The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1881-12-09
ARMY AND NAVY.
Trur y,.An DEp

IltE WAX DEPARTMENT.
The accompanying report Of the secretary Of
war will make known the operations of that
d":,artm cnt for the past year. He suggests
measures for promoting the efficiency of the
army bv adding 70 the number OF officers, and
recommends the legislation necessary to in
crease the number Of enlisted men
10 10000, to the maximum al
lowed by law. This he deems necessary
IL prrserv. the peace and suppress disorders
and maruudng in new settlements, 10 protect
settlers and their property against Indians,
against the cUcrOachmcuts Of intrude:s and to
enable immigrants 10 establish homes in the
most remote parts of our country. The army
il now necessarily scattered over such a vast
extent OF territory that whenever an outbreak
occurs reinIurcemonts must DO hurried
from many quarters over great
distance aud at heavy cost for
transportation of men, horses, wagons aud
supplies. | concur III the recommendations OF
the secretary for increasing the army to the
strength of 80, 900 enlisted men. 1t appears
by the secre;a,y's report that IN the absence OF
disturbances on tho frontier tue troops have
been actively employed III collecting Indians
hitherto hostile anl locating them on their
proper reservations that Sitting Ball and his
aiherentS are now prisoners a: Fort Randall;
that the Uics have been moved TO their rescr-
Walton H. Utah During the recent
oUTHREAg OF TEE ApACHES
i. was necessary II reinforce the garrisonS
IN hrizJma by troops Withdrawn from New
y Xira Some Apaches are now held prison.
RS loo rial, while -Umo have ESCAPED, and tho
ma i0rity of the lIibe are now on the reserva-
ton. There is need OF legislation 10 prevent
intrusion upon the lands set apart for the In
dams 4 large military force at great expense
- now ronnired To- patrol the boundary line
between X spsGs aud the Indian Territory. The
only punishment that can at present be
iaG;ctca y the gorciblo removal of the intruder
aud tie imposition of p'Cun!ary line which
in mos. cases il i. impossible 60 collect. There
Should be ueua'tv ty imprisonment n snch
cases III. -rparatc organization OF the sig
nal scrv!ac A. ErScd bg the secretary OF war,
and a lEl statement Of the advantages Of such
rorgnlueut ORGANIZATION ~ presented IN the re-
Iagt Of the chef signal officer. de-
tail Of tho usual work performed
bureau is also given IN that
report ask attention 10 the statement of the
secretary of war regarding the acquisitions
frequently made by the lndian bureau upon
the -uD-i-'".c 90 department Of the army, Tor
the ca nal support of bands or tribes of In
dians for which appropriations are exhausted.
The war department should not be left by rea-
son of inadequate provisions for the lG'iian
hurpau to CoHtnDuto for tie Eair-
tanance Of the Indians. The report
of tho chief Of engineers furnishes
a detail d account of the operations for the i'm
i
mend t. yORr attention the suggestions con-
taiued ia the report with regard TO the condi-
ton OF our Notifications, especially our coast
defen1e-, aud recommend an increase of
strength IN tue engineers battalion by which
the cllic.cicy of our torpedo system would be
improved / also call your attention 10 the re-
marks on the Improvement of the south pass of
the Mississippi river, the proposed free bridge
over the Potomac river at George
town, the importance of completing
Il tI,n
of the department buildings aud other recon-
meiIdatious OF the secretary of war which ap-
pear in his report. The actual expenditures Of
This department for the fiscal year ending June
80. 1881, are $40. l22 2Ol.}0 For appro-
prIatious for the year 1882 were S44 SS9. 72J.
The estimates for 1888 are SI1, 54l,2 1G.
TIE NAVY
The report of the secretary of the navy ex-
hibts the condition OF that branch of the
service aud presents valuable suggestions for
attention also To the appended report of the
advisory board which was convened to
devise suitable measures for increasing the
efficiency of the navy, and in particular
to the report az 10 tho character and number
of vessels necessary to place it upon footing
commemorate with the necessities OF the gov
eminent l cannot too strongly urge upon you
my conviction that every consideration Of
national safety, economy ana honor impera-
lively demand thorough rehabilitation OF
our navy. WIN Iuil appreciation Vi Tue idct
that compliance with the suggestion nf the head
of the department and Of the advisory board
involves large expenditure of the public
,noncys. l earnestly recommend such
Appropriation will accomplish an
end which seems 80 desirable. Moth
ing can be more inconsistent with
true public economy than withholding means
necessary TO accomplish objects intrusted by
the constitution to the national legislature
One OF these objects, and one which is of
paramount importance, is declared by our
fundamental law to be the provision for "com-
mon defense" Surely nothing more essential TO
the defense of the United States and all our
people than the efficiency of
OUR NAVY.
We have for many years maintained with
foreign governments the relations of honorable
peace, and that such relations may be perma-
nent is desired by every patriotic citizen Of the
republic; but If We read the teachings