Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1881-12-05

ommends Sea Coast Defenses-His Views
ON the West Point Academy-Expendit-
ures. Etc.
ARMY INCREASE.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 3.-The annual report
Of the secretary of war is chiefly devoted to
the consideration Of the important recon-
mendations contained in the annual reports OF
the army chiefs. Gen. Sherman's recommen-
dalton that the army be increased to $4,000
men receives Secretary Lincoln's earnest en-
dorsement. The attention of congress is called
to the need of legislation to prevent intrusion
upon Indian lands, especially from Kansas in
to Indian territory.
SEA COAST DEFENsEs.
Secretary Lincoln invites special attention
to that part of the report of Gen. Wright,
chief of engineers, which refers to our sea
coast defenses, and on this subject says: The
chief of engineers shows that defense by
Notifications and torpedoes is the only one
which is at all practicable for coast as ex-
tended as ours, comprising 80 many rich
maritime cities and extensive navy yards and
depots supply; that any attempt at any other
mode of defense would be enormously
expensive for first cost and cost of mainte-
nance; and that it is the only mode adopted
by maritime nations. Experience shows that
modern wars come on suddenly; that serious
international disputes occur between nations,
the relations of which are apparently most
unlikely to be otherwise than friendly; and
that condition of readiness for defense, and
the attitude of beligerents, are sometimes
the best preventives Of actual war. We know
that the necessary new works and the proper
modification of all old works, will require
years for their completion, and it seems sim
ply matter of common prudence that we
commence without delay, and under liberal
appropriations, put our coasts in an efficient
condition of defense.
WEST POINT.
Referring to the subjects of the standard of
requirements necessary for admission to the
Military academy at West Point, the secretary
says: concur in the views of my predeces-
sor, that it would not be well to
raise the standard of admission. The
result of the last examination, in
which 40 out of 118 candidates were rejected,
shows that the standard is so high as to pre-
vent the admission of many who would un-
doubleday, If they had been SO situated as to
secure the proper preliminary training, prove
valuable officers. It has recently been recon-
mended to me by the academy board, to per-
nit the discOntinuance OF certain prescribed
studies in the course, for the purpose of Civ
ing time for others. the Importance of which
is apparent. A consideration of the
subject suggested by this recommendation
leads me to believe that it would be best to
extend the course so as to cover five years. 1t
is bel eyed that by so doing not only would
the benefit of the academy be more widely ex-
tended, but that the graduates would be pre-.
pared to render better services to the country.
FINANCIAL.
The actual expenditures under the war de-
partment for fiscal year ended June 1881, were
$42, 122,2s1. The appropriations for 1882 were
$44 1885,, 725, and the estimates for 1883 call
for $44,54l ,276. The estimates presented to
the secretary for revision included for arma-
ment of Notifications, 1920, 600: for fortifca-
tions and other works of defense,
s. ,S16, 600; improving rivers and har-
bors, 500, l01 300; improving Mississippi
river by commission, $4,323, 900;
public buildings and grounds in and near
Washington, $749, 600; surveys taken, $1,000.
Total, $50, 900 800. This amount, he says,
has been reduced on my revision to the aggre-
gate of $40, 689, 900, which sum, If judiclously
allotted by congress, will be, in my judgment,
a reasonable allowance for this class Of ex-
penses during the next fiscal year.