Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1890-11-07
By TELEGRAPH.


ALL MP0xt - SssSSs - sSs0~s.s>>>es
WAsHissros, Nov. s.-Msjor General
Sehcfeid, esuaadinE army tcdsy submit
ted the snnual re port TO the Secretary Of
War. .rhe time il bow come says the
epost, - hen the future possible or prob
able military necess,ties Of the country
should dictate military policy. A small
regular srn.y should be 90 stationed that i
mag be prepared It the shortest motto,
to respond u any call which may
be made upon It's tervices Al the same
time assists in ali practicable rays in pre-
pairing . much larger body Of uilisia Of
the several States for active service in
time OF need Isis believed thas ths in
portart ses board Giles OF the United
States should be 80 fortified, armed ard
manned A. to be capable of self defense
against an attack BY any foreign fiset and
each of the great sea coasts of tie United
States should be provided with an adequate
feet Of sea going bat,lsships, capable OF
attacking upon the broad OCEAN any hes
tile feet which might at.emp; TO blockade
its harbors or destroy its commerce.
Gen. Schofieli speahs of the plans OF
the Fertilization Board of 1885. and says
but one modification has been suggested.
The militsry policy Of the United States
will never require such defense on the
Northe IN frontier as proposed, and care
fully selected garrisons IS nuclei for the
conceniralizstion of force in an emergency
are suggested instead. The wisdom OF
providing, without unnecessary delay, fer
the additional accommodations required for
these permanent gsriisous, will, he says,
be manifest 10 all.
Gen. Sehofeld describes at length the
straits to which the department has been pu.
by the past legislation reducing the number
of privates in the army. He says that be
hoped Congress may be pleased at al early
DAY TO Increase the limit of the enlisted
strength of the army to ,hst fixed in the act
of July 5, 1870, viz $4,000. without this
number this peace organization cannot be
made thoroughly effective, and canuos be
relied upon for service which may inme-
diately be required of regular troops in any
emergency and before the ranks can be filled
by recruits or volunteers called into the field.
Beg leave to suggest that whenever airy
such increase is made, provision be male,
either by law or orders of the war depart
ment, for an organization of large battal-
ion of young men between the ages of 10
and 20, selected with respect to intelligence
and good character, with view 10 The edsca
ton for the service. ~ non-commissioned
fficers, and officers either of regular forces
or in militia, privilege being given to such
youog men to enlist for regular period OF
service, or receive honorable discharges at
their own option at the expiration of the
course of instruction. 1t is believed such
a school would be of very great value TO
the military service of the country"
The disposition Gen. Schofield would
make of sc, 0O0 men is: Infantry, 25 regi.
ments Is companies each), 4,l25i caval-
~, ten regiments 90 troops each), 1850
artillery, Z regiments 90 batteries each) !,
5l45 Total for line of army. $500
The remainder to be distributed among
engineers battalion, ordnance corps,
scouts, etc., are points specially made in
favor of the pending billsto moderately en-
large the artillery arms and to enable the
small regular army to meet as far as pos
sib!e the present requirements OF service
in time of peace, including the instruction
of the great body of organized militia that
must be relied upon as the main body OF
the army in the time of war.
OF work of board of ordsnce and FORTH
cation, Gen. Scofield says 1t mas been ex'
amined and acted upon about $50 inven
tons, including cannon. mortars, guns fol
high explosives, smokeless powders. all
sh,ps, cartridges, etc. OF $5,256,5S4 a
its disposal. have made allotments amount
ing to 81, soO,sss, the largest item being
81 ,90l ,6l2 for guns and steel forgings for
guns. Allotments amounting to 1905
have been made for experiments will
high explosives which has been subject Il
considerable attention and experiment
The allotment of 81 ,23l for the construc
ton of gun and motar batteries for the de
tense of Boston, New York and San Fran
cisco. Gen. Schoielj says the fevera
measures enacted by the present Congre
will prove of great and lasting benefit Il
military service and the zeal an1 fida!it.
with which the duties of the army hav'
been performed merits his commedation.