The Iola register., 1890-11-14
GENERAL HowARD,s REPORT.
He Treats on Seacoast Defenses and Sug-
gests Army Reforms.


WASHINGTON, Nov 7.-Major-General
O. o. Howard, commanding the division
of the Atlantic, in his annual report
calls attention to the subject Of seacoast
defense. He says that, considering the
| armament necessary for the extent of
seacoast in the division, the liberal ap-
preparation of one year should not lead
to over confidence, but since his last an
nual report decided step has been
taken both in providing for the con-
struct!on of seacoast common and rified
nortars the preparation of fortifica-
tions for them and the construction of
fixed torpedoes with galleries, operat-
ing easements and other belongings
The principal harbors have been prop
erly plated, and the artillery on duty
near them Is at present engaged in
earnest practice with such weapons as
the forts now have and will be fully
prepared to undertake the management
of the new guns and appliances as soon
as they begin to arrive. The artillery
regiments have been necessarily in
creased in size at the expense of the
rest of the line and still two more regi-
ments are needed. It's hoped that Con-
gress may be induced to augment
the enlisted strength of the army
sufficiently to allow this increase
without permanently diminishing the
cavalry and infantry.
Until last September the mortal
ity of the Indian prisoners wac ex-
cessive, but it now appears to
have been checked. A new village
should be constructed for them in
place Of the present temporary shelters
The idea of making these Indians self
supporting had to be given up and pay
IS cents day has been allowed those
who work for the post wi tn the result
of ameliorating their discomfort
General Howard earnestly hopes that
efforts will be made to organize the
three branches of the army into regi-
ments of twelve troops batteries or
companies and officered by the number
and grade of officers now authorized for
cavalry regiments. 1t is strongly rec
ommended that the privates of artillery
be classified with a difference IN pay as
in the case of the engineers An in
crease of pay for non-commissioned Of
ficers in each line to correspond to the
staff is desirable. From various reasons
the present maximum of 25, 900 enlisted
men results in a severe restriction and
to keep the organization up to $4,000
trained men constantly on foot the
maximum, including recruits, should
not be less than 81, 600. .
General Howard says that the effect
of having organized the army in 1856
with officers of nearly the same age,
and who had already suffered much
hardship in the rebellion, is now work.
ing serious injury to the service. The
number of disabled officers far exceeds
the. limit of the retired list, the cap
tains are too old for marching duty, and
therefore such officers as are above Ga
years of age should by legislation be
transferred from the limited to the un-
limited retired list. In the case of en-
listed men thirty years service is too
long before retirement, and twenty-five
years is suggested as proper period of
service.
In conclusion General Howard recon-
mends that some system of school bat
talions of boys from II to 21 years of
age be organized as source of supply
of material for non-commissioned Of
fcers for the army and militia, and the
post OF New York is mentioned as a con-
yenient point for its establishments