The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1870-12-05
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THE ARMY AND NAVY
The reports Of the Secretaries of War aud the
Navy present interesting general reviews of
the two branches of the military service. The
army considering the reduced force now at
the command OF the War Department is
shown to he highly efficient, aud the system
under which it is managed is one that perhaps
is as nearly perfect az can be devised. The
exhibit made by Secretary Belknap Of the
affairs Of the various branches of the army is
in high degree satisfactory, and it is shown
that judicions economy has besn practised,
and that the expenditures havo been kept
down to the lowest possible figure consistent
with efficiency. The army during the past
year has, So far as its active operations
are concerned, been mainly employed
against the Indians, and tho Secretary
urges, in view Of our extended frontier, the
necessity for a larger force than is at present
available. He also presses the subject of
our militia system aud urges tho importance
of measures for increasing its efficiency so
that it can be relied upon for efficient service
in case of foreign invasion or other emer-
gency. The Secretary of War presents a
number of valuable facts and figures with
regard to the management of the army during
the past year, and makes a number of inn
portant suggestions that merit the attention
of Congress.
The Secretary of the Navy gives general
review of the condition of the navy, leaving
many of the matters of detail to be discussed
in the reports of the Admiral and the heads
~(L A Al
is taken up with an exhibit of the multitude
of duties the navy is called upon to perform
and its very extended field of operation. Not
only has our own coastline of over 1000 miles
in extent to be protected, but there are i'm
portant interests in all quarters of the world
that require the guardianship of an adequate
naval force. The responsibilities of the
navy have been largely increased by the
troubles in China, which threaten foreigners
of all nationalities in that Empire
with serious danger to life and property, and
by the war in Europe, which requires a dis
play of naval strength that will secure the
proper protection Of American interests under
every emergency that may arise. The Secre-
tary gives detailed list of the number of
vessels in each of the squadrons, and contends
that, considering the fact that the military
power of the United States must be impressed
upon foreigners through this arm of the SER
vice, our navy is far too small to adequately
perform all that is required of it.
The Secretary states that since his last re-
port there has been a decided Improvement
in the character and conduct of the men in
terested in the naval service, and the general
discipline and efficiency of the crews of our
men of war. A good effect has been pro-
duced by regulations made and orders issued
with view of promoting tho comfort and
welfare of the enlisted men, and by a system
of rewards and promotions for good conduct.
This policy, tine Secretary thinks, needs only
to be pursued faithfully and enlarged to
make the navy attractive to the best sailors
in the country; and he recommends several
improvements that will have a tendency to
promote this desirable end.
With regard to the navy yards, very little
has been done during the past year for their
improvement, and the longer the necessary
steps to bring them 10 a proper state of
! efficiency are postponed the more difficult
and expensive it will be to take them. In
the meantime, the lack Of necessary facili-
ties at the navy yards entails an increased
cost upon the Government for work that with
suitable appliances for economical labor
would be less expensive. Withregard to League
Island, the Secretary considers that the neces-
sites Of the navy no less than the obligations
of the Government require that it should be
adapted at as early day as possible to the
uses for which ii is intended.
The Secretary alludes in very general terms
TO the Annapolis Academy, which for some
time past, notwithstanding the favorable re-
ports of boards of visitors, has been the
weak instead of the strong arm of the naval
service. The importance of this school can
not be overestimated, but it is fact that
cannot be denied that it is not by any means
up to the standard of West Point, either az
regards scholarship or discipline. The Score
tary makes number of other important
observations and suggestions with regard to
the status of the navy that We hope win meet
with the thoughtful attention of Congress,
and the present session ought not to be
allowed to pass away without some efficient
measures being adopted for the promotion of
the increased efficiency of the navy, or for the
removal of the disabilities under which it