The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1881-12-09
WAR DEPARTMENT.

Annual Report OF Secretary lincoln.
The annual report Of the Secretary Of War is
chiefly devoted to the consideration Of the inn
portant recommendations contained IN the
annual report Of the army chiefs. Gen. Shers
mans recommendation that the army be in
ereasedto 80 900 men receives SecretaryL incoln's
earnest Endorsement. The attention of Con-
gress is called to the need OF legislation to pre-
vent an intrusion Upon Indian lands, especially
from Kansas into the Indiafi Terfitors. seers@
tary Lincoln invites special atten ton 20 tbs
part of the report of Gen. Wright, Chief Of En-
gineers, which refers to our seacoast defenses
and on this subject sSyss
The Chief of Engineers shows that defense
by Notifications and torpedoes is the only oDs
which is at all practicable for coast as extend.
ed as ours, comprising SO many rich maritime
cities, extensive navy yards, and depots OF sup
ply that any attempt at any other mode Of de-
tense would be enormously expensive, both for
inst cost and maintenance, and it is the only
mode adopted by maritime nations. Experience
SHOWS modern wars come on suddenly that
serious international disputes occur between ma
tons the relations OF which are apparently NEST
unlikely to be otherwise than friendly, and
condition Of readiness for defense and an
HSNAtuOO Va are SOMETIMES IQ6 DOSk
preyentiyes Of actual war. We know that the
necessary new works and the proper modifca-
tons of the old works will REQUIRE many wears
Tor their completion, and it seems simply q
matter OF common prudence that we commence
without delay, and, under liberal appropria-
tons, put our coasts in an effective condition of
defense
Referring to the subject of the standard Of
requirements necessary for admission to the
Military Academy at West Point the Secretary
says:
" concur in the views Of my predecessor,
that it would not be we'll to raise the standard
of admission. The result of the last examina-
ton, in which forty-nine out of 118 candidates
were rejected, shows the standard is so high as
to prevent the admission Of many who would
undoubtedly, if they had bee1l 50 situated as to
receive the proper preliminary training, prove
valuable officers. 1t has recently been
recommended to me by the AGA
demic Board to permit the diseontinuance
of certain prescribed studies in the course for
the purpose of giving time for others, the inn
portance of which WAS apparent. A considera-
ton of the subject suggested by this recon-
mendation leads me to believe it would be best
to extend the course SO as to cover five years.
1t is believed that by so doing not only would
the benefits of the academy be more widely ex-
tended, but that the graduates would be pre-
pared to render better service to the country.
The actual expenditures under the War De-
partment for the fiscal year ending fIne 80,
1881, were $40, 1922 The appropriations
for 1882 were s44, 8S9 725, and the estimates for
1858 call for S44, 541 ,276. The estimates pre-
sented to the Secretary for revision in
cluded, for the armament Of fortifca-
tons, 100000; fortifcations and other
works of defense, S4,lS6,5OO improving
rivers and harbors, $40, 101, 800; improving
the Mississippi river by the commission, 81, 1923,
600; public buildings and grounds in and near
Washington, BIAS, 600; surveys taken, SO, 600
total $50 099, 500 "This amount has been 1e-
duced on my revision to an aggregate of S1O,-
O89,000, which sum, if judiciously allotted
by Congress, will be, in my Judgment, a rea-
SCRABBLE allowance for this class of expense
during the next fiscal year.