The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1890-11-17
UNCLE GSAMUEl'S ARMY
Secretary Of War Proctor Renders His
Animal Report.
THINGS HE RECOMMENDS
His Policy as to Coast Defenses-im'
proving the Condition OF Pri-
vates-The Alaska Explor-
atIons and Other Topics.

says the legislation of the present con-
gress affecting the army has been un-
usually important and embraces pro-
visions for lineal promotion and pro-
fessional examinations therefor, acts for
the prevention OF deser,ion, for the limi-
tation Of punishments under the articles
Of war, and the improvement Of courts
martial, and appropriations for additional
machinery for the manufacture of large
guns and for the beginning Of system OF
coast defense. The secretary briefly re-
views each Of these measures. He praises
particularly the legislation on court
martials and notes that, although the
legislation referred 70 was enacted too
late To have had effect during the present
year, still. the number OF courts martial
was reduced to l,7s2 the past year from
1899 the year before, a decrease OF 2l7 or
II per cent This in itself is indicative Of
the improving tone OF the army.
On the subject OF coast defense the sec
retary says: Ii has been our traditional
policy from the first TO avoid entangling
alliances. We are separated by an ocean
from the powers which maintain great
armies. The military resources of the
nation have been SO recently demonstrate
ed, and lis network OF railway is so
adapted 10 rapid concentration OF troops
on any threatened point that no hostile
force is likely TO seek an encounter with
us on our own soil. A small army sent
upon our shores could not hope for sue
cess; il is not probable that any large one
will incur the risk. We have, therefore.
little to fear from invasion and are free
from the necessity Of maintaining large
standing armies or fortifying against
land attacks. But our long coast line
is peculiarly exposed toan attack from the
sea. So long as an enemy can reach yul-
nerable points without exposing himself
TO our land forces he may infiict blows
which we are unable 20 parry, and which
may cause losses III 10 be endured. No
great civilized nation today has more
just cause than ours TO look well TO the
condition Of its coast defenses. and none,
since the civil war, has so wholly neg
lected them. II is matter Of congratula-
ton that this national deficiency Is begin
ming TO excite the attention 1t merits, es-
pecially as time, even more than money.
is necessary for its proper preparation. A
modern land battery constitutes q perma-
nent defense upon a battlefield, chosen
In advance, where no iianking Is possible,
and where an enemy uiust force his way
or abandon the attack. In such contest
ships Of war are placed under every dis
advantage. The channel is selected
where their deployment is diff
cult, while they are at the cen.
ter Of concentrated fire from many dis
persed guns. Modern inventions in the
use Of electricity, high explosives, and in
rifed mortars, have resulted strongly in
favor OF the comparative resisting
strength Of land fortihcations as sgains,
a naval force. They eau not be blown up
by dynamite nor sunk by vertical fire.
They can support any weight Of arma.
ment, and can protect themselves by any
weight of earth or stone or iron. For &C,
curate aim they have the solid earth for a
foundation. They also have the cooper.
alive aid Of our own navy, Of torpedoes
and submarine mines, and other acces
sorry means Of defense. When ouI
principal cities, our harbors and oul
navy yards are thus protected, then ouI
coasts will he safe, and our navy and ouI
increasing commerce will have safe ports
OF refuge, where they can be repaired
recoaled and reiitted.
Under the fortification act Of last ses
zion positions for forty-eight mortars in
three groups Of sixteen each, and foI
three of the new long-range guns will be
prepared in New York harbor: for one
group Of mortars and one gun In Boston
harbor, and for one group OF mortars and
two guns In San Francisco. As this Is a
matter in which makeshifts from year "a
year are both expensive and destructiv,
20 the object TO be attained, trust that a
fixed policy may be adopted in the line oi
a reasonable yearly appropriation for the
completion of the work on which the ma
ton Is but just entering. With such q
policy manufacturers could safely put in
the necessary plants and be able 10 fur
nish material at cheaper rate. With an
annual appropriation Of eight TO ten mil.
lions-only little more than that Of the
present year-the construction and EN-
placement Of guns and mortsrs, works oI
torpedo defense, for the whole coast, car
be carried on, and In ten years our princi
pal harbors and cities rendered reasona
bly, secure.
In the matter OF armament fair snc
promising beginning has been made. Tn,
gun factory at Wateryliet arsenal hai
already turned out completed steel gum
Of 80, S.6, 8 and 10 inches caliber, whicl
have been entirely satisfactory SO far a
their tests have proceeded. The 3.2incl
breech-loading field gun meets with gen
cral approval in service and the flrinI
tests of the 4 and lO-inch type guns manu-
factured at Wateryliet have given ex
cellent results. both as regards accurac.
and range, and have satisfactorily dem
onstrated the capablity Of the gun factor.
to turn out modern high-power rifled stee
guns equal 10 the very best. Two typ
guns, one Of the i2-inch caliber and th
other l0-inch wire-wound steel gun. bot
breech leaders. and a i2-inch b. L
steel motar are now under construc
ton at the gun factory. IL i
10 be remembered that the work 80 Ia
done has all been accomplished in sho
improyised from an old timber store
house and with limited equipment an
that the experience gained by both oi
iicers and operatives will probably lea
70 valuable results In the new gun fac
tory. Under the present contract abou