Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-11-07

THB CoCSTRYS MILITARY PoL1Cf-PROrECTION
OF THE sEAcoAsT-FAcILIrIEs FOR GUN MAX
ING, Krc.-ARMY INCREASE AND RHonoASIzA-
TON.
Gen. schofield has submitted his annual re-
port to the Secretary of War. OF the coast-de-
ense problem he says:
"The time has come when the future pos
sible or probable military necessities Of the
country should dictate military policy. The
small regular army should be SO stationed that
it may be prepared at the shortest notice to
respond to any call which may be made upon
its services. and at the same time to assist in
all practicable ways in preparing the much
larger body Of the militia of the several states,
or National Guards, for active service in time
OF need 1t lie believed that the i'm
portant sea-board cities of the United
States should be so fortified, armed and
manned as to be capable OF self-defense
against the attack of any foreign feet; and that
each of the great seacoasts of the United States
should be provided with an adequate feet Of
sea-golng battle ships, capable Of attacking
upon the broad ocean any hostile fleet which
might attempt to blockade its harbors or de-
stroy Its commerce. If the important seaports
are adequately fortified and armed, one such
heet. 1t Is presumed, will be sufficient for each
OF the great oceans. 1t may be confidently
stated that among military men there is seen
subject. namely, that an adequate seacoast de-
Tense requires both the fertilization of each of
the great seaports and the provision of an ade-
quate fleet to take the part of offensive de-
fensiye' IN the event Of war with any foreign
power"
As TO THE FACILITIES OF THE COUNTRY
for providing for its owndefense he remarks:'
There is believed to be no room for doubt
that the United States is now able to manu-
facture guns and other implements of war quite
equal 10 the best that can be made anywhere
else IN the world. and it is earnestly hoped that
Congress VIII continue to make such moderate
appropriations as may be manifesty necessary
to carry this work steadily forward until all the
great seaboard cities are placed beyond the
danger OF injury by foreign attack. 1t should
DC borne IN mind that these measures are in no
proper sense preparations for war; They are
on the contrary. those preparations which are
Indispensable to the security OF peace. Con-
sidering the enormous latent strength and re-
sources of the United States, no foreign power
would think for moment of attacking this
country unless il was found in a state of un-
preparation Tor immediate defense. in which
condition enormous damage might be done by
even greatly inferior power, which damage
could not be repaired by anv possible reprisals
which this country might afterward make
ARMY REORGANIZATION RECOMMENDED.
Gen Schoteld recommends the increase Of
the limit of the army to 30, 900 men and also the
men. He suggests the following organization
for the army Infantry, IS regiments g COM
pa6les each), IA. lbs; cavalry, 10 regiments 90
troops each), 1850; artillery, z regiments 40
batteries each), 5,l45. Total for line of the
army, 26,S2U Tho remainder would be dis
tributeG among the engineers battalion, ord
nance corps, scouts, &c.
IMPROVED ORDNANCE AND ExPLosrvEs
OF the work of the board of ordnance and
fertilization Gen. Schofeld says that it has ex-
amined and acted upon about 2SO inventions
including cannon, mortars guns for high ex-
PlosIves, smokeless powders. air ships, car
tridges. &c. OF the S5, 256, 594 ut its disposal
the board made aliotments amounting to
-, 500 sSS, the largest item being 9Ol 6l2 for
guns and steel forgings for guns Aliotmepts
amounting TO SH.DUO were also made for ex-
perIments with high explosives, which have
been the subject of considerable attention and
experiment Another allotment was made Of
Sl,22l,OOO for the construction Of gun and
mortar batteries for tine defense Of Boston,
New York and San Francisco.
lie pays a tribute to the memory Of the late
Maj Gen. Crook, whose death he terms q great
loss to the army
TIE ISDIAS PROBLEM.
BE says that the work of subduing the war
like tribes of Indians has been nearly COM
pleted. and It remains only TO adequately guard
the adjacent settlements from possible injury
by the Indian tribes, heretofore hostile and
now but partially civilized, assembled on COM
paratively small reservations. 1T may be con-
tdently asserted that all that is now requisite
for the final peaceful settlement Of the great
Indian problem Is wise Just and humane treat
ment Of the Indians upon their reservations in
the presence " proximity of such a military
force as will deter the young and restless
among them from attempting to initiate the
heroic deeds of their ancestors, to the recital
OF which they still listen during their periodical
festivities"