The Ohio union. [volume] (Ashland, Ohio) 1849-1854, 1854-01-04
REPORToF THE SECRETARY OF THE
o. NAVY. =


We are indebted to the New York Sun
for the following abslrac! of the contenls
otlhis document: st,
We have another instalment of the
Public Documents accompanying The
Presidents Message. The report Of The
Secretary of War is an elaborate state
ment of the condition and operations of
oI the Department. The authorized
strength Of the army is 1881, officers
and men; and its act ual strength
-I0,5l7. 0f1his number s,37s are EN-.
played on the frontiers, or are on their
route 10 frontier stations. The Indian
depredaions have decreased during the
past year, but the necessity of maintain
ing strong force on The Rio Grande to
fulfill the obligations Of our treaty with
Mexico, and protect the inhabitants, is
recognized by the present Administration,
and strongly ufged BY The Secretary, whose
policy is 10 station the troops in large
bodies, and reduce the number Of small
poslS. This insures greater efficiency, as
dell as security on the part of our troops.
The Secretary complains that the ap-
preparation for the amount of forifca-
iions," have either been refused or re.
duced during The past three years. greatly,
in his opinion, to the disadvantage of The
service. The number Of recruits required
for The ensuing year is estimated at $500;
and the Secretary doubts whether it will
be possible 10 obtain this number Of men
at the present rate of pay; though he
considers il important that they should be
had, and The full complement Of rank and
Gle maintained. N'.''' i
Since the Mexican war, the average loss
to The service by deseriian has been l6
per cent by discharges for debility and
other causes, 8 per cent, and by deaths 4
per cent. The discovery of gold in Cali
fornia has increased deserlion and reduced
the number of enlislments. The disparity
between The pay of The soldier and The
value Of labor in civil life, and the fact
that the length Of service carries with it
no reward, either in increased pay, rank
or privilege, have produced dissatisfaction
and desertion, and prevented the enlist.
ment of good men. The consequence Of
this state Of things is, that more than one
third of the army must every year be re.
cruited, and transferred from their depots
TO their regiments. The Secretary of
War, therefore, propnses several reforms.
/. An increase of The present pay of
the soldier. gr,s. al.i Cd. '7a Oh
Q. An additional increase for each sue.
cessive period of five years, 50 long as be
shall remain in the army. ".
3. Provisions for the promotion to the
lowest grade Of commissioned officers Of
such Of the non.commssioned officers Of
the army as may be qualified for, and, by
their conduct, character, and services, en-.
titled to such advancen eni.
lie also recommends that
I" The soldier honorably discharged,
who shall re-enist within one month there
after, shall be entitled to two dollars per
month, in addition to The orliaary pay
of his grade, for the fist period of five
years, and further insrease Of one per
month for each successive period; and
that those now in the army who have
served more than one period Of five years,
shall be entitled to the provisions named
above; and also, that those wi 0 received
a certificate of merit for services in Mexi-
CO, shall have the additional two dollars
per month" ..... -...
The report contains suggestions for the
improvement Of tho Mililia, and enters al
length into the operations of the various
exploring expeditions which have heen
commissioned. ...