The Portland daily press., 1882-11-09
A Sl3uO Fire in Machies-
UNCLE SANS ARMY.
Gen. Sherman Makes His Annual
Report to the War Department.
SOME INTERESTING STATISTICS IN
REGARD TO THE BOYS IN BLUE

WASHINGTON, Nov. S.-Gen. Sherman has
submitted to the Secretary of War his report
for the past year. He says that the limit of
25,000 enlisted men for the army is fixed by
law, but the fear of exceeding this limit, or
the difficulty of enlistiDg men in these pros
porous times has kept the army below what
the honor or the necessity of the country de-
mands, and be most earnestly advises that the
limit be changed TO 1000, not with the expec-
tation OF reaching that limit, but TO approx
mate 1t and thereby make the army more eff
elent, without material increase of cost. The
experience of the world is that of an orgapiz-
ed army not more than 66 per cent. can be had
for actual battle or field SERVICE and as experi-
eDce demonstrates that 25000 soldiers are
needed for the wants of the country number
is asked for, which will produce that result. At
present our soldiers are overworked, the COM
panies are too small for discipline or decent APP
pearaDce, and he thinks that the army has
earned, by actual service, this consideration
from the country. The report of the depart
ment generals are submitted with the report of
the general OF the army. Gen. Sherman rec
ommends the abolition of court martials for
minor offences by enlisted men, and that they
be tried by provost judge. He also recon-
mends better quarters for the soldiers in the
Indian country. He recommends that the pay
OF enlisted men be replaced at SIG. The de-
sertions for the year were 3,72l, aud he recon-
m ends that punishment for deserters be more
clearly defined by law, and increased in severi-
ty. The men of the entire army have improv-
ed much in precise rifle firing and on this sub
iect Gen. Sherman says: This is matter of
the first Importance, because one who is skilled
and has confidence in his muBket is WORTH in a
fight, half dozen dummies He recommends
that regiments be shifted from frontier service
TO the Atlantic division every three years Re-
ferring to the reports of Brig. Gen. Howard of
the military academy at West Point, of Brevet
Major General Getty, of the artillery school at
Fort Monroe, and of Col. Otis, of the school of
application at Fort xDavenworth, Gen. Sher-
mai says: "They exhibit the great care and
laboi which have been bestowed upon military
education in the arn4 during the year. All of
these institutions now established on a fair
and most Satisfactory basis are well admins
tered and fnltl admirably their several pur-
poses. The academy at West Point is govern
ed by special laws OF Congress, only falling un-
pine is concerned" OF the others he says
"They form the basis for practical instruction
and, apart from theoretical studies, enable the
officers, non-commssioned officers and men in
rota ion TO learn thoroughly all the duties of a
soldier, in garrison, in camp and on the march,
far better than would be possible in the smaller
posts to which the bulk of the army must of
necessity be distributed The cost of main :
tanning these schools is no more than il the
troops were in ordinary garrison. But it
would be well TO ask annually of Congress an
appropriation for each of 5000 for the pur-
chase OF books of reference and for surveying
and philosophical apparatus such as are used
by all schools" Gen Sherman gives the actu-
al strength of the army as ! ,588 officers of the
line aDdal7 ,293 enlisted meu, or an aggregate OF
1881; other detachmerts, which are unqn IS
tionably incidental to all military establish
ments, but are unavailable for actual frontier
duty, swell the grand aggregate TO 2163 off
GERS and 23,024 enlisted men, which cor pose
the regular army of to-day In conclusion.
Gen. Shs srman renews the recommendations OF
his last annual report.