Bureau of army Intelligence.
We understand that a bill has been introduced in Congress providing for the establishment of a Bureau of Army Intelligence, but are not advised what is the prospect of its passage and approval by the
President.
One thing, however, is certain, the organization of such a Bureau is much to be desired, and we trust Congress will not adjourn before acting upon this measure, or some similar one.
We presume the object of the measure is to provide for the appointment of officers regularly commissioned to accompany and report upon the doings of the various divisions of the Army.
We can foresee that perhaps the
Generals of the army might object to officers of this description being authorized to communicate from their camps with the
Government and the public; but were the officers referred to subject to, and under the direction of, commanding officers, there might be less opposition to the measure.
The public are deeply interested in their friends and relatives in the field, and are entitled to the earliest and most authentic information respecting them, which commanding officers cannot be expected to give.
Had such a corps been in existence at the
battle of Manassas, every fact might have been ascertained and published, in which the public were interested, within a few days after the battle, whereas weeks elapsed before a list of the killed and wounded was obtained; and, even up to this day, no complete and authentic list has been made public, if any such be in existence.
And, were such a bureau in existence, the public would not be tantalized, from day today, as they have been, and now are, by the numberless baseless rumors which find currency, as the officers of the bureau would be relied upon to transmit to
Richmond promptly such facts as should be known, and such information as would at once relieve the public anxiety.
