The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-12-04
CAPTAIN DIcKEY'S PLAN.
A Suggestion FOR the Organization Of
an Effective Army.

en EnectIve Army.
Prom . pamphlet by Captain Joseph ".
Dickev o. Nenburoh.
/ The ideal plan for the United States
would be an increase Of the army TO
a total strength OF 200. 900, or one SOL
der for each 500 Inhabitants, and then
TO make the profession Of soldering
in the United States as attractive for
the enlisted man as IL is to-day for he
officer SO attractive that there would he
no desertions. and the army. man for
man. very much the best army in the
world.
Make the pay of a private $50 a month.
the pay OF a corporal S25 a month, the
pay OF a sergeant $40 a month. and add
81 a month for zach year OF service
With this system fully established, the
greatest punishment that could be in
fiicted would be dismissal from the ser
4 vice.
With such an army We would be se-
cure against any such invasido az out
lined In General Bernhardi's book. or
such an Invasion as liz so graphically
pictured In recent numbers Of THE
SUNDAY SITS, because 100000 Of this
army. with the $4,000 National Guards
men n such auxiliaries az could ~
hastily obtained. would hold In check
any possible invading force. while the
WV V'aAh NC 'N
work getting in shape by intensive train
ing the 900. 600 men that could readily
be enlisted In forty-elght hours.
Bearing in mind that the 200 900
original selected men would be mem
tally and physically sound and trained
TO the minute in everything connected
with the business of "A soldier, IL the
emergency should arise each man Of the
100, 900 could take charge of ten men.
- - --
for themselves In the field. how to take
cover, TO construct intrenchmen,s, SC.
Under such competent instructors two
months would suffice 20 At for the field
the greater part of the entire number
Differed so far as the companies and
regiments were concerned by their pre-
ceptors. all Of whom would have subj
Client intelligence and ability to COM
mand a company. and many OF them
would be fully competent 20 command
a regiment.
To make this plan most effective the
United States Government should select
and designate suitable rallying poirs
In the neighborhood OF such places as
San Francisco, Portland. ore. Omaha.
San Antonio. Chicago, Atlanta. Louis
Vile. New York. Boston and Raleigh.
Al each Of these places, in case Of ne
cess!ty. 10000 recruits would be mus
tered. instructed and manpuvred. In
peace times a division OF 10000 men
could be kept at each OF these places.
affording an opportunity for the officers
OF high rank to acquire practical eS-
perience in handling bodies Of troops
larger than a regiment. as these troops
could be arranged in skeleton organiza-
lions to represent brigades, divisions
and corps.
All the information We get about The
present wal goes TO show that the ar
tillery Is much the most effective arm
In modern warfare. and this fact Is the
strongest in favor OF the
scheme | have outlined. as everybody
at all converSant with the matter knows
that i, takes time to train an artillery
man. and thai: Is especially true In these
days ~ complicated mechanism and SCI
entifc warfare. Hence the desirability.
] might say the absolute necessity. Of
continuing in the service as long as pos
sible all men who by reason Of expert
erce have become experts with modern
weapons OF warfare.
Congress should authorize and the
Government should take steps to or
ganize as an auxiliary to the forces
outlined the field forces Of the telegraph
and telephone companies. These men
would be invaluable in modern warfare.
Many OF the IortlfleN are adopts IN tir
use Of high explosives and the men could
he used IN the necessary work 90 war
fare such "a trench digging. h'ild!rg
bridges and roads. laying rontoons.
erecting impenetrahle obstacles ~
harbed wire. and especially valuable In
placing and connecting mines. Their
proper organization is simply a matter
OF detail.
As a suggestion ten regiments might
re organized. The headquarters Of each
OF the regiments should be with one -
the ten corps headquarters ~ or near
the Giles already specified, as this would
heep the expense down and simplify the
mobilization in case Of necessity.
As All iuducement to enroll the men
should receive a nominal sum. say 81 a
month, with full pay for the time spent
In camp, which night be limited 70 o
weeks each year.
Modern warfare demands large num-
beers Of experienced aviators. Thjs IL a
matter Of such vital importance that
the entire force. ~, 600 men. at one 81
the places selected for s~tationing troops
should devote their whole time to war
a~eronautics. These men should he go
leCtcd from the mass Of the army and
one of the ten corps headquarters desig-
mated as the permanent station where
the climatic conditions would permit the
work 10 go on throughout the year.