The sun. [volume] (Morris, Stevens County, Minn.) 1882-1895, 1886-12-09
ARMY AND NAVY.


IHE WAX DEPARTMENT.
The report OF the secretary Of war gives a de-
tailed account Of the administration Of his de-
partment, and contains suudry recommended
lions for the Improvement OF the service which
l fully approve. The army consisted, al the
date Of the last consolidated return Of 2,1O3
officers and "a. $40 enlisted men. The expenses
Of the department Tor the last fiscal year were
S3G, 800 D3 -, including So, 23i 800 AZ for
public works and river and haroor improve
ments especially direct the attention OF the
Congress 10 the recommendation that officers be
required to submit to al examination q pre-
liu!inary TO their promotion l see no OBJ
lection but many advantages in adopting
THIS feature, which has operated 20 benef-
as in some branches Of the arIny
The subject OF coast defenses and Qualifications
has been fully and carefully treated bv the board
on fGrtlhcations, whose report was submitted al
the last session Of congress, but constructed
work Of the kind recommended by the board mas
been possible during he 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 the most important
Of these fortlhcatlons should be commenced AZ
once. The work has been thoroughly considered
and laid out, the secretary OF reports, tut
all is deIaved il default Of congressional action
The absolute necessity, judged bv all standards
OF prudence and fgres !cht, OF PREPARATION for
an efTectuaI resistance against the ar1nored ships
and steel guns and mortars Of modern con-
struction which may threaten the cities on our
coasts II so apparent that hope effective steps
will be taken in that direction immediately The
valuable and suggestive treatment Of the ques-
zion by the secretary OF war il earnestly COM
nenGed 70 the consideration OF the congress.
THE APACHE WAR.
In September and October last the hostile
Apachek, who, under the leadership Of Gerou-
lao, had for eighteen months been on the war
path, and during that time had committed mauy
murders and been the cause Of constant terrors
70 me settlers ct Arizona, surrendered to Cen
Miles. the military commander VINO succeeded
Gen CROOK IN the management and direction Of
their pursuit Under the terms Of their sur
rerder, as then reported AID in view of the IN
Outstanding which these murderous savages en-
teItaln OF the assurances gived them. it wa con-
sidered best TO imprlsoa them In such manner
as 70 prevent their ever engaging in such out
raf cs again. instead OF tryln. them for murder
Fort Plckens having been selected as safe place
OF confinement, all the adult males were sent
thl.her and will be closely guarded as prisoners
In ne meantime the residue of the band. who
though still remaining upon the reservation.
wee regarded as unsafe and suspected Of fur
uishlag aid TO those on the warpath, had been
children OF the bostlies were also taken there
and ARRANGEMENTS have been made for putting
the children of proper age in Indian schools
THE NAVAL ESTABLISHMENT
The report OF ne secretary of the navy con-
tans detailed report OF the condition Of his de-
partlneut, with such q statement Of the action
needed TO improve The same as should chalIeuye
the earnest attention Of congress. The present
navy OF the United States. aside from the ships
III course OF CONSTRUCTION, consists Of: First.
fourteen slngIe-turreted monitors none OF which
az II commission. nor at The present time
ee5vlceable. The batteries Of these ships are
absolete, and they can only be relied upon as
auxiliary ships in harb0r defense, and then AFTER
such an expenditure upon them as might not be
deemed JustlnaDIe. second. five fOurtn-rare
vessels OF small tonnage. only one of which was
designed as war vessel Third tyenty-seze1
cr.lls NJ ships, three of which are built OF iron
OF small tonnage. and twenty-four of wood OF
these wooden vessels, i is estimated by the
chi II constructor OF the navy, only three viii be
SeTFlceaDle beyond a period OF SIX wears ar
which time II may Do said that of the present
naval force nothing worthy the name will remain.
AZ - ECSSe4S heretofore authorized r,lli--I
contract IN the course Of coLslI action. except
the armored shlrs the torped0 and dynamite
boats. and one cruiser. AS TO tue last of these
the bids were IN excess or the limit fixed by
congress. The production in the United States
OF arnor anu gun steel is question which il
seems necessary 10 settle at an early Qay il the
armoTed war vessels are to be completed wi. l.
tlese materials OF home manufacture. Tn has
been the subject Of invest Ga iiOn by TWO boards
within the last three wears. The report Of the
gun foundry board in 1854, Of the board on
Notifications made III January last. and the re-
ports OF the Seiect committees OF the TWO houses
made at the last session OF CONGRESS have en-
tirely exhausted the subject so lar as rreLiml-
nary investigation IS Involved. and in their rec
Gmmepdat ions they are substantially agreed.
In the event that the present invitation OF the
department Tor bids 10 furnish such of this ma
terra! as IS now authorized shall fail 10 induce.
domestic manufacturers to undertake the large
expenditures required 10 prepare for tais new
manufacture. ana no other steps are taken bE
congress at its coming session, the secre .a~y
conteInplates with dissatisfaction the necessity
o. obtaining abroad the arIuor and me gun steel
for the autLCriZed ships. II would seem deSt--
able rtat the wants Of the army and the navy lii
this regard should be reasonably met and hat
by uniting the contracts such illiuCerneEt might
be offered as would result IN securing the do
mesticatioG OF these important interests.