Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1882-11-17

Annual Report ofGencral sherman TO
The Secretary of War-An increase
or Wen Recommendation Mat.


General Sherman has Submitted TO the
Secretary of War his report for the past
year. lie says that the limit of $4,000 en-
listed men for the army is fixed by law, but
the fear Of exceeding this limit, or the difficulty
of cnlistns men in these prosperous times,
has kept the army below what the honor or
the necessity OF the country demands, and he
most earnestly advises that the limit be
changed to 10000 not with the expectation
of reaching that limit, but to approximate it,
and thereby make the army more efficient
without material increase of cost. The cX-
perience Of the world is that of an organized
army not more than siXty-six per cent can be
had for actual battle or field service, and us
experience demonstrates that $4,000 soldiers
are needed for the wants of the country,a num-
Der sasked for which will produce that result.
AT present our soldiers are Ovcrworked, the
companies are too small for discipline or dc
cent appearance, and he thinks that tie ar
my has earned by actual service this amount
| of consideration from the county. The re-
ports of the department generals are submit
ted with the report of the general Of the ar
my Geueral Sherman recommends the
abolition of court mariials for minor offences
by enl s,cd men, and that they be tried by u
provost judge He also recommends better
quarters for the soldiers in the Indian coun-
try. lleiecommends that The pay of enlist
ed men be replaced ut $40. The desertions
Tor the year were 1921, and he recommends
that punishment for descrtion be more clear
ly defined by law and increased in severity.
The men OF the cutire army have improved
much in precise rifle firing and on this sub
{, Shtrunhn "a ,tnr
Of the fist importance, because one who is
skilled and las confidence in his muskct is
worth, in II fight, half dozen dummies.
! lie recommends that regiments lie shifted
| from irDntitr service TO the Atlantic division
every tire years. Referring to the reports
Of l}rgldicr General Howard of the Military
! acai my at West point, Of Brcvet Major
| General Getty OF the artillery school at Fort
! Monioc, and OF Colonel Otis of the school of
application at Folt Lcavcnwortb, General
Sherman says: They exhibit the great
care and labor which have been bestowed
upon military education in the army during
the year. All of these Institutions are now
established on a fair and most satisfactory
basis, are well administered, and fulfill ad-
mirably their several purposes. The aca-
deny at West Point is governed by special
laws of Congress- only falling under my jur-
isdict!on so far as military discipline is con
ccrned.' OF the others he says; They
| form the basis for practical instruction, and.
apart from theoretical studies, enable the Off
GERS, non commissioned officers and men in
rotation to learn Thoroughly all the dutias
OF soldier in garrison, in camp and
on the m.rna, far better han would be
possible in the smaller posts to which the
bulk OF the army must of necessity be dis
| tributcd. Tie cost of maintaining these
schools is no more than If the troops were
in ordinary garrison. Blu, it would he well
10 ask annually Of Congress for an appropria-
| ton for each OF 5000 for the purchase of
| books ~ reference and for surveying and phil
osophica' apparatus, such as are used by all
schools. Gen. sherman gives the actual strcagh
OF the army as 1888. Officers of the line and H.
293 enlisted men, or an aggregate OF Is, $751;
| Other dctachmcnts which are unquesionably
| incident ii to all military establishments, but
are unavailable for actual frontier duty, swell
the giaad aggregate to al63 officers and 49,
02i enlisted men, which compose the regular
army Ct to-day. In conclusion, General
Sherman rencws the recommendations of his
last annual report.