The Bad Lands cow boy. [volume] (Little Missouri, Dakota [i.e. N.D.]) 1884-1886, 1886-12-16
ARMY AND NAVY.

The report of the secretary Of war gives q de-
tailed accounted the administration Of his de-
partment, and contains sundry
lions for the improvement OF the service which
+ fully approve. The army consisted, az the
date of tho last consolidated return, OF 2,1O3
officers and %, 946 enlisted men. The expenses
of the department for the last fiscal year. were
$780, 800, 9O3.28, including $~6.2943O5.43 for
public works and river and harbor improve
ments. I especially direct the attention OF the
congress to the recommendation that officers be
required to submit to an examination as q pre-
liminary. to their promotion. see no OBJ
lection but many advantages in adopting
this feature, which has operated so beneh,
oially in our navy department, as well
as I'M some branches OF the army.
The aubjecto of coast defanses and forttdoattons
has been fully and carefully treated by the board
on Qualifications, whose report was submitted at
the laStSdesfon of. congress, but no constructed
work OF the kind recommended by the board has
been possible duringth 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,
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 delaved 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
auu -skECk gums 6uU IlUkpul6. v muAC2A GUu~
struction, which may threaten the oittes on our
coasts, ~ 80 apparent that I hope effective steps
will DO taken III that direction immediately. The
valuable and suggestive treatment Of the ques-
jt1on by the secretary OF war ts earnestly COM
mended to the consideration OF the congress.
THE APACHE WAR
In September and October last the hostile
Apaohes, who, under tho leadership Of Geron-
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, tho 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-
terrain OF the assurances gived them, 1t was con-
s1dered best to tmprfsou them IN such manner
as to prevent their ever engaging in such OUT
RACES again. instead OF trying them for murder.
Fort Ptckens having been selected as q safe place
Of confinement, all the adult males were sent
In the meantime the residue Of the band. who,
were regarded as unsafe and suspected Of fur
nish1nR aid to those on the Warpath, had been
removed to Fort Marion. The women and larger
and a~rrangements have been made for putting
the children Of proper age in Indian schools.
NAVAL ESTABLISHMENT
me repor5 OF the secretary of the navy oon-
partment. with sncha 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 single-turreted monitors none Of which
arc in commission, nor at the present time
serviceable. The batteries Of these ships are
abso!ete, and they can only be relied upon as
auxiliary ships in harbor defense, and then AFTER
suoh an expenditure upon them as mteht not be
deemed 5ustinable. Second. Eve %fourth-rate
dssssss g, IS sn a war soR Resssi. oa @Sis one s Ss mh5es wss
cruising ships, three Of which are built Of iron,
q small TONNAGE. and twenty.fonr Of wood. Of
chief constructor Of the navy, only three win be
Bervtceable beyond q period Of stx years. al
which time it may be said that Of the present
nayal force nothing worthy h name will remain
contract in the course of construction, except
the armored ships. the torpedo and dynamite
tSs,S; sna On cruiser: AZ 70 TIE list q, these.
congress- y 10 produotionin the United States
OF armor and gun steel Is . sQuestion which II
seems necessary to settle at an early day II the
these materials Of home manufacture. Th.s has
been the subject Of investigation. by two boarde
and by. two special committees: OF congress
gun sui fo sas ,asi b saasS iaai isss4 4h ot fg tSs board Of t ao
fortihcattons made in JanuarYl1st and the re-
ports OF the select, committees of the two houses
made Ct tho last session of congress-, have en-
ttrely exhausted the subject. so faras prelimi-
nary inyestigation is involved and In their rec
ommendations they are substantially agreed.
IN the event thatthe present Invitation. Of the
department for bids to furnish. such of this ma
ter1al az is now authorized shall fall 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 It's coming session, the secretary
,oontemplates with dissatisfaction the necessity
OF obtaining abroad the arHlor and the gun stcel
Tor The authorized ships SIt wonld seem desir.
able that the wants of.the army ahd the navy IN
this regard should be reasonably met. and that
by uniting the contracts such inducelnent might
be offered as would result. IN recurring tue do.
mesticatiQu Of Lhesa imnnrtkn infaraats -,