Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1890-11-22
COAST DEFENSES.
Secretary Proctor Strongly Urges
Their Strengthening.
Synopsis of His Annual Report-Com.
ments on the National Guard
Some Other Suggestions.
pRocToR's REPORT.

Some Other Suggestions.
PRoCToR's REPORT.
WASHINGTON, Nov. H. Secretary Of
War Proctor has submitted his second an
nual report to tho President showing the
condition and needs of the department.
While admitting that the Government
has little to fear from invasion the Sec
rectary says no great civilized nation
has more just cause to look well 10 the
condition of its coast defenses Under
the fortiiication act of last session posi-
tions for .lorty-eight mortars in three
grous sS&ixtocn each and for three of
the new long-range guns will be pre-
pared in New York harbor; for one
group Of mortars and one gun in Boston
harbor, and for one group of mortars
and two guns at San Francisco. lie
says:
81 trust that fixed policy may be adopted
in the line of reasonable yearly appropriation
for the completion of the work on which the
Nation is but just entering, With such a
necessary plant and be able to furnish
material at cheaper rate. With
an annual appropriation of SS,OOO000 to
slOoOO0JO-only little more than that of the
present year-the construction and emplace,
mcnt of guns and mortars, works of torpedo
defense, for the whole coast can be carried on,
and in ten years our principal harbors and
cities rendered reasonably secure
Tho Gnnrotnry ,n11g n.tn,t;o, 10 he
advisability of the three-battalion
formation for infantry which already
prevails in the other arms Of the service.
The number Of dosertons from the
army for the twelve months ended Sep
tember 80 were 2,0S6, as against 2, 1jl
for the same period last year, a decrease
of "A per cent. This result Is due to
such improvements in the service as
could be accomplished under existing
legislation.
TnC number OF officers now awaiting
retirement is about sixty. These men
are performing no service whatever
but receive full pay, while junior Off
GERS doing their duties for them are un.
justly deprived of both the pay and the
rank which the law intends to attach to
the positions they are filling. The in
congruity of the present law is illus
trated by the fact that where an officer
is disabled in the line of duty instead
Of opening the way for the promotion
of Juniors it may and often does actual.
ly retard it.
Regarding the National guard the
Secretary says:
Being impressed with the Importance Of an
effective militia as prominent and necessary
factor in any military organization suited to out
country the department has cndcayorcd by its
cooperation to encourage and aid the Ma
tional guard so far as possible unde,
existing law. Officers have been de
tailed to assist IN their instruction, and
detachments Of regular troops have been
ordered to participate in some Of the larger
State cncampmcnts. The department has en-
deavOred to cooperate more especially with
those 'taies which have manifested the mos,
interest in the matter by their own liberal ap.
preparations and earnest efforts, The results
have been very satisfactory. Its direct bcne
fits are palpable, and its indirect influence per
bapS even more important.
ANY money which the National Govcrnmon,
expends for our citizen Suldcry goes to hell
those who help themselves, and is bound It
give propurtonately large returns. Under the
present law there is annually appropriated fol
the benefit of the militia 10000 while the in
divdual States appropriate in the aggregate, &
far as known, over S?,0J000J and in many
States the militia receive also q considerable
support from local and private sources. If The
appropriation Of the general Government
should be increased, and ] wish il
might be, believe that it would be gen
orously met by a corresponding Increase by the
efficiency Oi the National Guard, and to brinG
them into closer relations with the War Depart
ment, and hope that measures to that end mal
receive favorable consideration Of Congress
One of the most useful directions which can b,
given TO thc drill and training OF the militia o
the seabO0rd States is in connection with coas
dcfenscs, wherc It's services are most likely Il
be needed, If at all. In that particular train
ing the general Government must do more thar
| cooperate, it must take the initiative"
In order to obtain exact information
concerning Alaska the Secretary ha.
approved the organization of sys
tematic survey of that Territory and he
recommends an appropriation by Con
gress for that purpose.
The expenditures under Secretary
Proctor's dire ction for the year ended
June 30 were: Salaries, etc, Sl,JiO, 700
military establishment, S2S,9Gl, 800
public works, Sl5, 1852, 7Sj; miscellane
Gus objects, S6,072, $3.50; total, S47, $50,
1856 The total appropriations for tn,
year ended June 80, 1891, are S62, 100,
695. The total estimates for the mex
fiscal year ending June so, 1892, are s43
| YGg. g3G