The morning call., 1890-11-17
ARMY AFFAIRS.
Secretary Proctor's Second An
nual Report.
The Construction Of Large Guns and
Coast DefenSeS.
DeSertlOnS- Promotion From the Ranks.
Transfer Of the Signal Corps.
The Estimates.
Special to THE MORNING CALL

important. 1t embraces provisions for
lineal promotion and professional examina-
tions therefor, acts for the prevention of
desertion, for the limitation of punishments
under the articles of war, and the improve
mept of courts-martial, and appropriations
for additional machinery for the manu-
facture of large guns and for the beginning
of system of coast defense.
1t has been our traditional policy from the
first to avoid entangling alliances. We
have little to fear from invasion, and are
free from the necessity Of maintaining large
standing armies or of fortifying against land
attacks. But our long coast line is peculiar
ly exposed to an attack from the sea. So
long as an enemy can reach vulnerable
points W ithout exposing himself toour land
forces he may inflct blows which we are
unable to parry, and which may cause losses
i'll to be endured. A modern land battery
constitutes permanent defense upon bat
tle-feld, chosen in advance, where no flank
ing is posi- BILE and where an enemy must
force his way or abandon the attack. In
such contest ships of war are placed under
every disadvantage. The channel is select
ed where their deployment is difficult, while
they are at tie center of concentrated fire
from many dispers ed guns. Electricity,
high explosives and rified MOrtars have re-
suited strongly in favor of the comparative
resisting strength of land Notifications as
against naval force. When our principal
cities, our harbors and our navy-yards are
thus protected. then our coasts will be safe
and our navy and our increasing commerce
will have safe ports of refuge, where tney
can be repaired. rec0aled and refitted.
COMPLICATIONS.
The efficiency of land defenses is no ex-
pertinent They are the cheapest TO build;
they are the cheapest TO maintain; they are
always in position and ready for service. A
modern land battery when once constructed
and armed needs few repairs aud no re-
newals. Outlays for coast defense are in
vestments which yield large interest in the
form of insurance, with little deterioration
to principal. AS the sole object OF barbor
Notifications is defense its construction
should at least keep pace with, ii not pre-
cede, every other preparation.
Under the FortifcatiOn Act OF last session
positions for forty-eight mortars in three
groups of sixteen each, and for three of the
new long-range guns Will be prepared in
New York harbor; for one group of nortars
and one gun In Boston narbor, and for one
group of mortars and two guns in San
Francisco. With an annual appropriation
of SS 900, 600 to S10,0 0,000, 00O-only little more
than that Of the present year-the construc-
ton and emplacement Of guns and mortars,
works of torpedo defense, for tile whole
coast, can be carried on, and in ten years
our principal harbors and cities rendered
reasonably secure.
ORDNANCE.
In the matter of arament fair and prom
ising beginning has been made. The gun
factory at Watervlet Arsenal has already
turned out completed steel guns of 80, SO,
s and 10 inches caliber, which have been en-
tirely satisfactory 50 far as their tests have
proceeded. The 32-inch breech-loading
feld-gun meets with general approval in
service and the firing tests of the s and 10
inch type guns manufactured at Watervliet
have given excellent results, both as re-
CARDS accuracy and range, and have salts
factOrily demonstrated the capability of
the gun factory to turn out modern
hish-power rited steel guns equal to
the very best. Two type guns, one
of 12-inch caliber and the other 10
inch wire-wouBd steel gun, both breecll-
leaders aud 12-inch b. l.. steel mortar are
now under construction at the gun factory.
Under the present contract about thirteen
Pinch cast iron ln0rtarS h0Oped with steel
can be furnished per annum, and as there
are other plants in the country besides that
of the present contractors Which are capable
of turning out these mortars it is only neceS-
sary that sufficient sums be appropriated Tor
the manufacture OF about hity mortars
year. and the production of mortars will
keep pace with that of guns and the con-
struction of emplacements.
The manufacture of the fOrgingS for
S-inch, 10-inch and 12-inch breech-lUading
guns by the Bethlehem Iron Works, under
the appropriation of S1,500,0O0 made in the
act of September %, 1888. is proceeding
satisfactorily, and it is expected that the
contract will be completed by November,
1898. The sum appropriated will secure
about siXty-one guns of the caliberS men
toned. The carriages for the 8 and 10
inch guns will be Of the disappearing type.
Several designs OF this type are now under
manufacture or consideration. The 12-inch
guns will be mounted on platforms which
will be raised into position for firing by an
elevator, and then lowered out OF reach oil
the enemy'S fire tV he reloaded and aimed,
except where the position Is at such an ele-
walton as to make this unnecessary for the
protection Of the gunners. design for
such platform and elevator has been ap-
proved, and one is now under construction.
The 16-inch guns, if any are made, will
doubtless be mounted in turrets.
DEsERTIONs.
The number of desertions from the army
for the twelve months ending September
OOtli WtIc -OcO, do uedluSt -tDl lOl tlC odilIt
period last year, decrease of "a per cent.
This result is due to such improvements in
the service as could be accomplished under
existing legislation. The act of Congress
entitled IAN act to prevent desertions, and
for other purposes approved june IL.
effect up to this date. The figures for Au-
gust and September were 30S as compared
with 459 for the same months last year, and
5l5 the year before, decrease Of IS and 40
per cent.
My experience so far confirms an observa-
ton whice L made one year ago that 1.-The
pith OF the whole question is to make the
service worth seeking, and then enough
good men will seek 1t and be glad to stay in
it." But there is fundamental difficulty.
The pay of second lieutenant is SIG 81 per
month. that Of n first sergeant only $50, and
unfortunately this difference in pay largely
regulates the actual distance between their
relative positions. The individual elements
OF the army are separated by too large gap
tor the best interests Of either. The pay Of
non-cOmmissioned officer is but little more
than private, and the chance TO rise above
that position very slight. 1t would be
step in the right direction to increase some
what the pay of non-ccmmisSioned officers.
PROMOTIONS FROM THE RANKS.
1wOuld recommend change in the law
relative to the selection of enlisted men for
appointment to the grade of Second Lieuten-
anu Inc acI OF June 10, 1919, pr0VIulnS
for the promotion of meritorious non-com-
missloned officers, makes favorable recon-
mendation from company commander an
essential qualification for examination. The
present system gives great opportunity for
tavOritism. Doubtless there have been
many cases of it. and there is danger that
the abuse may become Il very serious one.
In order to insure exact justice to all, any
enlisted man Of two years service who is
citizen of the United States, should. under
certain fixed rules, be permitted to compete
for commission. BY this means the opera
tion of the law would be made absolutely
impersOnal, and every man entering the
army would be impressed with the fact that
he lad an exact aud even chance for a COM
mission.
SIGNAL CORPS.
Ru tho annrauad Qntahar 1 800 the