New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-11-07
FIXTURE WORK OF THE ARMY
,xv,rAL REPORT OF MAJORGENERAL
SCHOFIELD.
rpcEyr NEED OF SEAPORT DEFBNcBs-THE
INDIAN QUESTION NEARLY SETTLED
PROPOSED INSTRUCTION OF
THE MILITIA

THE MILITIA.
,vosbn rton Nov. 6.-Major General Schofeld, COM
..msinr the United States Army, has submitted to
.ha secretary Of War his annual report upon the work.
- nv the line OF the Army during the last year ara
60, nresent condition. After paying tribute to the
emory OF the late General Crook, General schoheld
oass of the services rendered by the Army In past
,s.rs in subduing hostile Indians and protecting
immigration. lie says in part:
7, NAV be confidently asserted that all that Is now
reousite for the final peaceful settlement Of the great
Indian problem is wise, Just and humane treatment Oh
or proximity OF such military force as VIII deter the
Young and restless among them from attempting 70
initiate the heroic deeds Of their ancestors.
The time has now come when the future possible OF
probable military necessities OF the country Should
dictate be 81 saoDea that be ppare
shortest notice to respond to any call wnlch may oe
made upon It's services and at the same oe 10 asssr
hody OF the militia OF the several states, or National
Guards for active service in time Of need s1io will con-
slider the subject that demonstration Is unnecessary
that the important seabosrd cities Of the United states
should be fortified, armed. and manned as 10 no
capabc OF sclfdefcce against the attack OF any foreign
sads should be- @, Provided pro With adequate
fleet Of seagoing battleshps capable oi auaekis epy
m blockade its harbors destroy It's commerce. II
the important seaports adequately foruhed ana
armed. such feet, II Is presumed, VIII DC s"oio'
for each Of the great oceans.
c.re,aI schofeM next speaks OF the plans Of the
Fertilization Board Of 1855, and says that only ono
modification has been suggested. The military pohcy
of the United States will never require such defehco
on the Northern frontier has been proposed' anu
carefully selected garrlsons as nuclei 1or ule COLI
centrayn OF force In emergency are suggested In
stead Satisfactory progress has been made al Wa'e
v,et in the fabrication Of experimental guns ana NOR
tars OF the highest type. Says General Schohed'
There IS believed to be no room for doubt tnat tne
United States now able 20 manufacture guns f
~ u-ap nyta
cam he made anywhere else In the world, and 1t IS
earnestly hoped that Congress will continue 10 make
to carry this work steadily forward until all
the great seaboa cities are PLACED beyond t eran In
mind THAT these measures are III no PropTr , Ss
preparations for war Iey are on ,e n ertv Of
preparations WHICH aio '"Oi'p'"''''' "
General schoncd describes at length the straits to
which the Department has been pat by past legislator
reducing the number OF privates In the Army. lie
saws it manifestly not the intention OIL Cohsress "
,oduce any part of the Army t. an ineffective Skeleton
and II Is proposed to maintain throughout the three
arms nearly the same uniform effective strengt-three
officers and about sixty TO each troop battery and
company. lie continues:
II is hoped that Congress may be pleased at an early
dav 10 increase the limit OF the enlisted Strength o.
the Army 10 that fixed in the act OF July 5. 1870
viz 900 In this connection beg leave 10 snSgeS,
he male either by law or the orders of the War De
plrtment for tho organization OF large battalion OF
/ between
wears selected with respect 70 their intelligence ana
good character, with view to their education iOr
Service as northumberland officers and officers either
Of the regular forces in the militia the privilege
being given to such young men 10 enlist Tor the reg
lar neriod OF service receive honorable discharges
at their own option at the expiration OF the course Oh
instruction. $50
The disposition General Schohcld would make of tho
40 600 men is as follows Infantry, twenty-five regi-
ments, eight companies each, 14l25; cavalry, ten
rocincnts ten troops EACH 1850 artillery, regi
menfs ten batteries each. 5,145 TOTAL for line OF the
army oG32O. The remainder would be distributed
among the engineers battalion ordnance corps Scouts
| etc , -, -. A.. .,.si,r
hills TO enlarge moderately the artillery arm, to enable
the small Regular Army 10 meet as far as possible inc
present requirements Of the service In time OF ace
intending the instruction Of the great body OF gained
militia that must be relied upon the main body OF the
army In time of 1t is suggested that Steps pc
ajen without delay to organize In all OF the saoosrl
states due proportion OF heavy artillery batteries lOf
te service OF the FORTH cations In those states ana hat
he-e batteries be reported to the War Deparlnent, III
order that their places OF instruction may De ass sc
10 Them where they spend the period OF their an
nual encampment for snch purposes, In COMPANY WIN
the regular troops and under tne imhlcuiac
| of accomplished artillery officers.