The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1890-10-26

Titled: "Our National Military System, or
What the United States Army Should Be-
We saw the article when it first appeared
IN print over two years ago. Among other
remarks the general says: "We have no
military system whatever. The militia
laws, looking to that end, which were de-
vised in the early history of the United
States, have failed of their object and are
dead letter on the statute books. When
war comes, we shall be as unprepared for
1t as we were when the Rebellion came
upon u.s. We shall be obliged TO resort to
the same expensive methods, and suffer
the same humiliations in the beginning that
the country has heretofore experienced"
Again he says: 1.-THE limited force scat
tered throughout the United States that we
ostentatiously designate as our standing
army, is smaller than that of any other
country In proportion to its population, ex-
cept China. While France has soldier to
every sixty inhabitants, we have one in
1,4oo. BY some extremists, who hold that
q standing army is not consistent with
republican form of government, this insig
nlflcant force is sometimes accused Of
threatening the liberties Of our people. 1t
is mlSnomer to call an establishment,
that bears such proportion to the popu
laIlon standing army. 1t is nothing more
than the custodian of what military knowl
edge exists in the country. This is heavy
responsibility, which should be aided by
making it also producer and dissemination
OF military knowledge, in order that it may
have the opportunity of rendering an ade-
quate return for the immense cost it is to
the country General Kautz handles his
theme ably. 1t is worth reading by those
interested in the army. The views eX
pressed by General Kautz are logical and
conclusive.
According to the report of Captain Pope,
command ant of of the military prison at
Leavenworth, Kansas, 4Sl military prison
ers were in confinement on the last day of
the fiscal year, that is on the 30th of June.
1890 They came from all the arms of the
service as follows: Cavalry, 1870; artillery,
IS; infantry, 30: the remaining lob being
recruits, etc. We notice that SIX (6) are
there from the Sixteenth and nineteen 90
from the Twenty first
Twenty one line and three field officers
on parade yesterday morning at l 80
O'Clock. 1t was pretty sight to see march
to front and centre, then at the adjutant's
command forward guide centre, march"
to salute the commanding officer when the
parade was dismissed.
Second Lieutenant S. M. Hackney,
Sixteenth infantry is granted three
months leave.
POST IMPROVEMENTS.
Iue snug amount Oh sd ,0UU IS to be eX
pended at the post as follows: Raising
wings Of ten sets of officers quarters Sl3,
COO; one ice house 81 900; one work shop 81
600; three sets of nou-commisioned staff
officers quarters, $1,000; two water closets,
81, 800: an officers mess hall and bache
lor officers quarters, $1,000; and $4,000
for plumbing the above buildings We
have seen the designs for these improve
ments and can say that they reflect great
cedit upon the architect. Mr.. E. Nissen of
| the quarter master department. The build
ing designed for the bachelor officers will be
by far the handsomest at the post This
money was appropriated this fall and Mr..
Nissen Immediately commenced drawing
| the plans, which he has just completed.
The work will commence at once 1t may
be the intenped coo structure will not be
! built until the others are finished. These
improvements are extremely necessary,
as we have more people up here than ample
| room in which they can have The com
panies are somewhat cramped for sleepin g
room, that is the Sixteenth infantry and
it is expected wings will be built to then
quarters at any early day.
OPEN AIR CONCERT.
At 43O sharp this afternoon the regi
mental band under the leadership of Pro
lessor A Feussel, viii render the follow
ing programme:
Senator Mitchell's March Aide
Overture: 'L'elegante'' - Pettet
/ Waltz: Visions of the Past Robinson
| Polka: Gretchen ---....--- Bills,
Fantastic Quadrille: ''Mardi Gras aux Enfers''
Choral
Oct. II. 1890