The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1902-02-16
The New Army Bill.


providing for certain army changes
was introduced in the Senate on Friday.
Il Is second in importance only 10 the
Army act OF last year, and forms with
that and with Mr.. RooT's Militia bill n
series that recreates our army from
top TO bottom.
The new bill Is in twenty-five sections.
tho first three OF which consolidate the
present Quartermaster's, Subsistence,
and Pay Departments into a general
Department Of Supplies, headed by a
Major-General and consisting OF Tour
divisions, TO be known as tho divisions
OF Supply and Construction, Commissary,
Finance, and Transportation, each under
a Brigadier-General The rights OF
officers holding permanent appointments
in the existing staff departments are
guarded; appointments as chiefs OF
department or divisions are to be Tor
four years. and provision is made for the
return of chiefs 20 their former grades,
as in the navy. We have commented
heretofore on this general proposal, n
believe it highly important TO the future
welfare of the army.
The next seven sections deal with the
Army General staff, which is TO have
full supervision Of all military questions.
Its duties will be:
ITO consider the military policy OF the country
and prepare comprehensive plans for the national
defence. and for the mobilization Of the military
forces In time OF war: to devise means for the CO.
- . a. n "a. .nI 1auat foTrfa af the
United States with a view to harmonious action
ia time of war: to prepare and to supervise the prep
sratlon and arrangement Of material for the mill
tary history ofthe United States. and to serve as an
agency through which all means of professional
military information shall be. at any time, at the
disposal of the War Department"
These sections are almost revolu-
tionary, for though they follow the
lines laid down in the armies Of the great
Powers, they are totally at variance with
the laws and customs hitherto obtaining
in our army. For instance, they abolish
the post of General Commanding the
Army, substituting therefor a Chief OF
the General STAFF, thus making appar-
ent the real meaning of the title stall
offcer-not an officer removed wholly
from command, but an officer removed
from regimental duties that he may
assume wider duties, and in no respect
ineligible for command.
The General staff will consist OF .
chief, appointed from the Major-Gen-
erals, to hold Office for four years and
10 have the rank and pay of Lieutenant
General; four Colonies, six Lieutenant
Colonies, and twelve Majors, appointed
for -four years from officers Of CORE
spending rank, and twelve Captains,
who may be Captains or ~Lieutenants,
and are likewise to be detailed for four
years. The Chief Of Artillery, whose
rank is ra sed 10 B~rigadier General, Is also
to be q member of the General staff.
The Inspector Generals Department
is abolished, inspect ons hereafter being
made by the General staff. The sole
need of an Inspector Generals Depart
ment Ia to provide a central bureau OF
inspection, so that a Generals COM
mand shall not be inspected by an off,
Ger of his selection, as in the New York
National Guard now. With a General
CIdll ultimately itSpOiolulo ipl Ilc
efficiency of the army, the inspections
may properly be made by its officers.
Officers of the General STAFF are ex-
plicitly made eligible As members in
the War College, thus providing for
close relations between the two bodies
from which so much Of benefit for the
army is expected.
Other provisions Of the bill deal with
details of the service. One section gives
American registry to army transports
that may be sold; another gives rank
from Feb. 2, 1901, TO artillery officers
appointed under the law Of that date,
. 10 that they may be on an equality with
infantry and cavalry officers, all of whom.
though appointed within a few weeks,
date their rank from a year ago. The
bill is short, in view Of the many matters
that il covers, and Of very great i'm
portance to the continued efficiency OF
the army.
The nuruouaster NJ HnhoL.