Crystal River current., 1886-12-18
TIE VAR DEPARTxEN +.
Annual Report ON the Cond,e On .nd N. eds
OF the Quilted States Army.

Annual Report ON the Cond,t On I'd N. eds
OF the Quilted States Army.
The annual report of the Secretary of
War shows that the expenditures of the De,
partment for the fiscal year which ended
June 30, 1885,, were $96, ,99O,908, divided as fol-
| 81 ,902, 400; military establishment, including
| Transportation, $24,279, 800; public works,
&c, ,294, ,3O5: miscellaneous, q, ,406, ,627. A sur
plus of 81 POS, ,016 remained dunexpended. The
appropriations for the year ending June ~,
1883, are s48, ,26S, 835.
The army, at the date of the last consoli-
dated return, consisted of 9, 103 officers and
q, ,946 enlisted men. There are ten nregiments s
of infantry. OF Indian scouts there are 595,
and zoos enlisted men are on detached ser
vice with scouting parties, etc.
The report gives IN detail the changes and
operations OF the different divisions. The
Indians are generally quiet; although the
presence OF troops is necessary TO preserve
the peace and to prevent, especially in the
Oklahoma Country, the taking of land by set
tiers, and its invasion and occupancy by the
herders of cattle. The Secretary says: i
''There seems but little hope of improving
ity with which this fertile country is coya q
by the settlers and cattlemen, and duty
resting upon the Government to keep us
agreements with the Indians for whose ben
can give the remedy and in the interest of
good government it is earnestly hoped by
all who have executive duties to perform in
this Territory, that speedy action will be
A large portion of the report is given up
to graphic account of the operations
against Geronimo and his band and their
features of which have been given in
the daily, press at the time of their occur
renee. The Secretary recommends that the
retired list be-. increased so as to
manent!y incapable for, active ser.
vice. He also concurs in the opinion of
the Lieutenant-General that the army
should be Increased 50,ooo men. 1t Is sug-
gested that Congress enact law providing
for examinations for promotions similar to
those held in the navy.
AT West Point Military Academy there
are 300 cadets and tfty-eight officers. The
Superintendent favors tile competitive sys-
TEN in the selection of candidates for the
academy.
In discussing the report of the Engineer
Bureau, Secretary Endicott again calls at
tention to the utterly defenseless condition
of our sea coast and lake frontier. He urges
that appropriations should be made and
work begun at ones to f4rtify tn the principal
The report says: I'VE have single prob
lem to solve in defending our cities, how
best to resist and silence the armored ships
and steel guns and mOrtars of modern con-
struction. 1t can only be accomplished by
guns of equal force, to those which any
enemy can bring against us by torped9es
or submarine mlneS la1u IN Lne naVlSdDle
channels, both so guarded and protected
that they can do efficient service when re-
quired. We have no gun now which can
stop the progress of or do any material in
jury to a well-armored ship. The manufac-
ture of the gun is work of time, and of a
long time, and it cannot be extemporized
when wanted. Torpedoes may be more
quickly created, but still time and money
are needed for their construction. 1t has
been said by well informed writer on the
subject that is matter of doubt if we have
on hand enough cables and cases to control
with torpedOes the channels past Sandy
Hook alone.
During the year the Springfield Armory
29,527 rifles, carbines and
shot-guns. besides repairing arms and man
swords and miscellaneous arti-
cles.
The Secretary expresses the hope that
Congress during its present session will
place the Army on an equal footing with
the Navy in the matter of the manufacture
of guns, and urges that the bill which has
already passed the Senate, to establish
gun foundry. at the Frankfort Arsenal, be
taken up and passed by the House,
In conclusion the report recommends the
of an Assistant Secretary of
War, and that the salaries of the principal
officers be increased.