Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1880-11-12
The United States ARMY.

army, has completed his two annual reports
one Is 10 the Secretary OF War aud the other 20
General sherman. In his report 70 the Secne-
tary, General Drum refers 70 his recent efforts
70 be OF service to the state forces ana saws.
MY earnest wish is tn sttu more ass,m,late fha
! rules ard forms governing both
TIE REGULAR ARMY AND THE MILITIA
IL Ieeos no special argument 20 de nonstrata
the manifold adv Santages that would necessarily
| low from perfect uniformity. Trained by the
/ same manuals; using-in the internal economy
! OF company, regiment or brigade-the same
forms for returns, reQuisitions, reports sc.
/ governed In their annual encampments pre-
cisely In the same manner as a military camp In
the presence or an enemy. almost every mem
Der or the state guards would be qualinei for a
commission il the volunteers Under this plan.
in actual need one hundred thousand meu so
| officered, could be added 10 the regular army
without tarring or confuf ion, and. al the outset,
would have the advantage OF being well IN
hand, the great desideratum OF an army In
active service. The responses o. the states
adlutant generals are cordial and express much
satisfaction at tse step taken: In furtherance
oil the views expressed above. earnestly recon-
mend that. on the application or the al jutant
general CT a state. / be authorized 10 Issue In
moderate quantities. such blanks and forms as
may oe Indicated by him as desirable for the
use OF The state troops, especially during the
summer encampmenI-"
During ting past summer the following ori-
GERS nave oeen detailed, at the request OF the
state authorities. 10 Inspect and report upon
the several encampmentS named: Lieut.. Col
Roger Jones' assistant inspector general en-
campment OF the Connecticut state guard:
Lieut. Col. G. A. DeRussy, Sd artilery-encamp-
ment OF three brtgades or PENNSYLVANIA Ma
tional guards; Major Richard Arnold. 5th artll-
leIy-eLcampmenI or Massachusetts, National
guards; Major Horatio q. Gibson. "a artillery
encampment OF brigades OF Pennsylvania Ma
tional guards: capt j. l: Sanger, lst artillery
artillery camp OF the state OF New York. The
result OF the Inspections made are highly cred
liable TO the troops concerned.
IN REGARD 10 DETAILING OFFICERS
NJ rAfltF
and tactics at colleges General Drum does not
think the importance OF this early ana partial
introduction OF the youth or the country 70
military studies and habits can be overestima-
ted. The course OF instruction does not inUR-
fere with the scholastic curriculum. nor pre-
vent them from entering any OF the several
walks or civil life for which they are preparing
themselves II, however, leads them % anti
late. i'm a1ter life, with the militia OF their re-
Srectlve states, and, enhancing their value as
members OF such Organizations. Increases
measuraby the capacity Of the states national
guards TO furnish trained officers TO the country
In its hour OF need.
OF LgAvgNwoRTH MILITARY PRISON,
which is how in its sixth year, General Drum
says lis affairs have been capably administered.
Great progress has been made. The prison has
become permanent feature or the military
establishment. Up TO the close OF the fiscal
year Isis prisoners have been received an1
confined under sentences imposed by general
courts martial No deaths have occurred
during the fiscal year. and but Is In all since
IN THE GovERNMgNT HOSPITAL FOR TIE INSANE
under orders OF the Secretary OF War, the fol-
lowing patients were admitted from O5tober
ist, 1879, TO october lSt, lsS0: Regular army
%; enlisted men, late or US. army, s. Late
volunteer servlce-Commission officers, 2; en-
listed men, -; Inmates U.s. SOLDIER Home,
6; Military prisoners, 2. Total, lO0.
IN HIS REPORT TO GENERAL SHERMAN
General Drum says that out or nominal
strength OF 25 GOO men, g. l29 very nearly one
fourth) are. under the provisions OF the law OF
August 4, 1854 drawing increased pay for each
i've years OF continuous service Sections
and CT the act or June Is, 1873. provide for the
promotion TO the grade OF % lieutenant or mert-
torious non-commissioned officers, and pre-
scribe regulations TO insure selection OF proper
candidates The beneficial effects OF this wise
legislation are best demonstrated py the state
ment that under this act there have been pro-
NOTED (apponteG) In 1875 8 In lS19 l3 In 1sSo,
and ! yet TO be appointed, october 4. making a
total or 20 promotions. This powerful spur to
the ambition OF young men entering the ranks
will tend TO still further elevate the morale
or the army.
CONFLICTS WITH INDIANS.
The reports OF the ever-reeUrring conflicts
With hostile Indians exhibit galidaL acts and
soldier ike endurance OF harisnipsN highly
credltable to the troops IL is suggested whe-
ther the fortitude, endurance, and courage
ey1nced does not, I'm specially distinguishe1 in
ST stances nee deserve some recognition at the hands
vices OF the troops indicate an actual state OF,
at least, demi- war; is fully shown by the fol.
lowing statement OF the number OF officers and
men killed, or who died OF wounds received in
actions with IndianS: 1S16-l6 officers and 212
men, 1S17-1 officers and l21 men, 1S7S-2 officers
and men. 1872 officers and 80 men; making
total, for the four years, OF 2I officers and 33s
men,
CERTIFICATES OF MERIT.
Section 1916 Revised Statutes provides that
when any private soldier shall have distin-
guished himself In the service, the President
may grant him certificate OF merit, on the
rec ommepdation OF the colonel OF his regiment
To bring non-commiSsioned officers, as well as
privates, within the purview OF the above
quoted section, It is suggested that IL De
amended by substituting for private soldier
the words ''enlSted man."
RESTORATION BY CONGRESS OF OFFICERS OUT OF
SERVICE.
This subject is one OF vital Importance 70 the
welfare of the army, and. II not promptly RENE
died: will, slowly, perhaps. but not the less
ton justly earned by officers Of the army for
high moral tone, unblemished character, and
sterling worth. IL has become the custom for
officers dismissed by sentence OF cour t-mart1al
and dropped from the rolls or the army TO i'm
perfume Congress for restoration to the position
they have forfeited by the verdict OF a court or
their peers reviewed and approved by the de-
partment commander, and confirmed by the
President OF the UDited States The bill for re
Storation is referred 10 the committee on MILL
tary affairs, and by it. In many cases, placed In
the hands of subcommittee, before whom the
claimant appears either personally or by attOr-
ney. The pressure or other duties not unfre-
quently prevents the subcommittee from Civ
ing the voluminous papers called for from the
files OF the War department that careful ana
searching scrutiny such a case demands hay-
ing In view the baneful influence on the army
OF the restoration 10 Its rolls or man unit 10
hold commission. As a check on such claims,
IL is suggested that applicants for restoration be
required, by statutory enactment. TO present
their claims TO board OF officers 10 be appointed
by the President whenever, In his opinion. the
applicant has an equitable claim 10 a further
hearing.
SUGGESTIONS.
There has been great improvement I'm rife
shooting which proves tnconteStaby the ad-
vantage OF the army participating Ia contests.
lt is earnestly recommended that the govern
ment offer military prizes and rewards TO the
successful competitors In the various matches
in which officers and n en- or the army partici-
pate. There is very percepdble Improvement
In the class or men applying for enlistment in
the past few years, and there is every reason 10
believe the opportunity offered by the act OF
June Is, 1875, TO advance the more solderly and
Intelligent TO commissions, has done much TO
Influence a better class OF men to enter the
army. II Is believed the change Indicated in
recent orders. that future details for the re-
cruitiDg service will only be made by one-half
the regiments In each year, will relieve the ser
vice or a serious embarrassment and be produc-
tive OF good results
CHINESE ATTEMPT LABOR UNIoN.-Some
thirty or forty Cinnamon, proprfetors OF wash