Evening journal., 1889-11-25
THE BRAVE BOYS IN BLUE
Annual Report of Secretary OF
War Redheld Proctor.
THE REGULAR ARMY VERY SMALL.
But One Soldier for Every 2.SG0 People.
coiored Soldiers CompIimented-Th
National Guard. UncIo Sans Reserve
Army, Receives Warm Words of Praise.

colored Soldiers CompIimented-The
National Guard, UncIo Sans Reserve
Army, Receives Warm Words Of Praise.
WASHINGTON, Nov. %. Secretary OF War
Redfleld Proctor has made his annual report
70 President Harrison OF the administration
OF his department The expenditures Of APP
preparations under his direction for the year
ending june 80 were sac, as, ,l2i "A. The
estimates Of his department. FOR the next
fiscal year amount to S44, l57, ,073 The re-
ports Of the various commanders, be says
show a satisfactory state Of drill and dis.
cipline, progress in instruction Of troops
and Improvement in sanitary arrangements
quarters water supply, means OF recreation
and other matters that concern their per-
sonal comfort and welfare Tho major
general OF the army recommended the re-
organization Of the artillery, making seven
regiments instead Of five, and dropping the
additional first lieutenants In speaking OF
this suggestion the secretary says:
One Soldier for 1900 People.
81 fully concur in his Recommendation and
deem II very important that authority for
these new regiments should be granted. In
view Of the diminished requirements for the
use Of the army against the Indians, it may
seem at first that no additional force is re-
quired; but even in times Of the most perfect
apparent security the strength Of the army
should bear some proportion to the popula-
tion of the country.
"from our great increase IN population the
relative strength Of the army is rapidly di-
minishing. In 1870, with an enlisted strength
Of not quite 10000 larger than now, the ratio
Of enlisted men to population was one
eleventh Of ! per cent, or one man out of
l, Jos; in 1850, with the enlisted strength
1000 less than it is now, one-twentieth of /
per cent. At the present time, with popu-
lation Of 65,0000O0, it is 03g, or less than
one-twenty-fifth OF ] per cent, being one
man for every 1860 Of population. The au-
thorized strength OF the army is now 80, 600,
but only 5000 are appropriated for. On
the full basis Of $4,000 its relative strength
to population would still be considerably
less than in 1880 and one-half what it was in
1870
Colored Soldiers complimented.
Whether one or both Of these new regi-
ments may not be of eolored men IS worthy
of consideration. There are now two regi-
ments Of infantry and two OF cavalry Of col
ored men, and their record for good service
Is excellent. They are neat, orderly and
obedient, are seldom brought before court
martial, and rarely desert.
The secretary advocates the three battalion
formation in the infantry. The necessity for
this formation in the infantry, he says, Is
even greater than in the cavalry and ar
tillery, where il has long been in use.
Desertions In the Army.
He also denies the report that desertions
are on the increase He says that only one
out Of every five deserters is ever arrested
and brought to trial. He invites the ntten-
tion OF congress 70 the recommendation Of
the acting judge advocate general for per
mitting and directing the arrest of deserters
by civil officers, and otherwise rendering
their capture more certain and speedy.
The National Guard.
"The discipline and efficiency Of the Ma
tional Guard is, he says, universally com
mended. Ii was evidenced by their appear
ance at the Centennial celebration ia New
York April 30 last, and the promptness and
celebrity with which their concentration was
effected. of their value as a reserve mill
tary force and an essential element In any
feasible scheme Of coast defenses / treat else
where. As an educational institution also it
deserves encouragement and support
Uncle SANS Reserve Army.
"The aggregate Of this reserve army, regu-
larly organized and uniformed, is 1906, 500
men, and the present annual appropriation
Of congress for their armament and equip
ment is only 100000, or about 49, 10 per man.
The first appropriation for this purpose in
1908 was $500, ,O00-one-half the amount now
available-while in the meantime our popu-
lation has increased sevenfold. | know Of
no manner in which a generous appropria-
ton can be more advantageously employed
TO provide against future military contin-
gencies, and believe that the current appro-
priation should be increased The plan of
placing a small force Of the regular army
with the militia of the different states in
their encampments appears TO me an admir-
able one
Various Recommendation.
The secretary recommends that second
lieutenants selected from civil life, be ap-
pointed to the regular army upon some
proper system of examination. He com
mends to congress the suggestions Of the
chief Of engineers regarding special legisla-
tion for the prevention of obstruction Of
navigable rivers Secretary Proctor, in re-
ferring TO military law, recommends re-
vision Of the articles Of war and that pro-
vision be made for the punishment Of GER
tain minor offenses under well defined re-
strictions without the Intervention Of a
court martial
The Soldiers Home.
.ss In speaking Of the Soldiers home, the sec
retary says: "The board Of commissioners
Of the Soldiers home have made their re-
port for the year ending Sept. 80, 1882 as re-
quired by the act of congress approved
March 3, 1888. The total number on the
rolls Sept 30, 1855, both as regular and tenn
porary benehciaries, was 1854, and on Sept
30, 1889, ], 200, an increase of 116 The aver
age increase for the last six years has been
about one hundred per year. In May, 1889,
the construction of an additional story upon
the center wing of the main building was
commenced, the contract for the same being
awarded at S52. 400 76. If the present rate
of increase in the number of beneflciaries
continues, further additions to the capacity
Of the home Will be required in the near fu-
ture.n
Secretary Proctor appeals to congress to
create the Office of assistant secretary of war.
THE SPEAKERSHlP.