The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1854-12-09

years, and the second, composed Of the Junior and
ed Of studes, which win occupy term Of ave
years. By tins arrangement we avoid an intsrmssion
10 the supply Of cadets to be attached as Srsves second
after admitted ain be instructed according to the plan
Of studies ARRANGED for the 1--WE course In
terms II may be stated that the scientific has not
been increased and that the additions made are those
appertainng to practical military instruction and exten
sion OF the course Of languages and national law These
additions were deemed necessary to qualify military OH
for the high and delicate duties they sometimes
required to perform and they could not be added without
thorough scientific education included in the
heretofore pursued.
testimony to its successful and the many
and decided improvements which have from time TO
time been made. Additional means of instruction have
greatly facilitated the acquisition of knowledge, and
better arrangements in the quarters aud
have materially contributed TO the economy comfort and
concur in the recommendation Of the chief engineer
for the establishment Of professorshp replace
that Of Ethics and English studies The chair is
filed by the chaplain Of the post and IL II de-
sirabe that the pastor Of cadets should also be
Der Of the academic staff the wider recently given
plated addition Of cognate branches renders mpract
cable for person properly to perform both duties
also concur in the estimates OF that oicer for an ap-
preparation for the commencement OF the construction
Of additional quarters for officers on duty at the Military
Academy. The necessity for this is fully stated in the
report Of the board Of visitors and the chief Engineer
The total Of the proposed buildings is estimated at
$4,000 4s about half OF which is asked for the
rent year.
The condition of the sea defences is stated in the
report Of the chief engineer The grant Of appropria
tons for these works ut the last two sessions Of Con-
gress after their suspension for several years. during
which the policy OF tinung them very fully dis
cussed is regarded final decision Of the question,
and adverto the subject only to say that recent eApe
that conclusion No defences can long avail people
who cannot meet their foes in the open field and
Notifications not intended to serve as the
refuge of weakness Is the strongholds of
popular power. On the board in advance Of popu
lous cities and important harbors they designed to
vader TO abandon his attack dsembark his troops and
pursue his attack by land The capacity OF sea-cosst
defences to effect this object against the most powerful
rmaments that have ever been placed ahoat, is amply
demonstrated by the results Of the late military opera
tons in the Black Sea and the Baltic.
Happily may profit by the experience Of others
without suffering the evils that attend the practical
solution of such problems.
Though arms have heretofore been considered the
best in recent inventions in Europe have produced
changes in small arms which being used in
with such important results have caused them to be
noticed among the able incidents of battles and
indicate that material notifications will be made in the
future armament of troops.
gated ball range and accuracy Of fire. has been long
known yet the difficulty of loading this weapon has
its advantages To overcome this difficulty, two me-
thods have been proposed; the first by loading the
piece at the breech has been for time in but
has defects which all the ingenuity expended it has
failed to entirely The second method which
has produced the important results above Indicated
to obong ball Of such diameter to be readily
introduced into the piece but which afterwards is
banded to fill the calibre. This at first done
BY providing rest or support at the junction OF the
means OF solid pillar in the axis Of the barrel upon
which the ball rested and was expanded by blows from
heavy rammer This the plan OF Col. Thuvenn, of
the French army, and is known the system Ia tgc
which has been extensively used in their service The
same object was subsequently attained by inserting into
the rear part Of the bah couca iron cup which, being
driven INTO the lead by the explosion Of the charge,
acted as wedge to expand the ball. This is the plan
known BY the name Of its INVENTOR Captain MIME Of
the French army Still recently, in England the
ball has been SO as to expand BY the force OF
the powder alone without the aid of the This is
known as the Pritchett ball. having been brought into
use BY Mr. Pritchett gun maker Of London This idea
also had been suggested by Capt. Delvigne
to be made Sy the
both to the proper shape of the ball and the best mode
Of growing the barrel In the OF these trials
some important conclusions were reached agreeing as
afterwards ascertaned, with the results Of the in
designations then making in Europe. Although
experiments have been confined to our service rifle,
and yet incomplete, they confirm the great supe
riorty claimed for this invention abroad They show
that the weapon, while it be loaded readily
three times the distance and the foreign experiments
indicate stiil greater superiority of the
arms will be superseded military weapon; but great
caution is requisite in introducing general change in
this important element Of national defence for the
waste OF public money is not the greatest Of the evils
resulting from the adoption of erroneous system.
The strong probability of change, and the fact that
we have already accumulated so large a supply, more
than hall million Of muskets and rifles in the arse
mails Of the United Saas besides about 300 900 in pos
session OF the States, at cost of near ten millions
OF dollars, render not expedent to continue, at
this time, on large SCALE il at all the manufacture
OF small arms OF our present patterns. But, until
experience shall enable to decide the merits Of
the new improvements, am Of opinion that expen-
ditures for small arms should merely be confined to
the making Of such as are required ror fully test
the usual appropriations for the national armores in
the hope that experiments and trials actual SER
win enable us soon to decide on the value Of the
notifications and to continue the manufacture Of
upon improved models.
for the purchase of number OF the best breech load
ing rifles. To ascertaip which among the many that
given through tie newspapers Of the appropriation
and its objects, inviting all inventors to furnish sam
PIES. Of the arms When all who choose to compete
shall have submitted their arms, . number of each
kind deemed worthy of trial. will be subjected to such
practical tests may determine their relative merits
military weapons. Should the result II probably
will substantial and simple breech loading arm
will supersede our present patterns for the use of
The efficacy Of these new patterns of arms win be fur
Their increased by improved mode Of printing which
has been approved by the highest officers in military
perfect the details Of breatns this new primer and
applying 1t to finished Of the old pattern we'll
to the new ones now in process Of manufacture.
In anticipation OF an increased If not exclusive Of
rifle arms by the regular army and because Of the be-
lief that the rife light infantry system Of instruction
is best adapted to the foot militia, have caused in
9uries to be instituted into the system used by the
light troops of other countries, that complete light in
fantry rife tactics might be introduced into
vice with such the experience Of other
armies has shown to be valuable. work this sub
ject is in the Of PREPARATION and it is
peced will be- in short time submitted to you for such
action as il may be deemed worthy to receive.
Attention Is again called TO the necessity for legsla
ton 10 provide certain and equitable mode for
the distribution Of arms among the militia, and to the
proprety Of supplying them with books Of tactical in
structon asc contemplated in the clause of the const
tuticn for training the militia according TO the dis
cipline prescribed by Congress"
have to ask attention to the necessity for frther
legislation for the sale Of useless military sites Ac
cording to the construction which has been given
acts upon this subject and which, though its correct
ness has been doubted must be regarded settled by
the practice Of the department. the act Of March 1915
applies only to military sites then held and that OF
Al ri e 1928 only to lands conveyed to- the United
states for forts &C. According these views there
no provision for the sale Of lands which, since the Sd Of
March 1872 have been reserved from the public domain
for military purposes and therefore recommend that
the provisions act giving auths ritv to sell USE