Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-12-06
UNCLE sAM's Dogs OF WAR.
A Total of 20, ,O48 Men in the Service
at the Last Count.

at the Last Count.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 5.--The following
are extracts from the annual report of tn
Secretary OF War:
The Lieutenant General reports the army
at the date of the last consolidated returns, to
consist of 3 l03 officers and % 946 enlisted men.
Many officers are becoming disabled by rea-
son OF long scr vice on the frontier and from
wounds received or disease contracted during
tne war OF secession While those who are
disabled are transferred to the retired list
fast as possible, 1t would be q great benedt to
lhe army II Congress would increase the list
ana include upon it all officers found by duly
constituted boards TO be permanently inca
pacltated for active service. ] recommend
such action by Congress. II the army were
increased 200 men, and two companies were
added to each of the infantry regiments. the
army would be enabled to ere ditably perform
such service as the country might demand.
WHEN A SECOND LIEUTENANT ENTERS
THE SERVICE,
whether from civil life. the ranks OF the army
or from the Military Academy at West Point,
rigid examination is malc the necessary
condition for the commission. But this once
passed. under present regulations, the oiicor
can, and but too frequently does, close his
books and his studies; and If he does not over
work or expose lmself, he knows that. with
good health and life, he is certain, under the
operation of compulsory retirement, 10 reach
the hlg st grade open to seniority in his arm
of the service.
No man should occupy position for which
ne is not fitted. There should be some way
In the army through which such fitness should
De ascertaned. 20 men are so well fitted to
de ermlne the capacity or incapacity of
candidate for place as those who have
already filed the place. No objection can
reasonably be urged against an examination
As condition OF promotion, the same to be
conducted by officers OF higher grade. This
should not be competitive examination. but
simply such an examination as " woud demon
nj ga Ind al a fn = nj IN
properly to perform the duties of the grade TO
which he aspres. 1t should be a professional
examination. having reference to the men al,
moral and physical fitness of the candidate.
Its object is plain--the advancement and ee-
walton OF the service.
EXAMINATION AS A MEANS OF ASCER-
TANNING FITNESS
for promotion is no longer an experiment In
the army. IL has been in operation IN the
Medical Corps since 1884. In 1858, eXamina-
ttod was required as necessary preliminary
10 promotion up to the grade Of field officer in
both the Engineer and Ordnance Corps. This
still continues in fOrcein the Engineer Corps.
In 1874 an act was passed with regard to The
Ordnance Corps. In all these corps the result
has been So satisfac' ory that its propriety and
necessity are no longer questioned.
| would suggest Ipr the consideration of
Congress that a'general law be enacted, with
provisions respecting the examination simi
lar to those W hch govern promotion in the
navy, with such changes and limitations, in
regard To the NUMBER of examinations. and to
what grades of rank and to what arms of the
service they shall be extended. as may be con-
ridered necessary in applying the law TO the
army.
THE ANNUAL ENCAMPMENTS OF THE
MILITIA Cd
were inspected in nineteen OF the States by
officers Of the army, i'll compliance with the
requests from the State authorities. 1t is
ghly important that the encampments In
all the States should b. Inspected annually by
N al iltAtl - Qrfn nDa thuc
enabling the militia to receive the benefit OF
contact with trained and instructed so diers
The number of cases tried by general court
martial during last year was less by 3i5 than
the previous year.
The average cost of cavalry aud artillery
horses durn the year was $4l "a; of draft
horses, $2O5 IS, and of mules, $l54 80 per head.
At the close of the fiscal year there we're on
hand 500 cavalry and artillery horses, 454
team horses, 5,z93 mules, and oxen. The
veterinary supplies purchased this year cost
Sl,266 95, a saving Of $ll,065133 as compared
with last year.
THE NUMBER OF ADMISSIONS TO SICK
REPORT
during the past year was $780, or $3.50 less
than for the preceding year, while the ratio OF
cases to mean strength was considerably
lower, being as 9o1 Is 10 1872. There were
during the year 1872 deaths from all causes, 10
from disease. 67 from injuries, or a ratio per
1000 OF mean strength OF rs, against o ratio
OF 10 8 for previous year.
different arms Of the service, place the cavatry
lret, infantry second, and artillery third.
But lit o difference is shown in the death
rates for comm issioned officers and enl sted
me %, the rate for the former beng and for
the latter I'll per QUO of mean strength. The
age of greatest mortality was for Commits
sIOned officers. the pcriOo between 80 aud So
and for enlisted men between 66 and 90. Among
natIve-bOrn whtOc troops, SO deaths occurred
or GA per 1000 OF strength: among foreign
born, 81 deaths, or 10 per 1000: among coioreu
trooDs II deaths, or s.. per 1000.
1t s intended during the coming year to
issue q new edition Of the army regulations
revised and condensed, In u more compact
form, and omltting many provisions when do
not form any part OF the regulations OF the
army.
WHAT is NEEDED FOR THE DEFENSE
of our sea coast may be briefly stated. The
principal cItIes named In III; report OF the
Board on FortifcatiJns should 6e fortified.
and WORK 90 those most important should he
begun at once, VIZ, New YORK, San Francisco,
Boston and Washing on. The defenses re-
CURED must be erected and prepared to resist
attack from the water. For the great ports
OF Europe such deleDse5 must also be ar
ranged TO resst the attack OF armies by land
But no considerable army Will. in all hum an
probability, cross the sea aud at
Tempt the invasion OF our territor
at these populous points. War vessels
would 1e sufficient for such attacas; ana. be-
Sides armies can De RAPIDLY rR sed aud armed
by us for defense agaiust troops. We nave,
ing our cities: now best to resist ana silence
the armOred ships an the steel luns and
mortars OF moiern construction. IL can only
be accomplished 10y guns OF equal force to
those wnicn any enemy can bring agaiDst us.
AM by tOrped1es or submarine min, aid In
the navigable channels. both 81 guarded ana
protected that they can do eff, lent service
when required. We have no gun now whicn
can stop the progress OF or do any material
injury 10 u we'll arm0red ship.
THE CHIEF SIGNAL OFFICER
states that the value OF the Weather Bureau
TO ths country would be largely increased by
further extensions II the facilities for dis
tributing the weather forecasts, aud by in
creasing the number of stations. aud for that
purpose he recon mends "thaI an addition OF
1000 he made TO lhe estimates for tho fiscal
year ending June 30, l3SS."
Drops Her Guards.
MONROE. La, Dec. 5.-The steamboat
John dropped ber guards last night about
forty miles below mere, preclpttating
about thousand bales OF cotton into the
river. She careened so badly afterwards