to be given to volunteer officers,
will not be debarred altogether, as
aside from all considerations the presi-
dent is vested with full discretion to
proceed according to merit and fitness
of applicants.
President Mckinley will sign In the
neighborhood of 5000 new commis-
sions, including the new commissions
of commanding generals and all the 21