The Cairo bulletin. [volume] (Cairo, Ill.) 1872-1878, 1875-12-09
rnoM 1nE sEcnETARY on War.

The report OF the Secretary OF War ac-
eompanying this message gives detailed
account of army operations for the year
just passed, expenses for maintenance.
etc, with recommendations for lcgisla-
ton 10 which respectfully invite your
attention. To some of. these | invite
special attention. Fir.t,ithc nccc., ity OF
making 10000 Of the appropriation for
the subsistence department available be-
fore the beginning OF the next fiscal year.
Without this provision, troops al points
distant from supply production must
either 20 without food or existing laws
must bc violated. II is not attended with
cost to the treasury.
Second, his recommendation OF an Ell
actnent of u system of annuities tor the
families OF deceased officers by the volun-
tary reductions from the monthly pay Of
officers. This again IL not attended with
burden upon the treasury aud would
for the future relieve much distress,
which every old army officer has wit
messed, on the part Of officers dying sud-
denly or being killed, leaving families
without even means Of reaching their
friends il fortunate enough to have
friends to aid them.
Third. the repeal Of the law abolish
ing mileage and return to the old sys-
tenn.
Seventh, the trial with torpedoes under
corps OF engineers and the appropri-
alton for the same. Should war ever
occur between the United States and any
maritime power, torpedoes will DC
among. II not the most effective and
cheapest auxiliary for the defense Of bar
bOrs and also in aggressive operations
that we can have. Hence II Is advisable
to learn by experiment their best con-
struction and application a well rs
effect.
Fifth, permanent organization for the
signal service corps. This service has
how become u necessity Of peace as well
us war under the advancement made by
the present able management.
Sixth. u renewal of the appropriation
tor compiling the official records OF the
etc.
The condition of our navy at this time
Is a subject OF satisfaction. Ii does not
contain ii IL true any of the powerful
cruising iron-elads which make so much
ofthe maritime strength OF some OF the
other nations, but neither our continental
situation nor our foreign policy requires
that we should have Y large number of
ships of this character. Our navy docs
contain, however, considerable number
of iroll-clads OF the monitor class, which,
though not properly cruisers. are pow:
ertul aud effective Tor harDor defense and
for ODerations near our own shores. or
these, all the single turretcd ones. fifteen
In number. have been substantially re-
built, their rotten wooden beams re-
placed with iron, their hulls strength
sned and their engines and ma
l..p nnl lu
that they are now In most
efficient condition and nearly ready for
sea. as soon as they can be manned and
put In commission. The five double
turrcted iron-clads belonging to our navy,
by far the most powerful OF our ships,
for lighting purposes, are also IN hand
undergoing complete repairs, and could
DO ready for sea In periods varying from
four to six months. With these con,
pleted. according to tho present design
and our irOn-clad torpedo boats now
ready, our iron-clad fleet will be for the
purposes OF defense ut home, equal to any
force that can be readily brought against
it. OF our wooden navy. also, cruisers 0
variOua sizes, to the number Of about
forty. including those now IN commission
are in the Atlantic, and could b,
ready for duty as fast as men could b,
enlisted for those not already In commits
sion, OF these. one.third are IN effect new
ships, aud though some OF the re-
naInder need considerable repairs OF
their boilers and machinery. they all are
or can readily be made effective. Thi
constitutes a fleet Of more than 80 wa
ships, of which 10 are irOn-clad now Il
hand on the Atlantic coast. The nav,
has been brought to this condition by
iudioious anu practical application q
what could be spared from the currer