The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1889-11-25
A DISORDERED ARMY.
Effort Should Be Made to Enlist
Intelligent Men.
4 CHANCE FOR THE MILITIA


pSnuifures an1 appropriations The past
fiscal year were kse ls5s, lei. While appropri-
afsons for the elirrenf FISCAL year are 49,
ss9 30. The difssrence Is Eaainly due 10
reduction Of the appropriation for pnblic
works. inciu1ing rivers and harlsors. Is
finases Tor the next fiscal year are Sla. ISIS
ssS. Of which over $if Co $50 Is for pubic
werks- The secretary concurs in the
recommendation Of the maj general cota-
naanding for reorganization os the artil-
lerx. making seven regiments instead Of
hve. and dropping the additional first
licnfeAaniSs also the three battalion fnrma.
tinn for infantry
Referring 70 the retired list. the secre-
iary calls attention To the fact that there
are ncw forty -sght ofEiceFs ineApacitated
who cannot Be paced upon the limited re-
tired list. whieh is full The secretary
recommends that the Iiss be extended 20
f50. or that special act be passed author
izing retirement Of the fifty officers.
On Tire subject of desertions the secretary
summarizes the department reports given
heretofore IN these dispatches. lie calls
attention TO the facf that deserti0ns from
coiored regiments she past year we're only
? per cent. rs against from Il to = per
cent in white regiments. Investigation
does not siisclose that ill-treatment prevails
toany apprecialble extent. The employment
OF enlisted men In ordinary labor cannot
be wholly removed. but recruits should
be made fully acquainted with its
extent. Unnecessary restraint shoald
be removed, and the soldiers life in
the post be male IS pleasant and comfort
able as possible. GFsat care should be exer-
clsed that recruiting officers in OF near
large cities secure the best material
The subject of the regimental drill is now
being experimented on in New York. The
pith Of the whole question is 10 MAKE the
service worth seeking. and then enough
good men viii seek and stay in L. There
il now little incentive for young and intel
ligent men 20 make a profession Of sol
dsery. The hope of achieving = commits
sion Is but slight, and the distance between
the highest grade of non-commlssioned
officers and commissioned officer Is far too
great, In the secretary's Judgment.
He submits q number Of recommends
tons. among which are the following:
Make the pay OF non-commissioned off,
GERS Of infantry. cavalry and artillery the
same as engineers More bright, ambi-
tious ysang men might be thus induced 70
enter the service. Give the soldier an OPP
porsnnfty to 50 improve himself that when
be leaves the service he may be better
fitted for avii life than when he
entered il. p0st schools should
he established. Anih0rska enlistment
for one or more years at the posi- where the
soldier Is discharged. Make the code Of
punishment in times of peace less arbitrary.
bat more certain. The secretary also calls
attention to the recommendations OF many
officers that the term of enlistment be made
tkree years and give the Tnen the privilege
of purchasing discharge. etc.
Favorable mention Is made OF the results
Of summer camps for troops and service
schools. ard the suggestion is made that
battillon Of apprentices might be Of assist
aace t. the army, as it is 20 the navy.
The discipline and efficiency Of the Nat
ional Guard are highly commended, and
congress is urged 10 increase the appropria-
ton therefor. Secretary Tracy treats OF
examination for promotion in the army al
length and says: A system OF non-cem-
petitive examination with weli-deiined IiEn-
itafions founded on good sense and sup
ported By our own experience as well As
that OF those countries where the efficiency
OF the standing army is held in the highest
estimation, 70 give the many promising
young men who hare joined the National
Guard chance 10 gain . commission In
the army would be proper recognition and
encouragement Of that organization.
OF the plans made for the coast defenses
the secretary says: The apparent sense of
security with our people Is horn Of thought
iessness. Although our position, traditions
and national diplomacy tend 90 peace, q
detenseiess condition win ever invite at
tack. lie submits, as bass 10 start from.
that 10 time should be lost in placing Waah-
ing on and New York and at least the har-
bors on the Pacific slope In the best pos
sls,le state Of defense. How rapidly the
work shali be carried On until il embraces
every important vulnerable point i the
o4ssy question. In the serTesaTy's view pro-
gYeSs cannot be too rapid.
sF.ecia attention is directed 30 the reports
az Gems. kch0iseIa and Niles. Our geBeFAi
prosperity points 10 the present as an aus
pieicns sinss fl,r pashing The work and eos-
gress i urged 20 make : liberal sppxopri-
ation at once. The ccst OF nmintAsnIng
thorough ssefenssve works Is ctuEa paraafvely
ssnasI. II wiil require Only $50 men
for garrisuninE the defensive works in tine
Of peAee. This piIt he sufficient 70 care for
armament ani serve as > nucleus for IN
xEruction Of tie militia Of the sea-coast
stases, whGch must be relied upon 20 sup
.iv he men reeSed in waF. and which are
estimated sc s7.o0A An opportunity f0r
this 5nstrEetscn ahnuiA be provided 81 once.
This offers the National 6uaFd.0E the sea-
beard sszaes . real sga at1raekiFs Geld Cor
drill and study, and it h helseyed they viii
snke pride In trai1ing themselves 70 naan
che defensive uorks OF their own ports.
Referring ~ military lass. the secretary
saws. DgrsnjE the year there were II y5si
rxs~s trissa hefors snfessor courts -shaFtiai In
the arrnv. whsSe effective ssrsagth - z8sIi0
rnsn. This F~0yes that thsrs l. vital de-
ser4 .oraewhere- Rsxisson 81 TIE articles
as w.r are recommended. siso that PRO
visions Be made for punishment of uEinor
sagrnssays amber weis~defaea rsstEirfaors.
wssboas she sntkrTenkion oE c0sFts-sas<fiaL
stseufson il eaii@d 10 The report 0f the
.s,-vpur-wene-aa .sr rhe unsatisfactory con-
,sI.ie~ - she hesrftal corps. sne chieay -
tie tnsseauAssy ol pay. good Essn FssusiDg
- enltss. T,reasy-soaI- susseenss IA per
e~ns a. ne vshoae force. ara noss-esieetlve
- nseouns a. kscsnesa o. Fsrsnanent dis
ahsilfy.
ss~nsSma Creesva re1oEnen6aric thai
--e.s@r nksenHnn ke Gssen % snstructsca n
r.ssstarv ssxnasgEx Is approved, nna she
ss,g~s.fse~. maze that tie saEne sh0uia. II
rs.es;ass. he asxsa she militia 70 s0zse ex-
s.rt Manv nshsr department reports are
.xrsswe.s IRA sxseexssons nssis. TIE see-
vs*s~x ,,rres - esszEioa Of the otAns os a.
sfasans SECRETARY q Ezr