The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1886-12-17
ARMY AND NAVY.
THE WAR DEPARTMENT.

THE WAR DEPARTMENT..
The report of the secretary of war gives de-
tailed account of the administration OF his de-
partment, and contains sundry recommended
tions for the improvement OF the service which
I fully approve. The army consisted, az the
date of the last consolidated return, of 2,lO3
officers and "a, GAG enlisted men. The expenses
of the department for the last fiscal year were
$36,a9o,90s2s. including 500, 3o543 for
public works and river and larbor improve
ments, Especially direct the attention OF the
congress to the recommendation that officers be
required to submit to an examination rs pre-
l1minary to their promotion. i see no OBJ
jection but many advantages in adopting
this feature, which has operated so beneti-
cialy in our navy department, as well
as in branches of the army
The subject of coast defenses and Notifications
has been fully and carefully treated bv the board
on fortlticatlons, whose report was submitted at
the last session OF congress, but no constructed
work of the kind recommended by the board has
been possible during the past year from the lack
of appropriations for such purpose. The defense
less condition of our sea coast and lake frontier
is perfectly palpable. The examination made
must convince us all that certain of our cities,
named in the report of the board, should be
fortified, and that work on the most important
of these Notifications should be commenced at
once. The work has been thoroughly considered
and laid out, the secretary OF war reports, but
all is delaYed In default of congressional action
The absolute necessity, judged by all standards
of prudence and foresight, of preparation for
an efectual resistance against the armored ships
struction, ahich may threaten the cities on our
coasts, is SO apparent that hope effective steps
Will be taken i'll that direction Immediately. The
valuable and suggestive treatment of the ques-
tion by the secretary of war Is earnestly COM
mended to the consideration of the congress-
THE APACHE WAR.
In September and October last the hostile
Apaches, who, under the leadership of Geron-
imo, had for eighteen months been ON the war
path and during that time had committed many
murders and been the cause Of constant terrors
n tn f,pp
Miles, the military commander who succeeded
Gen. Crook i'll the management and direction of
their pursuit. Under the terms of their sur
render as then reported, and in view of the I'M
| derstandng which these murderous savagcs en-
tertaln OF the assurances gived them, it con-
/ sidered best to imprison them IN such manner
as to prevent their ever engaging in such out
RACES again. instead of trying them for murder.
Fort Pickens having been selected as safe place
| OF contnement, all the adult males were sent
thithcr and Win be closely guarded as prisoners.
In the meantime the residue of the band. who,
though still remaining upon the reservation
were regarded as unsafe and suspected of fur
nishing aid to those on the warpath, had been
removed to Fort Marion. The women and larger
children of the hostiles also taken there,
and arrangements have been made for putting
the children of proper age in Indian schools.
THE NAVAL. ESTABLISHMENT.
The report OF the secretary of the navy CON
tains detailed report of the condition of his de-
partmeut, With such Il statement of the action
needed to Improve the same as should challenge
! the earnest attention of congress. The present
navy OF tlle Onlteu states. aside from the ships
In course of construction, consists Of First.
fourteen Single-turreted monitors, none of which
are IN commission, nor at the present time
serviceable. The batteries of these slssf,s are
absolete, and they can only be relied upon as
auxiliary ships in harbor defense, and then after
such an expenditure upon them might not be
deemed lustihable. Second, five fourth-rate
vessels OF small tonnage, only one of which was
designed as a war vessel Third twenty seven
cruising ships, three of which built OF iron,
OF small tonnage, and twenty-four of wood. OF
nSti tiynD farl Ia
chief constructor of the navy, only three will be
sefytceable beyond period of six years. at
nobns it hs
All the vessels heretofore authorized are under
contract in the course of construction except
the armored ships. the tospcdo and dynamite
boats, and one cruiser. AS to the last Of these
the bids were In excess of the limit fixed BY
congress. The production in the United States
of armor and gun steel is a question: (Which it
seems necessary to settle ut an early iiay II the
/ armored war vessels are to be completed with
/ these materials OF home manufacture Th has
been the subject of investigation by two boards
I and by two special committees of congress
! within the last three wears. The report OF the
| gun foundry board in 1884, of the board on
fortifcations made in January last and.the re.
ports OF the select committees Of the two houses
made at the last session OF congress, have en-.
| tirely exhausted the subject 80 far as prelimi.
nary Investigation is involved. and in their rec,
| concentrations they are substantially agreed
| 1u the event that the present invitation Of the
| department for bids to furnish such OF this ma.
terial as is now authorized shall fail to induce
domestic manufacturers to undertake the large
| expenditures required to prepare for this nov
manufacture, and no other steps are taken by
congress at its coming session, the secretary
! contempatcs with dissatisfaction the necessity
4 of obtaining abroad the armor and the gun stce
] for the authorized ships. 1t would seem desir.
! able that the wants Of the army and the navy ir
this regard should be reasonably met, and Lha,
! by uniting the contracts such inducement nigh
4 be offered as would result in securing the do
mestication OF these important interests.
/