The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1881-11-18
1hs Annual Report Of the GENERAL q
the Army.

- A1ASJe
General Sherman has submitted his an--
nual report to the Secretary Of War, tnclos-
ing the reports Of Generals Drum and Sack
EFT, and the reports Of the commanding
Generals Of the divisions and departments.
The General says. referring to the reports
OF the latter. that they all show that our
companies are too small for efficient dis
ciplipe and for economical service. When
the Treasury was poor and loaded Win
debt, the army endeavored to gracefully
submit to overwork, but now, saws General
Sherman, they appeal for relief, and it Ii
recommended that Congress repeal that
clause Of the existing law which limits the
enlisted force Of the army to $4,000 men.
Considerable space is devoted to the Discus
sion of the subject Of officers servants,
General Sherman maintaining that no SOL
der should ever be compelled to do mental
labor without compensation. or without his
consent, and he recommends that the exist
ing law be repealed or modified so as to So
cure this end.
Referring to West Point, he says it has
been, and must continue to be, the fountains
source Of military education in time OF
peace. In his Judgment, the Military
Academy at West Point fulfills its uses,
and can safely be intrusted to prepare boys
to become the soldiers Of the future.
IS There are in the army 430 companies,
necessarily widely scattered over our vast
domain, to guard the property and prevent,
as far as foresight can, complications and
troubles Of every variety and kind; at one
time protecting settlers against Indians,
and again Indians against settlers. When
these occur it is always sudden, and REIN
fOrcements have to be hurried forward
from great distances and always at heavy
cost for transportation of men, horses,
wagons, and supplies. This cost in the
aggregate will, In my judgment. be moro
than sufficient to supply an increase OF
twenty per cent. of private soldiers-au
that would ask for at this time-because
believe this increase will add little, If any,
to the annual cost Of the army, and yet
give great relief to our overtaxed soldiers.
In the last ten years our frontiers have so ex-
tended under the protection OF our small
army as to add at least S ], 200, OOO, 900 to the
taxable wealth Of the Nation. This has en-
abled emigrants to settle up remote parts OF
the country, and is the principal cause OF the
great prosperity which is felt throughout all
parts Of the country. When the National
Treasury was poor and loaded with debt,
the army endeavored gracefully to submit
to overwork, but they now appeal for re-
lief; and do most earnestly ask the honor.
able Secretary Of War to apply to Congress
to repeal that clause of the existing law
which limits the enlisted force of the army
to 5000 men, and to enact that each and
every company in the. army may be
enlisted to at least fifty privates. making
sixty-two enlisted men and three
officers to each of the 430 companies,
thus increasing the army proper to
$500 enlisted men, which number, in
practice, will probably never exceed 5000.
This should form the combatant force; and,
IS experience and universal practice have
demonstrated the necessity for another or
n0n-combatant force, further urge that
special provision be made by law for each
Of the following separate and distincr pur.
poses-viZ.s