New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-11-06
DEFENCE OF THE ATLANTIC COAST.
GENERAL HOwARD's ANNUAL REPORT-IMPRoY.
ING THE SERVICE


ING THE SERVICE
Washington. Nov. 5.-MaorGeneral o. o. Howard,
commanding the division OF the Atlantic, in his annual
report calls attention to the subject Of seacoas defence
He says that considering the armament necessary for the
extent Of seacoast I'm the division, the liberal appropa
tons OF year should not lead to overconfdencc but
since his last report decided step has been taken bot
in providing for the construction OF seatoast common
and rfed morars the preparation Of Notifications for
them and the construction OF fixed torpedocs with
galleries, operating classmates and other belongings.
The principal harbors have been properly plated and
the artillery duty them is at present engaged
In earnest practice with such weapons the forts
have. and will be fully prepared to undertake the
agement Of the new guns and appliances as
they begin to arrive The artillery regiments have
been necessarily increased in size at the expense OF tho
rest Of the line and still two more regiments are
needed. 1t is hoped that Congress may be induced
augment the enlisted strength OF the Army sufficiently
to allow this increase without permanently diminish
ing the cavalry and infantry. 1t is recommended that
material and guns for artillery practice be supplied to
all artillery stations The post school system has
not yet attained proper status, although distinct
advance has been made, and some method OF obtain
ing more satisfactory teachers needs to be discovered
General Howard commends the operation of the
laws aimed to decrease desertions and says that in
time few Will desert except men who commit other
crimes at the time of their desertion He his
recommendation for graduated code OF punishment
by cOurt-martal, and, with view to simplicity sug
gests the establishment of field officers or postcom
manders' courts.
General Howard earnestly hopes that efforts will
be continued to organize the three branches OF the
Army into regiments Of twelve troops, batteries
companies, and oficcred by the number and grade Of
officers authorized for cavalry regiments. 1t Is
strongly recommended that tle privacs Of artillery
be classified with difference in pay, In the Of
the engineers. An increase Of pay for nOn-commis
stoned officers in each line to correspond to tie
staff is desirable. From various the present
maximum Of 25,0 600 enlisted men results in a
restriction, and to keep the organization up to $4,000
trained men constantly on foot, the maximum allowed
Including recruits-shoud not be less than $4,000.
General Howard says that the effect of having
ganzed the Army in 1866 with officers OF nearly the
same age and who had already suffered much hardship
in the Rebellion is working serious injury to the
service The number Of disabled officers far exceeds
the limit Of the retired list, the captains too old
for Marching duty, and therefore such officers
above sixty -four years of age should by legislation be
transferred from the limited to the unlimited retired
list In the case Of enlisted men thirty years service
is too long before retirement and twenty five years Is
suggested proper period Of service.
General Howard recommends that some system OF
school battali0ns for boys from seventeen to twenty
one years of be organized as source OF supply of
material for missOned officers for the Army
and militia and Fort Porter, n. u. Is mentioned as
q convenient point for Its establishment