The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1885-11-18
THE ARMY.
Lieut.. Gen. Sheridan Presents His
Annual Report.

WASHINGTON, NOV. II.
t,d ne annual report of the lieutenant general OF
ast army Is made public today. Atthe date OF the
9t 6G consolidated returns the army consisted OF
~ l,ao5 oncers and "a, 705 men. OF the division OF
the .ee,IPa Pacific, General Sheridan says:
poie situation in that part of the division OF the
tb bscldhc, d, comprising the southwestern portion OF
n so department of Arizona, has been, regret 10
Say; lar from satisfactory. So long as Gen. Crook
a haa control OF the Apaches, under the agreement
osstMween s ~ The Secretary OF War and the Secretary
od sne Interior matters went on very well IN Ari-
Ao9ilit but when contentious began under the di-
elusa is authority that existed a. year ago distrust
anu trouble arose among the Indians and contin-
@ @seu anIil the outbreak of the Chiricahuas In May
last last. Inc outbreak was petulant and without
cause ss and embraced only part of the tribe, but
TINS element comprised the young and most vigor
oas 9 and the conduct of this band, not exceeding
4aa ~ men and IL squaws was fendish In the ex-
GIeme. unprotected and unarmed people were
murdered whenever met on their route ana When
pressed by the troops they scattered like quail
anu came together at some designated point 5O TO
,, doo miles distant. They eventually crossed the
me INTO Mexico thinking perhaps they might es-
& nape pursuit, but our agreement WIN tle Ooyefil-
Win occasional conflicts which have resulted
IN the killing of a small number, probably not ex-
ceedlng twelve, and the capture OF over 30
women and children. They should all be exter-
minated or captured, and have the greatest con
ndenee in Gen. Crooks ability to accomplish this
purpose, though the difficulties are very great. l
peg the people in that section to bear in mind that
Gen. Crook is the best man we have to deal with
these hostile Indians, and will accomplish in the
eIia enc u more Than, perhaps, any man IN the army
he is familiar with the Indians and the country
ana anu unfortunate as the people OF Arizona and
New Mexico have been, there is no other man in
the army who could do any better or who is more
wrapped up in the welfare of the people in that
section as regards life, property and business in
terestS.
s OF the Indian question Gen. Sheridan says:
son account of the rapid growth of our Western
settlements the army is obliged in some places to
protect white people from Indians, while in other
places it is protecting the Indians in their persons
and property from the whites. The Indians are
the richest people in this country as communities.
oir rac inp of q hact Ian
and if divided among heads of families each fam
lily would have thousands of acres. If | may be
permitted to suggest would recommend that
each family be given and located on the 500 acres
now provided for them by law in case of actual
settlement. The government should then con-
demn all the balance OF each reservation, buy it
in at $1.25 an acre, and with the proceeds pur-
chase government bonds to be held in trust by the
Interior Department only. giving to the Indians
port Let this money, if you please, be disbursed
the same as the money appropriated each year by
as follows The Grow Indians, for instance, have
nearly 4,900,o0o acres Of land. There are not
more than $500 OF them, and counting five persons
to a family-a large estimate-they could be
settled separately on. 800 acres for each family
and then have over 100000 acres left, which
the government could buy of them when con
demned. If the proceeds were then invested in
government bonds and the interest used for their
Support, it would be more money than is now ap-
proprated by Congress for their yearly mainten-
ance. 1t would be their own money and would
take the question Of annual appropriations for
them out of Congress-"
The status of the national guard he says, should
be regulated by general law of Congress, and
the number of officers and men be fixed and un-
changeable, except as change is necesstated at
stated periods by the growth of population The
general government could then issue the best
arms and camp and garrison equipage, and exact
the responsibility which is not now required The
instructions of the soldier in the use of his rifle
or carbine has progressed satisfactorily Gen.
Sheridan commends the discipline throughout the
army, which he says is very good. He makes
some minor recommendations, and concludes by
recommending that the rules for the government
of The military be made by Congress subject to
change by Congress only, which he says would
give the service the stability it has never yet pos
SeSSed.