Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1880-11-16
GENERAL SHERMAN.
His Annual Report to the Secre-
Iary Of War.

rary OF War.
WASHINGTON, November l5.-The an.
nual report of Gen. Sherman to the
Secretary OF War, is given to the public
to-day. After calling attention to the
various subordinate reports he says: l
agree with Gen. Sheridan that the army
is too small on Ell listed men to fulfill
many duties now imposed on it and is
overworked. therefore renew my re-.
commentator of last year, that Con-
gress be asked to give 25,O09 enlisted
men specifically to troops OF line OF the
army. and to make seperate prov sion
for detachments OF advancement, engi-
neer battalion, hospital stewards, com.
misary sergeants, West Point detacE-
men,s, detailed clerks, &c, in the same
manner as has already been done for
signal corps.
The prosperous times AMI easy fnan-
cial condition OF the treasury may now
enable Congress to provide suitable
ornaments for the forts which guard
the chief harboIs OF the country.
Speaking OF the Northern Pacific,
Union Pacific and Southern Pacific rail.
roads, Gen. Sherman says: These
railroads have completely revolution.
lied our country in the past few years,
and impose on the military an entire
change Of policy. Hitherto we have
been compelled to maintain small posts
along the wagon and stage routes OF
travel. These are no longer needed
because no longer used, and the settlr-
ments which are growing rapidly along
the new roads, afford the security
necessary, and the regular stations built
Tor storage at convenient DISTANCES
afford the riessary shelter for stores
and the men who are operating
in the neighborhood. We should now
absolutely abandon many OF the smaller
posts that was hitherto necessary, and
concentrate ut strategic points generally
near the National frontier or where the
railroads intersect, so as to send out de-
,achmen,s promptly to the districts
where theya are needed. Congress alone
has power to dispose OF the property OF
the United States, and We, the military,
find ourselves possessed OF lands and
houses obtained in earlier times, which
demand occupation for preservation,
and | earnestly recon- mend that pro.
vision be made by law. for the sale OF
such abandoned military posts and out.
buildings as is found 10 be necessary,
with the right to apply the proceeds oi
tho sale to other places the PROPERTY oil
the United States.
In my judgment the time has now
come for the military authorities to 81.
lect suitable strategic points Tor perman.
ent occupation and improvement,
whence detachments can be sent out Tor
special service. AS long as we possess
and must care for these small posts 1t is
impossible for them to waste and We
are forced to hold on to them, but II
Congress will delegate to the President,
the Secretary OF War and Board OF Off.
GERS the right TO sell these posts and aP-
propriate the proceeds OF sale TO strategic
points am certain it will result in
great economy and enable US
to MAINTAIN large garrisons
with increased discipline and better ser
vice.
For similar reasons, and because the
commerce OF the world is carried on IN
ships OF 5000 tons and over, and De
cause OF the heavy draft OF modern war
vessels, our sea coast deienses are super.
fuous. We now have fifty millions OF
people, and the idea OF any hostile foice
landing on our coast IS prsposterous.
Yet our great commercial ports should
be made so safe that even an apprehen
sion OF danger would not be felt. Port
land, Boston, Newport, New York,
Philadelphia. Hampton Roads. Port
ROYAL, Key West. Pensacola. New Or.
leans, San Diego, SAN Francisco and
Port Townsend should all be
properly iorti fed and garrisoned. All
the minor iorts should be sold or aband.
onrd. An annual appropriation OF on"
million dollars would in ten years put
those fods in good order and another
million a year would properly arm them,
and the Secretary OF War and President
should have discretion in the dishurse-
ment OF this money. ARTILLERY officers
should also be associated with the en-.
gineers in constructing, altering and re-
pairing the seacoas. defences, because
The men who have 10 ii ;ht in these hat
teries should have something - DO IN
! their construction.
He then refers at length ID the reports
OF Gen. Schotield and Col Getty relative
20 West Point and the Artillery Schoo
at Fortress Monroe.