The Warner sun. (Warner, Brown Co., Dakota [S.D.]) 1885-1???, 1886-12-17
ARMY \ NAVY
THE WAR DEPARTMENT.

The WAX DEPARTMENT.
The repC-t OF the secretary Of war gives a de-
tailed account of the administration of his de-
%partment, and contains sundry recommends
lions for the improvement OF the service which
l fully approve. The army consisted, &C the
date of the last consolidated return, Of 2IO3
officers and "a, GAG enlisted men. The expenses
or the. department. for the last fiscal year were
SS6,990, 800. %, including So, 294, 305.43 for
public works and river and harbor improve
ments. l especially direct the attention or the
congress TO the recommendation that officers be
required to submit to an examination as a pre-
liminary TO their promotion. l see no OBJ
lection but many advantages in adopting
this feature, which has operated go benefit
claily IN our navy department, as well
The subject of coast defenses and Notifications
has been fully and carefully treated bv the board
on fortllcations, whose report was submitted at
the last session of congress, but no constructed
work OF the kind 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 deIaved In default of congressional action.
The absolute necessity, judged by all standards
of prudence and foresight, of preparation for
an e~ffectual resistance against the armored ships
anu SDGcl guns anu mOIbHIS OF mOQCTn COIL
struction, which may threaten the cities on our
coasts, is so apparent 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
mended 70 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
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
as then reported, and in view of the I'M
derstanding which these murderous savageS en-
terrain of the assurances gived them, it was con-
sidered best TO imprison them in such manner
as TO prevent theis, ever engaging in such out
RACES again. instead OF trying them for murder.
Fort Pickens having been selected as a safe place
o. confinement, all the adult males were sent
thither 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 fur
nishing aid TO those on the warpath, had been
removed TO Fort Marion. The women and larger
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-
tains a detailed report of the condition OF his de-
partmeut, with such a statement of the action
needed to improve the same as should challenge
SAAS - 80 -
navy of the United 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 ships are
absolete, and they can only be relied upon as
auxiliary ships in harbor defense, and then afser
such an expenditure upon them as might not be
deemed justifiable. 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, 1t is stimated by the
chief constructor of the navy, only three will be
which time it may be said that Of the present
nsvalforce nothing worthy the name Will remain.
All the vessels heretofore authorized are under
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 and gun steel Is a question which 1t
seems necessary to settle at an early day II the
armored war vessels are to be completed with
these materials of home manufactures. Th has
been the subject OF investigation by two boards
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
Notifications made in January last. and the re-
ports of the select committees Of the two houses
made at the last session or congress-, nave en-
tirely exhausted the subject so far as preliml:f
nary Investigation Is involved. and In their rec
concentrations they are substantially agreed.
In the event that the present invitation. or 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 Tor this new
Manufactures, and no other steps are taken by
congress at its coming session, the secretary
contemplates with dissatisfaction the necessity
OF obtaining abroad the armor and the gun steel
for the authorized ships. 1t would seem desir-
able that the wants of the army and the navy In
this regard should be reasonably met. and that
by uniting the contracts such inducement might
be offered as would result In securing the do
mestication of these important interests.
W E# -
THE POsTOFFICEs.
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