The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1882-11-08
TELEGRAPaIC
THE Ar Ely.
GEN, Sherman's last Report


Washington, 1.-THE annual report
of General Sherman was given to the
public to-day. 1t is accompanied by re-
ports of division commanders and OF
General Sheridan, and Inspector General
Ssckett. The report shows the general
staff consists CT SIS officers and ] ,216 en-
listed men. The army proper consists
of ten regiments of cavalry, All officers
aud 6, $50 men, five regiments ofsrtillery,
$50 officers and 2,493 men, twenty-five
regiments Of iafsntry, 877 officers and
8,773 men; total, including unavailable
men detailed at various points, 1852
officers, and %, 024 men, He says the
experience of the world shows that but
66 per cent. Of an army is available for
active service, and as $4,000 ale really
needed for the standing army he recon-
mends that the limit Of the army be IN
creased to 10000 officers snd men. The
army is now. he says. over worked, and
must continue so until the mum Der Is in
creased. He reviews the work Of the
year somewhat in detail, arriving at the
conclusion that there las been less
number Of Indian outbreaks in the year
than at any time for twenty years past.
This is due to the efficiency OF the army
and partly TO the advancement of civiliza-
ton in the west. The report devotes
considerable space to the growth of the
great west, and says that now that the
transaction period is past it is the duty Of
government to select certain strAtigetic
points for permanent army posts, and
construct comfortable buildings on them,
so as not longer to compel officers and
men to live in boles in the ground, shan
ties or green cottonwood log hRts, az
heretofore. There have been l,74l ITials
by court martial during the year. He
recommends change in the system of
court marital, saying the present system
was established by custom IN the English
army 100 years ago. when the habit was
to dine at.3 O'Clock and get drunk after
dinner. The number of GesertiOns dur
ing the year was 1921; enlistmentE and
reinlittments, Z, BAL. Commenting on the
number of deserlions, he Gays many OF
those are of men who enlist 10 eastern
cities, and after getting free tranfporta-
ton west desert, knowing there will be
little effort to bring them back or punish
them. The remedy, be thinks, is in bet
ter treatment of those who stay and more
severe punishment of desertels. He re-
commends sn increase of the paw Of men
to SIG per mouth instead of Sl3; that
punishment for desertion be made
more severe, inficting capital punishment
in aggravated cases, as ia done by other
countries. The general condition OF the
army ana the personnel of its men has
improved The recent rife contest made
great ina orovement in the Workmanship
of the men. lie recommends an appro-
priatioa TO cont'nui the work he
recommends the adoption of some plan
By which regiments and officers can b.,
given defoite terms IN remote posts and
then allow the return to the comforts OK
civilized life. He recommends the en-
ployRent of teachers for the schools at
posts and says thst as officers in spite OF
sage advice will marry and have families
they ought to be provided for in the oes t
manner possible.