The New York herald., 1871-12-04

Tho Report Of tho Secretary or War.
The annual report of the Secretary Of War,
which we publish this morning, is quite an In
teresting document. 1t covers the different
branches OF the service, With all essential
details. The Secretary starts out with the
announcement that the reorganization of the
army required by the act OF Congress Of
July 10, 1870. has been accomplished. The
total number of enlisted men now in the SER
vice is thirty thousand. The number Of staff
omcers has been reduced. and line offc de-
tached for staff duty have been sent back to
their regiments. The financial figures show .
gradual and great reduction in the expen-
ditures For the fiscal year ending June
10, 1869, they were over eighty and a
half millions of dollars; 1870, over fifty-seven
and a half Millions and 1871, about forty mil
lions. For the next fiscal year the appropria-
tons amount to little over thirty six and a
half millions, and the estimates for 1873 are
little less than thirty-two and half
millions. These include the cost of river
and harbor improvements. THUS it is
shown that the reduction in expenses
in the War Department during the
year lS69-70 amounted to nearly twenty
millions of dollars, and during the year
1901 there was further reduction of over
seventeen and half millions, while the sub
sequent appropriations and estimates point to
continued decrease in the expenses The
Secretary suggests that the services
of extra lleutenants now authorized by
law to act as regimental adjutants
and quartermasters can be dispensed
with, and that the positions now occupied by
certain non-commissoned officers can be dis
continued without injury to the service. While
the troops have been well clothed and fed and
comparatively well sheltered, he recommends
that adequate appropriations be made to
increase their comfort. Notifications and i'm
provements are being made In our seacoast
and harbor defences in accordance with the
requirements Of modern warfare.
Special reference is ma de to the important
achievements Of the Signal Corps in connec-
tion with the meteorological observations. 1t
was only 80 recently rs October last that the
display Of cautionary signals announcing the
probably approach of storms was commenced
for the first time in the United States at twenty
and Gulf coasts, and they have already
proved Of great practical importance to our
commercial interests. 1t has been ascer-
tanned that of the deductions published from
the Signal Office sixty mine per cent are, after
q careful examination Of the statistics, con-
sidered to have been fully verified and this
percentage increased by those recorded as
practically verified will make an aggregate of
ninety per cent of average veriication. This
speaks well for the Signal Service, which in
this special branch, as the Secretary says, is
more extensive and better organized in the
United States than in any other country in
the world. R# aN
The report shows the prompt relief afforded
by the War Department TO the sufferers by the
Western fires, suggests remedy for defalca-
tions by more careful and systematic scrutiny
of officers accounts, and closes with an allu-
sion to the necessity for the continued
employment of troops in States Of the South
for the suppression Of the Ku Klux.
Secretary Belknap says it is painful
fact, which merits serious consideration, that
indisputable evidence establishes the fact that
IAN armed rebellion Of regular organization
and great strength exists in parts of those
States" and $50 long as it exists, so long will
1t be necessary to aid the civil authorities with
the armed force of the nation in putting down
this second rebellion and in bringing its
leaders to speedy punishment"