Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1884-11-10
Gen. Shcridan,s Annual Report.

the Secretary OF War his annual report which
shows the army to consist Of aggregate Of 2,l47
Officers and "a 236 enlisted men. In referring to the
Indian territory the report invites attention to the
recommendations OF Brig Gen. Stanley, COM
mandlng the department OF Texas regarding suit
able provision for the Seminole negro Indians some
forty OF whom have recently been discharged from
the military service, In which they were hired as
scouts ana guides for troops The Indian bureau
has declined relief to these Indians and has never
made place for them In the Indian territory The
abie-ooded men having been employed as scouts
Tor troops, their wages have kept the tribe from
actual starvation during the past ten or twelve
years, but having been necessarily discharged from
the military service, they have now lost even this
slender means OF support. The men made excellent
scouts; none were ever better; they were good
trailers and were brave In action.
ton for the northern Cheyeanes and northern Ara
pahoes, which should be regarded as part OF the
sioux nation, or should be provided for separately
Every year SHOWS that although the Indian Ques-
ton, SO far as hard lighting Is concerned practi
caiiy eliminated from military Considerations the
control OF reservations and the encouragement to
actual settlement Will not permit military services
In the west TO he dispensed with for many years To
come
THE WEAPON OF THE FUTURE.
Gen. Sheridan says that, in his opinion, the wea-
pom Of the future Will be magazine rife, or one
eQuallins It's rapidIty OF discharge but adds that
as danger OF war with foreign nations seems re-
mote, we can walt for still further improvements
before finally adopting some good. reliable, stand
ard magazine gun. The Lee, Chafee-R eece and new
hotchkiSs magazine rides will be carefully tested
by the troops however.
NATIONAL GUARD OF THE STATES
In regard to the national guard OF the states he
recommends that Congress designate the num-
Der OF men each state should have and provide
arms ana camp and garrison equpage. Excepting
Tor our ocean commerce and for our Seabord cities
he does not think we should be much alarmed
aocut PROBABILITY OF wars with foreign powers,
since 1t would require more than million and q
hali OF men to make a campaign upon land
that number OF soldiers. with all their munitions
OF war, their cavalry, artillery and infantry even
II not moested by us whilst in transit, would de-
mand large part OF the shipping OF all Europe
Inc nation is growing SO rapidly, however, that
there are signs or other troubles which WILL prOba
Oily, not come upon us If both capital and labor are
conservative.
ARMY REORGANIZATION.
The discipline OF the army is excellent, and the
only change recommended is uniform Organiza-
ton Of the three arms OF the service, by adding
two companies and the corresponding ma t0rS to
each regiment OF infantry. The report says: In
our army regiments are now merely skeletons,
companies averaging only about forty men for
duty, but In time OF need these can be increased to
100 men, so that the regiment will then be from
LOO to 1900 strong, according as there ten
twelve companies This is quite enough for a col
suits. Most OF the projects now advanced for army
reorganization are based upon desire for better
promotion rather than upon any real need OF in
crease IN regimental efficiency. II Congress would
only relieve the army OF all officers who are now
tncapacitated for duty, and whose cases have been
passed upon by retiring boards, promotion would
soon become rapid enough to satisfy all who are
not unreasonable upon this subject"
Considerable attention Is devoted to the cavalry.
now composed OF ten regiments, reduced to Skele-
tons. II Is now contemplated to make the large
reservation at Fort Riley, Kansas, the headquar-
tiers OF the cavalry. Broken down cavalry horses
can there recuperate, and 1t may become necessary
to raise the horses needed for our military service
and Fort Riley Is place where the government
might advantageously breed such horses for its
own uses as Is cone In continental Europe.
LOOK INTO THE FUTURE.
s'The cavalry should be fostered and we'll cared
for II Improvements in guns Of every cal1ber con-
tinue to be as rapid during the past fifteen or
twenty years, and good magazine rifle be finally
attained, battles will become SO destructive to
stand up before the other. Armies will then resort
to other methods OF warfare. Nations now attack
each others commerce upon the seas in future they
Will also destroy one anotherS commerce upon
land. For this latter kind OF warfare men upon
horseback will be Indispensable. Since, then, We
Of cavalry, an establishment worthy Of our prsa1
country should be developed there and our cavalry
be prepared to take Its part, when needed. in the
new phase Which warfare may assume in the
future"
DEsERrfoNs FROM THE ARMY.
There Is slight increase in the number Of de-
sertions reported, and Gen. Sheridan says, after
referring to the causes OF desertion that 1t
that there Is no way OF putting stop to the prac-
tees OF deSerters until some method Is adopted
whereby they may be Immediately recognized
whenever they present themselves before recruit
Ing officers for physical examination, required at
every enlistment.
APPOINTED By THE PRESIDENT.-The President
to-day appointed Thos Adamson. OF Pennsylvania,
to be q. S. consul general at Panama
CALLED on THE PREsIDENr.-The Secretary OF
the Treasury, Secretary Of War, Postmaster Gen.
eral, Ex-Governor Grosvenor, OF Ohio, and Judge
Shellabarger, Mr.. Jere Wilson and Civil service
Commissioner Eaton, called on the President to-
day.
DEATH OF REAR ADMIRAL MURRAY.-Rear Admi-
raj Alexander Murray died In this city to-day, after
short Illness He was born In 1873 and entered
the navy Ia August. 1885, as a midshlpman He
participated In the war with Mexico, and was &C
lion. In 1873 he was retired at his own request,
and since that time he has resided in Washing
ton.
CABINET MBKTIN9 To NoRRow.-The first regular
Cabinet meeting In the past three months viii be
held TO- morrow. All OF the Cabinet officers are now
In the city, with the exception OF Secretary Chand
Ter, who ID expected tomorrow or next day. The
President is stil residing at Soldiers home.
ARMY ORDERs.-The extension Of leave OF alb
sence granted First Lieut. stephen W. Groesbeck,
regimental adJutant 9Th infantry, Is further ex-
tended one month. The extension Of leave OF Capt.
Jacob b. Smith. 18th infantry, IL sttll further ex
tended to January 6, 1885 The extension OF leave
OF Second Lieut.. 4. NJ Blatchford 18th Infantry, Is
further extended one month
"A meeting Of the stockholders OF tho Enterprise
Factory COmDAnv Au0Oafa. Ga. SAT-