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


The report OF the secretary Of war gives de-
tailed account Of the administration of his de-
partment, and contains sundry recommends
tions for the Improvement OF the service which
! fully approve. The army consisted, ~ the
date Of the last consolidated return, of 2.1O3
officers and "a. 946 enlisted men,. The expenses
Of the department for the last fiscal year were
$50. $50, 900 %. including Sc. 294. sos. 43 for
public works and river and harbOr Improve
ments. Especially direct the attention Of the
required to submit to an examination as . pre-
liminary to their promotion. see no OBJ
lection but many advantages in adopting
cially in our navy department. as well
as in some branches Of the army
The subject of coast defenses and fortfdcations
on Notifications, 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 MS 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 behaved in default Of congressional action.
The absolute necessity. judged by all standards
OF prudence and foresight, of preparation for
an effectual resistance against the armored ships
and steel guns and mOrtars OF modern con-
struction. which may threaten the cities ON our
coasts. II so apparen: that hope effective steps
will be taken in that direction immediately The
valuable and suggestive treatment Of the ques-
ton by the secretary OF war is earnestly COM
menoed to the consideration of the congress.
THE APACHE WAR.
In September and October last the hostile
Apachea. who, under the leadership Of Geron-
lao, had for eighteen months been on the war
path. and during that time had committed many
murders and bcsn the cause Of constant terrors
to the settlers of Arizona, surrendered to Gen
Miles. the military commander who succeeded
Gen. Crook in the MANAGEMENT and direction Of
their pursuit. Under the terms of their sur
render, as then reported, and in view Of the un-
Outstanding which these murderous savages en-
terrain of the assurances gived them, it wa. con-
sidered best to imprison them In such manner
~ 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 confinement, all the adult males were sent
th1ther and Will 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 for
nishing aid to those on the warpath, had been
children of the hostiles 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 the secretary of the navy con.
tafns detailed report of the condition of his de-
paxtmeut. with such statement of the action
the earnest attention Of congress The present
navy OF the United States. aside from the slips
In course OF construction. consists Of: First,
fourteen single-turreted monitors none OF which
ara in commission, nor at the present time
eerviceable. The batteries Of these ships are
absolete. and they can only be relied upon as
auxiliary ships in harbor defense and then af.er
such an expenditure upon them as might not be
deemed justifable 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 are built Of IRON
OF small tonnage, and twenty-four of wood. OF
these wooden vessels, it is estimated by the
chief constructor OF the navy, only three will be
which time 1t may be said that of the present
navalfo nothing worthy the name will remain.
AT the vessels heretofore authorized are n.iioS
the armored ships, the torpedo and dynamite
boats. and one cruiser. Az to tue last Of these
the bids were In excess OF the limit fixed by
congress. The production in the United States
of armor aud gun steel is question which it
seems necessary to settle at an early day IL the
armored war vessels are to be completed with
been the subject of Investigation by two boards
and by two special committees of congress
within the last three years. The report of the
gun foundry board in 1884 of the board on
Notifications made in January last and the re-
ports OF the select committees Of the two houses
made at tie last session OF congress, have en-
nary Investigation is involved. and in their rec
concentrations they are. substantially agreed
In the event that the present invitation Of the
department for bids to furnish such Of this ma
terial IS is now authorized shall fail to induce
domestic manufacturers to undertake the large
expenditures required to prepare for this new
manufacture, and no other steps are taken by
congress at. its coming session. the secretary
contemplates with dissatisfaction the necessity
OF obtaining abroad the arrnor and the gun steel
for the authorized ships. It would seem desir-
able that the wants OF the army ana the navy in
this regard should be reasonably met, and That
by uniting the contracts such inducemeut might
be offered as would result in securing the do
mest1cat1on OF these important intexestA