Custer chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, Black Hills, D.T. [S.D.]) 1880-1890, 1885-12-19
A ~
STATUS AND NEEDS or THE ARMY

The report Of the secretary OF war is herewith
submitted. The attention Of congress is invited
to the detailed account which it contains o. the
administration Of his department and his recon-
mendations and suggestion for the improve
ment of the service.
The army consisted, at the late OF the last con-
solidatcd returns, Of ., l5t officers and 4 .705 en-
listed men. The expenses o. he departments for
the fiscal year ending lune3D $50. including Sl3,-
l6l, 39l. 80 for pubic works T. u river and harDOr
improvements. were So 5o..5l.ii.
Besides the troops which were dispatched in
pursuit OF the small band OF Indians who left
their reservation in Arizona and committed muir
deTs and o%utrages. two regiments of cavalry and
one OF infantry were sent last July to lndi3n
territory 10 prevent an outbreak which seemed
imminent. They remained To aid, II necessary,
in the expulsion of intruders upon tho reser-
walton, who have caused the discomfort among
the Indians, bat the executive proclamation
warning item TO remove was complied with
without interference. TroCps were also sent to
Rock Springs. in wyoming territory, after the
massacre of the Chinese there, To prevent fur
Their disturbance, and afterward TO Seattle, in
Washington territory, to avert a threatened attack
upon Chinese laborers and domestic violence
there. In both cases the mere presence OF the
troops had the desired effect.
1t appears that the number OF
DEsERTIoNs HAv DIMINISHED,
but during the last fiscal year they numbered
2.1ZI, and one instance IL given 10y the lieutenant
general Of six deScrtions by the Same recruit. |
am convinced that thie number OF desorticns
can hn much diminished by better discipline and
trgatm mt, but the punishment should be in
creased for repeated offences. These desertions
might also be reduced by lessening the term of
first ~cnlistments, thus allowing "A discontinued
recruit 10 contemplate q nearer discharge and
the army r profitable radiance after one term Of
service. A re-enllstmcnt would be quite apt TO
sa'ura "A cont recruit and good soldier.
Tn' acting judge adyocate-Seneral reports that
the number of
TRIALS BY GENERAL CoURT-MARTIAL
during the year was 500, and that II ,s5l trials
took place before garrison and rcgimental courts
martial. The suAg rlion that probably more than
half the army have been tried for Oitenses great
ana small in one year, may II arrest attention.
or course many OF these trials before garrison
and regim"ntal courts martial We're for ~ofiensas
almost frivolous. and there should. | think, be a
way devised To dispose OF those IN a more sum-
mary and less inconvenient manner than by court
martial. If some Of the proceeding of courts
martial, which / have had occasion 10 examine,
present the Id gs OF justice which generally pre-
vail in these tribunals. ! am satisfied that they
should b. much reformed. il the honor and the
honesty OF the army and navy ar9 By their lnstru-
mentality to be ylgoN'ated and protected.
Tho hoard Of i1IlltcaloLs or other licences,
appointed in pursuance ~ the provisions of the
act of congress- approved March g. 1853. viii in "a
short tine present their report. and II IS hoped
! that this may greatly aid the legislation so neces-
sary 20 remedy the present defenceless condition
OF our sea coast.
THE WORK OF THE SIGNAL SERVICE
has been prosecuted during the last year with re-
suits OF increasing benefit to the country. The
! ii Id Of instruction has been ENLARGED with a
view Of adding so its usefulness. Tie number
Of s~tati0ns in operation June 80. 1855, was 40.
Tclrgraphic reports are received daily from $50
stations. Reports arc also received from IS
Canadian stations, 3i5 volunteer observers, So
srmy o sarsep Gs s AZ %ilita oy f ,"s ssr nad $ a@r i9rei In
fiscal year, after deducting receipts from milf
tary telegraph lines. was $50. 759,2J7.
In view OF the fact referred to bythesecretary OF
yuar TINT work ~ tbia nature ann of the furthpr
fact that il is assuming larger proportions con
stantly, is becoming more and more unsuited To
am inclined to agree witt him in the opinion
that il should be separately es ablished.
If this is done the scope and extent of the oper-
atoms should as nearly rs possible be definitely
prescribed by law and always capable OF exact
ascertalnment.
THE MILITARY ACADEMY
OF West Point is reported as being in a high
state Of efficiency and well equipped for the sat
i~sfactory accomplishment of the purposes of its
maintenance. The fact that the class which
graduates next year il An unusually large one
has constrained nle To decline to make appoint
ments To second iieutenantcies in the army from
civil life, so that such vacancies as exist IN these
places may be reserved for such graduates, and
it is not probable that there will he enough
vacancies TO provide positions for them
all when they leave the military school. Under
tho prevailing law and usages. those not thus
assigned To duty never actively enter the military
service. 1t is suggested that the law on this sub
! lpct De tnbUEtu so tidl tutll u tlicS' y'uiS lIitI
ms are not at once assigned To duty after gradua-
ton may be retained 40 second lieutenants in the
army, if they desire it, subject to assignment
when opportunity occurs, under proper rules as
to priority of selection. The expenditures on
account OF the military academy for tho last
fiscal year, exclusive Of tho sum taken for its
purposes, for appropriations Tor the support oil
the army, were $40, Il2.O7.
The act approved March 3, 1885. designed tc
compensate officers and enlisted men for loss OF
private property while in the service Of tn
United States, is SO indefinite in It's terms and
apparently admits OF SO many claims, the adjust
mcnt Of which could not have been completed,
that If it is To remain on the statute books il
needs amendment.
There should he Il general law of congress pro.
hibiting the construction OF
BRIDaEs OVER NAvIGABLR WATERS
in such manner "a 10 obstrnct navigation, witt
provisions for preventing the same. Ii Seems
that under existing statutes tie government can
not intervene to prevent such n construction
when entered upon without It's consent, though
when such consent 10 asked and granted upon
condition, that authority 10 insist upon suct
condition ia clear. Thus it ia represented that
while tho officers of the government are will
great care guarding against the distractions oi
n"yigatioa by a bridge ncrOss the Mississippi
river at st. Paul, u large pier for a bridge has
been built just below this place, directly in the
navigable channel OF the river. If such things
are 10 be permitted 4 strong argument Is pre-
sented against the appropriation of large sums OF
money to improve the navigation OF this anc
other important highways OF commerce..