New Ulm weekly review., 1886-12-15
ARMY AND NAVY,
THE WAR DEPARTMENT.

The WAX 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, at the
date Of the last consolidated return, of 2,lO3
officers and "a. 946 enlisted men. The expenses
of the department for the last fiscal year were
public works and river and harbor improve
ments. especially direct the attention Of the
congress to the recommendation that officers be
required to submit to an examination as pre-
liminary- to their promotion I see no OBJ
lection but many advantages in adopting
this tn s, feature, which has operated so beneh--
The subject of coast defenses and Notifications
has been fully and carefully treated bv the board
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 apploPIlatlons for such purpose The defense
less copdltion 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, aud that werk on the most important
OF these fortlhcations should be commenced at
once. The work has been thoroughly consideredi
ana laid out the secretary OF war reports, but
al is delaved 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
and steel guns and mortars OF modern con.
structlon, which may threaten the cities on our
coasts, IL SO apparens that hope effective steps
Will be taken in that direction Immediately The
valuable and suggestive treatment Of the ques-
tlon by the. he.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-
1mo, had for eighteen months been on the war
path. and during that time had committed many
murders and been the cause of constant terrors
f0H Ho1
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-
derstandlng which these murderOus sayayes en-
Lerta1n or the assurances gived them it was con-
sldered 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 P1ckens 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
We're regarded unsafe and suspected of fur
nIsh1ng aid to those on ths warpath had been
removed to Fort Marion The women and Larger
children OF the hossiles 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 cen.
ta1ns detailed report of the condition of his de-
partment. with such statement Of the action
needed TO improve the same as should Challenge
tne earnest attention Of congress. The present
IN course Of construction, consists OF: First.
fourteen slngte-turreted monitors, none of which
are IN commission. nor at the present time
serviceabie. The batteries of these ships are
aoeoieee, and they can only be relied upon n
an1Niary ships In harbor defense, and then af.ea