The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 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
ANIMAL report Of the army chiefs. Gen. Sher-
mans recommendation that the army be in
creased to 80 900 men receives Secretary incolns
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 Indian Territory. Secre-
tary Lincoln invites special atten ton to tina
part Of the report OF Gen. Wright, Chief of En-.
glneers, which refers to our seacoast 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 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
first 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 most
unlikely to be otherwise than friendly, and
condition OF readiness for defense and an
attitude OF belligerency are sometimes the best
preyentives OF actual war. We know that the
necessary new works and the proper modifica-
tioas or the old works will require many years
for their completion, and it seems simply
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:
al concur in the views Of my predecessor.
hat. 10 oil
OF admission. The result of the last examina-
ton, in which forty-nine out of 1tS candidates
elected, shows the standard is so high az
to prevent the admission OF many who would
undoubtedly, if they had been so situated as to
receive the proper preliminary training, prove
recommended to me by the Aca-
demic Board to permit the discontinuance
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 ID 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-
1881, were $40, 122. 201. The appropriations
for 1882 were $i4, $3.50 725, and the estimates for
1888 call for S44, ,276 The estimates pre-
sented To the Secretary for revision in
cluded, for the armament OF fortifca-
tons, 100000; Notifications and other
works of defense, S4,lS6, 500 improving
rivers and harbors, 500 1Ol, 800; improving
the Mississippi river by the commission. 81 $685.,
900 public buildings and grounds in and near
Washington. S749, 900 surveys taken, 81, 900;
total, $39, 099, 800. "This amount has been re-
duced on my revision to an aggregate of S10,-
$4,000, which sum, il judciously allotted
by Congress, will be, in my judgment, rea-
sonable' allowance for this class Of expense
during the next fiscal year.