Omaha daily bee., 1890-11-07
IN CASE OF WARS ALARMS.
What the United statesOOould Do and What
the Country Lacks
MAJOR GENERAL SCHoFIELD'S REPORT
He Recommends the Fortiiication of
Important Scnboard Cities, More
Men and the Esta blishmcnt
of Training Schools.

WASHINGTON, Nov, G.-Maior General Scho.
field, commanding the United States army, in
his annual report says in part: at may bc
asserted that all that is now requisite for the
peaceful settlement Of the Indian problem is
the wise and human treatment Of the Indians.
The time has come when the future positive
or probable military necessities of the coun-
try should dictate its military policy. Tho
army should be so stationed that it may be
prepared at the shortest notice to res pond to
any cali which may be made on its service,
and at the same time to assist in
all ways in preparing the militia of
the several states or national guards for
active service in time Of need 1t is believed
to be so manifest, to all who will consider the
subject, that demonstration is unnecessary,
that the important seaboard cities of tho
United States should be so fortified, armed
and manned as to be capable of sclfdcfcnsc
against the attack of any foreign fleet.
III the important seaports are adequately
fortified and armed one fleet, it is presumed,
Will be sufficient for each of the great oceans.
The military policy of the United States will
frontier as was proposed by the fortidcation
board of lSS1 and carefully select dgarrisuns
as ancucIuS for the concentration OF force in
an emergency are suggested instead
Watervliet in the fabrication of experimental
guns and mortars of the highest type.n
General Schoield describes the straits TO
which the department has been put by past
legislation reducing the number of privateS
IN the army. He wants the limit raised to at
least 10000, and says that without this num-
Der in peace the organization cannot be made
thoroughly effective and cannot be relied
upon Tor the service which may be required
of the regular troops in an emergency, and
flin nlEs ho la1 h,r
volunteers called into the field. In this con-
ncctiOn the general suggests that whenever
such Increase is made, provision be made for
the organization of large battalion
of young men between the ages Of sixteen
and twenty years, selected with respect to
their intelligence and good character with IA
view to their education for the service rs
nOn-commssioned officers and officers either
of the regular forces or militia, privilege
being given to such young men to enlist for a
regular period service or to receive honor
able discharge at their own option at the eX-
piration of the course OF instruction. Such Il
school would be of very great value to the
military service of the country. IT is sug
gcSted that steps be taken without delay to
organize in all of the seaboard states due
proportion of heavy artillery, militia bat
terieS for the service of fOrti cations in those
states and that these batteries be reported to
the war department in order that places of in
StruCtiOn be assigned to them where they can
spend all the encampment in company with
the regular troops and under the instruction
OF accomplished artillery officers Regimen
tai organizations for such artillery batteries
are not necessary. In the interest of econ
omy, probobly biennial, instead of annual in
struction of the in fantrv troops for field ex-
ercise will be found su f1icent
In conclusion General SchOhcld says sew
cral measures enacted during the present
congress will prove of great aud lasting benc-
iit TO the military service and the zeal and
fidelity with which the duties of the army
have been performed merit commentator.