Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1889-11-25
THE SECRETARY OF WAR
Submits His Annual Report-Improve.
ments Recommended.

Submits His Annual Report-Improve'
ments Recommended.
WASHINGTON, d. O., November 81 -
The report of the Secretary of War is
made public to-day. 1t shows that the
expenditures of the department for the
fscal year were $40, 1854, l2l "A, while the
appropriations were $SS, 9S9, 300 49, The
estimates for the next fiscal year are
$44. 157, 973 95. From the great increase
in population, the report says, the relative
strength of the army is fast diminishing.
1t is recommended that the artillery force
bereOrganizsd and The number Of reei-
ments increased from five to seven. The
United States, Persia and China are now
the only nations thai clung to the single
battalion formation. The necessity for
change in accordance with advanced
science is apparent. The three battalion
formation is earnestly commended.
THE DEsERTION EVIL.
A considerable part of the report is
given to the subject of dtsertions. On
this subject it says: The piIh Of the
whole question is TO make the service
worth seeking, and then enough good men
will seek it and be glad TO stay in it. 1t
ia an instructive fact that the soldiers in
the colored regiments rarely desert, where
az the percentage of desertion in the rect Of
the army is so large. Their previous con.
dition in civil life largely explains it. To
the coiored man the service offers career;
to the white man too often only refuge.
There is now but little incentive for young
and intelligent men to make q profession
of soldering.
Congress is recommended to make the
nav of non. commissioned officers equal 10
that established for the same gradrs among
the engineers. The terms of enlistment
should. be reduced TO three years, and
sold era should be allowed to purchase
their discharges in time Of peace. These
methods it is believed would remedy
this deserlion evil.
THE NATIONAL GUARD.
OF the National Guard, Secretary Proc
tor says: The dicipline and efficiency OF
the National Guard is universally COM
mended. 1t was evidenced by their ap-
pearanca at the Centennial Celebration in
New York, April 80 last, and the prompt
ness and celerity with which their concen-
tration was effected. The aggregate Of
this reserve army, regularly organic d and
uniformed, is LOG. 500 men, and the pres
ent annual appropriation OF Congress for
their armament and equipment is only
$4O0, 600, or about So rs per man. The
first appropriation for this purpose, in
1903, was 5000, ,000-one-half the amount
now available-while in the meantime ouI
population has increased ssveGfold.
know of no manner in which a generous
appropriation can DO more advantageously
employed to provide for future military
contingencies, ard believe that the current
appropriation should be increased.
COAST DEFEEsRs.
Considerable space is given TO the sub
iect of coast defenses. The Secretary says
II submit as a basis to start from that M
time is to be lost in placing the capital oil
the country, the commercial metropolis OF
the Atlantic seaboard, and at least ont
port on the Pacific in the best possible
state of defense. How rapidly the worE
shall be carried on until it embraces everJ
important vulnerable point from st. John
to the RIO GrAnde and the ports of the Pa
cific is the only question. In my view pro
press cannot be too rapid. Not only doe
this subject demand attention now, bu
fortunately our general prosperity point
to the present as the suspicious time 70
pressing the work. l trust, therefore, tha
Congress will make liberal appropriation
for this purpose. We sre making excellen
progress with our Navy, but it has no saf
base for repairs and supplies or harbor o
refuge in case Of accident or disaster. l
is impossible to overestimate the service
it will render in encouraging and prOtett
ing our commerce. Bat however impor