The Northern Pacific farmer. [volume] (Wadena, Minn.) 1878-1885, 1880-12-09
THE WAR DEPART MENT.
NEEDS OF TIE ARMY.

The secretary Of the navy reports that the expen-
ditnres Of the var departmsn 70. the Sc
appropriations for this department for the year
amount to $41 1898, $3.50. 40. With respect to the
army the secretary invites attention to the fact that
revised statute 1910 not more than 10000 enlisted
men, but that provisions contained in appropriation
bills have limited expenditures to enlist2ents of but
is the least possible force at which the
present organization can be maintained. Having in
view efficiency. discipline and economy, while the
appropriation for the pay of the army, the saving
made in other respects would be more than an
equivalent for the additional outlay, and the efa-
rapid extension Of the railroad system Of the Mis-
>souri and Mississippi river and the great tide of
immigration, which has flowed on new
entirely new change of policy The establishment
of posts along wagon roads and roads frequently
travelled is no longer necessary. Permanent quar-
ter than those heretofore constructed. will be re-
quired. Under the existing laws
PERMANENT BUILDINGS CANNOT BE ERECTED
without the sanction of congress- and when sales of
military sites and buildings have been authorized
tho moneys received have reverted to the treasury
and could only become available through a new
be made by general statute for the sale of such
abandoned military posts and buildings us are
found to be- un p and for the
many of the present posts are of but slight value
for military PURPOSES owing to the changed condi-
ton of the country, their occupation is continued
at great expense and Inconvenience because they a
ford the only available shelter for troops. The
absence Of large number of the officers Of the line
in active duty from their regiments is serious det-
riment to the maintenance Of the service The con-
slant demand for small detachments, each of which
should be commanded by commissioned officer,
and the various details of officers for necessary
vice away from their commands occasions scarcity
in the number required for company duty. With a
view to essenng this drain to extent it is rec
commended that the law authorizing the detail of
officers from the active list as professors
of tactics and military science at certain colleges
and universities be SO amended as to provide that
all such details be made from the retired list Of the
army.
sAttention is asked to the necessity of providing
by legislation for organizing. arming and dscipiu
ing the active militia Of the country, and liberal
appropriations are recommended in this behalf.
The report of the adjutant general OF the army and
the chief Of this subject
oficers in charge of education in the army shows
that there seventy-eight schools now in opera
II the an Se Of
recommends the enlistment of $50 schoolmasters
With the rank and pay Of commissary sereeants: An
p tS to and ady s
THE CORPS OF JUDGE ADVOCATES
placed upon the same f9o TIN as to
istng laws the bureau Of military justice consists Of
one officer. the judge advocate general, and the
corps of judges advocates OF eight officers OF equal
corps shall remain at four. when reduced
BY casualty; or resignation to that number:
and the corps Of Judge advocates upon the same
basis with the other staff corps Of the army would
remove an unjust discrimination against deserving
ofcers and subserve the best interests of the ser
vice. General attention is asked to the report Of the
chief of engineers upon the condition of
our national defenses. From q personal inspection
Of many of the Notifications referred to, the secre-
made and to state that their incomplete and defense
less condition is discreditable to the country While
ther nations have been increasing their means Tor
he cities, We have been dormant in preparing for
Eense. Nothing of Importance has been done
toward STRENGTHENING and finishing our Sasss
oreat guns of modern warfare and heavy army
Notifications came into use among nations, and our