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


THE WAX DEPAETMENT.
The report OF the secretary of war gives a de.
tailed account of the administration of his de-
partment, and contains suudry recommends
tions for the improvement OF the service which
l fully approve. The army consisted. ~ the
date Of the last consolidated return, of 21O3
officers and "a, 946 enlisted men. The expenses
Of the department for the last fiscal year were
$36, 99O, ,9032S, including So, 294, 3O5.43 for
public works and river and har5or improve
ments especially direct the attention OF the
congress TO the recommendation that officers be
required to submit to an examination as o pre-
liminary to their promotion. I see no OBJ
lection but many advantages in adopting
this feature. which has operated go benefi.
as in some branches Of the army
The subject Of coast defenses and Notifications
has been fully and carefully treated bv the board
on fortlfications, 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 deiayed 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-
struction, which may threaten the cities on our
coasts. IL so apparen: that hope effective steps
will be taken in that direction immediately The
valuable and suggestive treatment Of the ques-
tlon by the secretary OF war il earnestly COM
nended to the consideration of the congress.
THE APACHE WAR
In September and October last the hostile
ApacheA. who, under the leadership of Geron-
irao, had for eighteen months been on the war
path. and during that time had committed many
murders and been the cause of constant terrore
to the settlers of Arizona, surrendered to Cen
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-
derstanding which these murderous savages en-
sidered best to imprison them In such manner
rs 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
thither and will be closely guarded as prisoners
In the meantime the residue of the band, who,
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.
tatns detailed report of the condition of his de-
paTtmeut with such statement of the action
needed to improve the same as should challenge
the earnest attention of congress. The present
navy of the United States. aside from the ships
in course OF construction, consists Of: First.
fourteen sngle-turreted monitors, none OF which
eerviceable. 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 justifable Second, five fourth-rate
vessels of small tonnage, only one of which wa .
designed as war vessel Third. twenty-seven
cruising ships. three of which 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 he
serviceable beyond a period Of six years, at
which time 1t may be said that of the present
navalforce nothing worthy the name will remain
All the vessels heretofore authorized r.,idcr
contract In the course of coI.sGI action except
the arrnored shirs. the torpedo and dynamite
boats. and one cruiser. As 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 it
seems necessary to settle at an early day il the
armored war vessels are to be completed with
these materials Of home manufacture TIL 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 1854, 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-
tirely exhausted the subject so far as prelimi-
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 as 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
contempiates with dissatisfaction the necessity
OF obtaining abroad the arrnor 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