New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1880-11-22
OPERATIONS OF TIE ARMY.


PAIRING FOR WAR.
WASHINGTON, Nov. 21.-The annual report
OF the Seer tary of War to the President made public
to-day In gives general review of the various subor
dinate reports, calls attention 10 their several recon-
mendatons details at length the operations OF
the Department during the year
Ipon the subject expenditures appropriations and
estimates the that the expenditures FOR
all affairs under the control Department for the
fiscal year ending June so 1880, S39.924 773 0S
Congress Appropriated for the service Of the current
fiscal year S4l 1913 $50 40.
The Estimates for the service the fiscal year ending
June 30 1882 S43,627 055 81. Tue estimates, In
detail. were originally submitted the Senate for
S62429.770 Il but on revision OF the saIne omissions
or reductions made as follows: In the civil esiaD-
iishment. $l3,5s5 military establishment. S25Oooo;
public works SIs514 129 81 ana III The miscellaneous
class 600 making ne total of Ieyisory reductions
elssO27li ca. Some increase in the amounts OF esti-
mates for year 1882 the amounts appropriated
Tor the year appears the civil establishment the
military establishment. and the miscellaneous Items
The Secretary says for public works he has re-
auced the estimates to the amount required for ab'o
lutte necessities of the IN order 10 prevent waste
Of property and damage 10 commercial interests Be
Tond SUCH necessities the subject left to the wisdom
Of Congress.
The Mississippi River Commission operating in accord
ance with an act approved June %, 1879. submitted
report last March which before Congress That
report exhibited for the first time the estimates OF a-
proprauon required for WORKS imprO, therein
described Amounting TO S5133,O0O The Com omission
has communicated a desire 10 renew those estimates
The payments the Improvement % the south Pass
OF the Mississippi River show that for compensation
and interest maintenance Of the chauEcl, toal Of
$4,000 has been pnd. Total previously pad Tor
creaiing the channel S425OOO0; aggregate cost to
date, "a 100000 The permauency OF tins important
work see rs to assured from the fact that there
been failure whatever IN the maintenance OF the
maximum channel during The six months ending |
August 8 last.
Secretary Ramsey eoucurs the recommendation of |
General Sa.ran that Congress be- asked to eye $4,000
enlisted specifically troops Of the line Of The
Army and adds:
The srcug d If the Army is limited by statute not
apprOpua 10 Is nsye limited rXpendinres 10 tae
enlistment OF hu, 10000 lis bcieyed that the Ii |
legal sTeugh the least possible force al which the
preent oigta z.tlon caH MAINTAIN a, having "a WV
Efficacy, dscilue nI pony NAle the enlistment
OF ms iorce "ould dld son" 10 .he GPpLP'atIoh
for OF ne Army tine SAVING MAGE In ether dir cuohs
woud oe very ana .Ie fIclrnJy 81 ,be
army ia'I',i ,e, s,i,,I,rafts ra5in M re ar
less snne,s Their companies aud s,quent
oyerwOys II their vet II appears that tney save
been measuiaDy successful III Keeping The peace every
where.
Posts THAI SHOULD BE SOLD.
The Secretary agrees with General sherman that tie
maintenance Of snail posts along wagon and stage |
routes OF uave longer necessary and he recon
Inends an Abandonment many OF these posts
larger forces strategic The
adoption Of tis course Will require tine building OF per
amOe e-duriug cndracSer thAu those heretofore con
stIuoed IL IsreeOnHended tnat provision be made BY
statute for tue sale of suc aoaDdoned MIL
posts and buildings a are found o be unAecessar
and the app caou 81 te proceeds to the coast ucton
otter Dos.s Many o. tic prescott mitary posts are
OF but sgh value IN milaIy view, ana tbeir occupd-
tOh is cVbunutd dl great 'ApfAat uu mcihNo helce'
ExpeDdiju. upon he DuIn-s dt these pOsls be
oil YET such exp Ditafes WA b. lupeI-
auyely necessary 10 keep ,neu naGt4oie
Tue varou- details OF officers 1Or nee ssary service
ava. from uer eommaulS cause scaIci'y 10 Tie
iaD 10 ms r,i, 70 s1,nr exi.ni n is recoanesae9
lat Tess &c r. |
izng dean Oh Ohic Is IoJ tins acive iis as probes
sors ,hitary science certain colleges
ana universities as 70 proyie mat al such delis be
Tue nrcessiue, of the GOycrnm nj service require
that be new building The War Department sAa
5eei etary Ramsey naorses tue recommendations Of
the All neral relatyo 20 placing The uniformed
rules ana iorus as ne reguisr forces
Legislation Is Leedea Tor the LeaVenworth Military
Prison the secretary says, 10 make the institution sell
Afternoon is cal ed to the recommendation OF the
JudgcAdyOcate General tna the corps of Judge AdvO
cats be paced upon The same foOung 10 promotion
are tue other sat corps OF ihe Army Altsnion 10
also cal ed % the question OF the III expectation OF The
military OF otaiioDs. the Secretary does
not de, IA II proper adopt the Of Judge
Advocate General tue question now III process OF
The Secretary attention the Chief
of Eugneers report which, he shows that our for
ufcauoDs con ItiOn IOr the deteuce of I'M
por,aul and depots OF military and naval supplies
In with OF tne maritime powers. These
powers hayc been and steadily increasing their
means for offensive wariHe, wh.e tne Uulted STATES
has for years retrogradng in lis means
appropriations limited b. law to the protection pres-r
yaiion an repair sedcOast defences (wnch
houses 10 me destructive ce.nentsJ have
INADEQUATE even or these PURPOSES many
mai WORKS repair remaining unrXecuteJ for want OF
funds From personal Inspection o. many OF tue forti
hcatIOns, able 10 tna their incomplete and
Geienceiess condition Is dscrcditaoe 60 tbe country
WAR WILL COME SOONER OF LATER.
In further illusions seacoast defence the Secre
tary says:
Judging from the history Of all other nations and
the experience OF our United States WILL not
wi,hstan ling our traditional pacific policy fnd itself
sooner later at war with a marIime power. When
that comes 1t will come suddenly. There will be
time declaration to construct deences either
fixed flo ting. Other nations have been for some
years and constructing fast OF
enormous exc, ncased in up teei In
thickness aud with rfied guns weighing up 10
hundred tons, carrying shot OF a toms weight,
fired with little short OF quarter Of ton Of powder.
1t feared that the country does not appreciate the fact
hours might bring these great engines Of desruct 10
our coasts II may oe 70 Newiork Or Boston or Port
Francisco or 10 any point the enemy select. No
the worst p ssibe case OF foreign war is a
strictly defensive ope-one of waiting to receive the
and the places; that while cities and depots
cbstracens our Navy SHOULD be left ree to Iaes IG Sa
weak places the coasts of the euenys country and
commerce aheat: Moaern wars, tueo. coming sud
denly. ana Notifications being necessary. II must be
must covered by thick iron armor | !
specially made for the purpose and very
slowly from the best appointed OF manuac |
torres earthworks must nave very greatly | {
creased thickness or paiapet. CONTACTED |
time; magazines OF ammunition must
have much thicker masonry, arches and | {
earth COVERINGS than formerly our torpedo liaes
have suDerTane masOnry galleries for conduct
iDg wires to the deep OF harbor mouths
from the chambers containing the electrical apparatus
by Lines he fired. aud these galleries I
aud chambers protected beyond ali peradyen
ture from tue enemy's shot aud shell; our |
masonry platforms, composed OF great ! |
Masses must be capable not only OF |