Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1875-11-26

rifles and csrbinCs, calibsr As, and we
have roy in store 8 reserve supply OF
these arms Of about 5000. At the end
Of the present fiscaI year our reserve sup.
ply may resch total of 40, 1000 arms of
new model and cSliber-about enough,
in case of war, to arm one corps
d'drmee. II is not to be ex-
pected that in case Of war our
army will be better satisfied with arms
OF obsolete patterns and discarded mod.
els than in the early days OF the rebel-
lion. They were the offscourings OF for
eign markets. Men who are to meet the
enemy in battle have right to demand
Of their country improved arms. In our
country, whose armies are to be impro-
vised-made up of recruits FROM the an
vii and the plow-the want of military
discipline aud training should, IS much
as possible, be compensated by the quail
ity Of the weapon the soldier is to use;
so our arsenals should be well stocked
at all times with large reserve supply
of the best rifles and carbines, and con-
gress should, in spirit OF economy, APP
propriate literally for their manufacture.
Referring to the international exhibit
ton of 1876, he says: "The ordnance
bureau will make an exhibit that will
be creditable to the country, and prove
to be one Of the most attractive features
of the exhibition" In regard to the
sea- coast defenses, he says: "During the
! past year proper armament for our sea-
coast defense has engaged the earnest
attention of this department, and
board OF distinguished ordnance Off
GERS has been in permanent session en-
| deavoring TO obtain all data possible IN
der the Strengthened resources at the
command OF this bureau" In regard to
| the trial Of the eight.inch rife gun, he
| says: at has been successfully fired
| seven hundred rounds, with altering
| charges, and still remains sound and
| serviceable. Our large number of
smooth bore guns ought to be converted
| into rifles, as it is entirely practicable to
| give requisite strength and consequent
endurance by the insertion of
wrought-iron tube. The experiments
that have been conducted, already
| have been SO successful and satisfactory
in their results that they have awaken
ed an interest among military men
| abroad, and to surprising degree, when
we realize our pigmy efforts at effecting
results with insufficient means, and
compare them with the extensive and
elaborate trials, seemingly regardless Of
expense, that have been and are being
| prosecuted from year to year by almost
every European nation. We cannot
stand with folded hands and permit
other nations to get far in advance in
improvements which the United States
not many years ago knew no SUI
perior. The successful manufacture and
preliminary trial of the eighty-one-ton
in England is only another move in the
great contest between guns and IRON
clsds for the hurting Of rifle-shOts of
1850 pounds with velocity of $50, 900
feet per second. This cannot be consid-
cred as the extreme limit to the develop
ment Of artillery power; and yet for want
Of necessary appropriations this
country is forced TO depend on the
smOOth-bore system and few small
rifles carrying shot of $50 to $50 pounds
weight, which cannot possibly fulfill the
important and varying conditions Of
modern warfare. We are even now de-
pendent for much Of our information in
these matters, so vital to our national de.
tense, on results Of experiments abroad,
at time, too, when, had we means as
we have skill and ability, we could IN
doubleday keep up successfully with the
advances made by other pations. Ri
fed-guns of size, endurance and
power to enable us to meet on fair and
equal terms q foreign foe must be pro-
vlded while we have the time, and it is
certainly not the part of wisdom to de-
lay LIaking such provisions until the
enemy iDvades our shores.n
General Sherman's Annual Report.
WASHINGTON, November 24.-The
annual report of General Sherman, after
stating the geographical limits of the
various commands, says the aggregate
strength Of the army, according
to the last reports received, is 1910 off,
GERS and "a OBJ enlisted men, made up
as follows: 5 regiments of artillery, 270 |
office is, 2504 men; 10 regiments of cav
airy, 400 officers, 1906 men; % regiments |
of infantry, S4S officers, 1000 men;
available recruits, hospitsl-stewards, |
Ordnance-sergeant5, etc, 1921. During |
the past winter the troops in the depart |
ments of Missouri and Texas were en-
plOyed in an arduous and severe winters |
campaign against the KiOwa, Cheyenne |
and COmanche Indians, on the border
OF staked plains, that have for years
been engaged in depredstions on the |
Texas and Kansas frontiers, resulting in
their disarmament and subsection to
authority. II military commanders can
have control over supplies needed by
these Indians, as they now have over
their persons, / am convinced, by recent
visit, that condition of peace can 7
be maintained. The Sioux Indians
have recently made incursiOns into
northern Nebraska, mostly to steal
cattle and horses from the farms along
the Pacific railroad and north of it.
General Crook is Of opinion that the
whole army, acting defensively, cannot
prevent these incursions, and suggests
that troops be stationed in the midst Of
the Indians, so as TO watch and prevent
them leaving on the pretense Of hunt
ing. This is impractlcable,s sunless the
army can have the supervision Of the
necessary supplies OF these tribes Within
the reservation, which is now not the
case. The reports of several commits
sions, which have, under military escort,
been engaged in exploring the
and in negotiating with these |
Indians, will throw much light on this
subject Generally speaking, the dam
age to life and property by the Indians
is believed TO be less during the past
year than in any former year, and the
prospect is that as the country settles up,
it will be less and less each year, until
but until they ac-
quire habits of industry in farm
ing, or in stock raising, they
will need food from the general govern
ment, because the game on which they
have hitherto subsisted hes diminished
very rapidly. Ia compliance with the
order Of the President directing that ap-
military and naval hOnors be
to the memory Of Vice-Presi-
dent Wilson, the following order was
issued by the secretary Of war this after
noon: "On the day succeeding the re-
;eipt of this order at each military post,
roops will be paraded at ten o'clock in
he morning aud the order read to them.
The national flag will be displayed at
lalf staff, at dawn Of day thirteen guns
will be fred, commencing at twelve
o'clock, noon, seventeen minute-guns
will be fired, and at the close Of day
salute OF thirty seven guns.
rne usual badge of mourning will be
worn by the officers of the army, and
he cOl0rs of the several regiments will
Je put in mourning for period of three
months" An appropriate order will be
ssued by the secretary of the navy to-
morrow.
Annual Report of Director of the Mint. =
WASHINGTON, November 24-rhe {
annual report Of the director of the mint
hows coinage of gold, $33 .553, 965; sill
yer, $4,000, 1858; minor pieces, $3.50 375;