The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1890-11-17
STATE OF THE ARMY.
A Resume Of Secretary Proc
tors Annual Report.
pEsERTioNs ON THE DECREASE.


WAsx1xoron Cfrr, Nov. 10 The annual
report Of the secretary Of war will be SUBJ
mitted to the president tomorrow. Follow
ing b . synopsis Of the report:
The operation Of the law in regard TO
lineal promotion il postponed only IN the
eese Of present drst iieutenants. Whatever
advantages there might have been In the
old system Of regimental promotion, they
we're such - would prevail in . large army
rather than ii small one and in war than
IN time OF peace. On their present basis It
certainly could not increase the esprit q
ans Of Individual regiments. The change
II one sminentiy Just to officers and 10 1T
tineIy inaugufated IN connection with it,
companion measure in the same act
The SUSTAIN Of examinations for promo
lions makes the right to promotion Of all
ofyicers Of the army below the rank OF ma
Tor conditional on them. There are excep-
tionai provisions, however, in the interests
Of o6Icsrs who came in from the volunteer
service. The measure - whole is one OF
great importance to the efficiency and high
professional standing Of the officers of the
army and in keeping with the practice Of
Ill the European powers.
The oct Of October 1, instituting sum-
mary courts for the trial of certain petty
of5ensss, provides . prompt and very salts
factory method for the adjustment Of such
matters. II will oftentimes save the SOL
der from long precedent confinement In
the guard-house and relieve the investiga-
ton Of his case from the cumbrous ma
chinsry Of . for mslcouft-martial. The inter
ests Of the accused are carefully guarded
By the terms OF the Law, and the right is es-
pec1aIly reservsd to him to demand and re-
csive trial before . scourt-martial II he 50
desires. The ill-defined limits of punish
ment in the articles Of war have been cor
rected by the act Of September q, SO that
the whole subject has been placed on .
proper and satisfactory basis. During the
year the --number Of courts-martial
amounted to !, 1852, . decrease Of pit or II
per cent as compared with the preceding
year.
Our long coast line IL peculiarly exposed
10 IN attack from the sea, and 1t Is mat
ter Of conRratulation that this national de-
dciency IL beginning to excite attention. A
modern land battery constitutes perma-
nent defence upon . battlefield, chosen in
advance, where no flanking is pos sible and
whore an enemy must force his way or
abandon the attack. The efficiency Of land
defenses - no experiment. It was the
former wise policy Of the government, pre-
vious to the civil war, to maintain coast
Notifications entirely competent to resist
the vessels Of war Of that period. They
are the cheapest to build; they are the
cheapest 70 maintain; they are always in
position and ready for service. A modern
land battery when once constructed and
armed needs few repairs ana no renewals.
0utlayo for coast defense are investments
which Yield large interest In the form Of
Insurance.. with little deterioration to
principal. Al the sole object OF harbor for.
ti6cationsi 70 defense, it. construction should
at least keep pacs with, II not precede,
every other preparation. The secretary rec.
ommsnds that fixed policy may be
adopted IN the line Of . reasonable yearly
appropriation for the completion Of the
work on which the nation Il but Just en-
terinG. With such policy manufacturers
could safely put In the necessary plants
and b able to furnish material ct cheaper
rata. With an annual appropriation Of
eigt t. ten millions-only little more than
that Of the present ysar-the construction
and emplacemsnt Of guns and mortars.
works Of torpedo defense. for the whole
coast, can b carried on, and In ton years
our principal harbors and cities rendered
reasonably secure.
The art Of modern gun making Is now
well inaugurated in this country. Under
the present contract about thirteen twelve
inch cast-iron mortars. hooped with
steel, can b cast per year,
and % there are other plants,
in the country besides those of the present
contractors. II IL only necessary that suffi-
cient sums be appropriated for the manu-
facture of about fifty mortars year. The
manufacture Of forgings for e-inch, 10-inch
and 12-inch breach loading guns
by the Bethlehem Iron Works under the
appropriation of $l.500.0OO is proceeding
satisfactorily, and 1t il expected that the
contract will be completed by November
1. 1888. The appropriation will secure
about sixty-one guns Of she calibres men.
toned.
The number of assertions from the army
for the twelve months ending September
30 were 2,0S6. ~ against 2.75l for the same
period last year. decrease of "a per cent
This result is due to such Improvements in
the service - could be accomplished under
existing legislation. The act of June l6,
1880, embodies the more conservative. 1t
provides for the retention, until the end of
his enlistment, of 81 per month from q
soldiers pay for the first year. This is
pledge for his honorable service, but as it
and interest are to be paid the man If he
serves honestly and faithfully until the
date OF his discharge, it is really also
providsnt feature for the soldier himself.
Enlistments are to continue to be made for
five years, but after one years service a
soldier IL permitted, in time of peace, to
purchase his discharge for q prescribed
sum. At the end OF three years OF faith
full service he 10 entitled to free discharge
If he desires it, 1t also increases the yege-
table ration, and finally authorizes the ar
rest Of deserters by civil officers The act
proceeds upon the theory that by making
II possible to quit the service in an honor.
able way there will be fewer attempts to do
SO dishonorably; by offering possible and
reasonable escape from . life that has be-
come life of discomfort the discomfort
itself may thereby be diminished.
By law the officers must be retired when
they reach the age of 81 years, and may be-
retired on their own request after forty
years. service. Such retirements are now
unlimited. but the number of all other re-
tirements is restricted by the statutes to
zoo. Retirements ought to be carefully
limited in some proper way. The retired
list, or any privileged class, should be-
strictly confined within the narrowest lim-
It's compatible with the necessity which re-
quires it, creation.
The policy Of the department to concen.
trate its troops ct larger posts as rapidly as
h. -. II 49,