Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-10-03
TO LESSEN MON0TONY
RECOMMENDATION REGARDING
ARTILLERY SERVICE.

In his annual report of operations in the
Atlantic division for the fiscal year ended
June 80 last Major General James r Wade
says that the most important event In the
division was the joint army and navy ex-
ercises. in June covering the artillery dis
tr:cts of Baltimore. Potomac and Chesa-
peake. He states that these exercises were
instructive and profitable and that the
bringing together of so many officers ana
men. under conditions of service approx
mating to war conditions, is of great bene-
fit He recommends that these exercises
occur only every two years, allowing one
year in which TO study and discuss the re-
pcrts on the exercises and to arrive at con-
illusions In regard to points presented for
col sheraton.
General Wade concurs In the recommen-
dations of General Grant. commanding the
department OF the east, in regard TO the
employment OF boats for artillery purposes.
washable work clothing for coast artillery
troops searchlights, mixed batteries, heat
ing plotting rooms along the New England
coast and lights for gun platforms. The
report states that the troops generally are
IL excellent condition, and well supplied
and cared for and the drill and discipline
is generally up to the average.
Coast Artillery Organization.
The general states that the present or
garization of the coast artillery serving in
the Atlantic division has not given entire
satisfaction. While some officers think that
return to the regimental organization
would be an improvement, General Wade
favorS doing away with the present COM
pany organization and replacing IL with
what may be called a district organization.
That scheme is based upon the naval sys-
tenn of assignment of crews to shps-each
battery or post to have assigned Crew
the crews" of the various batteries in a
district, plus the officers and men assigned
to headquarters staff departments etc. to
constitute a district organization, which
would be the lowest unit of the system.
General Wade thinks that the average SOL
der is fully competent for the artillery arm
and says there is an urgent demand for
decided increase in the Artillery Corps
commissioned and enlisted.
To Remove Discomfort.
In the opinion of General Wade. the prin-
cipal cause of discomfort in the artillery
service is the monotony of the surround
irgs without hope of a change of station:
another cause is the frequent changes OF
company officers
"Restlessness and desire for change and
excitement" says Gen. Wade, leads the
average man to enlist. The same feeling.
with the addition of a liking for his officers
and comrades, causes him to re-enlst. In
many of the artillery districts l think It
would be possible to quarter the companies
a one or two central points where suitable
barracks and quarters could be erected.
The officers and men would be more COM
fortably quartered, have better opportuni-
ties for instruction, and with more social
life and amusements should be more con-
ter ted-the batteries being cared for by de-
tachments and the troops going into camp
near them for gun drill and target practice
at proper times. With increase of pay.
when justified by greater skill or higher
education, permanent
of company officers, better quarters in
more pleasant locations, prospect of
change of station for the organization-not
the individual-at reasonable periods, L
think service in the coast artillery would
be more attractive and the men more con-
tented >"