The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1901-10-12

Colonel Story claims that discrimination
against the artillery has existed in the
army since the civil war.
Strength OF the Artillery.
The enlisted strength of the artillery"
he says. exceeds onc-fOurth Of the es-
tablished strength OF the line of the army,
yet with six major generals and fifteen
bTigadier generals in the line Of the army.
there is only One-a brigadier general
who has been in the artillery. but at the
time OF his appointment, IL was stated
In the daily press that his promotion was
due solely to his services in the volunteer
infantry. In other words he is not 10 be
credited to the artillery. Is il TO be &C
ccpted that no service however meritOri-
Gus. II confined 10 the artillery, shall be
rewarded by promotion TO the grade OF
general officer2 This discrimination
against the artillery has existed in our
army ever since the end OF the civil war
in 1860, and IL viii only be by a united
effort on the part Of artillery officers that
a change for the better can be effected
1T is recognized that the present es-
tablshed strength OF the coast artillery
Is not sufficient 70 furnish one relief fer
tie armament already provided This de
hciency in time Of war can only be met
In two ways, one by increasing the en-
listed strength of The companies with re-
cTUits without previous instruction, or by
accepting into the United States service,
volunteers organized IN time OF peace as
artillery Will gladly welcome any yOlun-
teer force which can come into the serY-
ice qualified for efficient work II VIII be
admitted az once That the militia private
readily learns 70 serve the piece. which
simply involves intelligent manual labor
II militia artillery are TO be of any
use to the United States. they are worth
paying for by The United States; If they
are Of no use, they ought not be counted
in our resources Of military strength
The following suggestion Is offered
Militia organizations or artillery shall 60
into camp yearly for q specified mum Der
OF days. While in camp the officers and
men shall receive pay from the United
StateE During the encampment soldiers
and officers shall be under the observation
and inspection Of regular artillery officers
and upOl the report Of these officers the
Secretary OF War viii decide II the Organl-
cation shall be encamped the eTs1Iing
year. BY this means the War Depart
ment will have sufficient record as 10
the measure Of efficiency Of these troops
II they are needed for active service
1T is a military maxim that no army
can be efficient with aged oncers In the
lower grades. January I. 1885 the author
iZeG strength or the artillery was 80 ON
GERS -Four years later IL viii be COL OFF,
GERS. an increase Of l32 per cent The ad-
ditiOHal 81 officers avera ging about the
same age. will all be in the grade OF lieu
tenant.
In January. 1895. there were Iieutenants
of artillery Of more than thirty years
service as officers due partly 20 the de-
feCtive organization Of the artillery. and
partly TO the large increase in the num-
Der Of junior officers in our army after
the civil war. A corresponding block in
promotion must be anticipated in our ar
tilIcrv unless some steps be taken by legis-
latiOu to provide relief 10y the compulsory
retirement at q fixed age of an officer who
has not reached definite grade.
1t is suggested that in our service
Lieutenant who reaches the a &c Of forty
shall be retired. and a captain who
reaches the age OF hfty-nNe.