New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-10-27
PROGRESS IN ARMY WORK.
A HIGHLY SUCCESSFUL YEAR IN SECRETARY
PRoCToR's DEPARTMENT
WHAT HAS BEEN DONE TO IMPROVE THE EST1'
c1EScr OF THE ARAY-Bu1LpING UP
THE COAST DEyESCE-raEvEyr-
ING DESCRIPTIONS.
isr r1lsolArn 10 rar ,u.rxr,


subjects OF army Management without losing any Of s
drcctness and force In the careful attention to detail
end routine. There have been no operations In the
neid during the year. The Indians have riycu SLIGHT
occasion for other than peaceful methods IN the settle
en' OF disputes Tho mAnocuvres of troops were this
year omitted and the contemplated Joint exercises Of
the Army and Navy 1t Newport were abardoned. Al
mil walker. Of the Navy, who was to have charge q
tho naval feature, reported his ships In need OF repairs
ana the scheme was postponed. II IVES IN idea, how
ever that both Secretary Proctor and Secretary Tracy
favored - indicative Of the horoughness of the training
and discipline OF the services. The year closes thse
FORE with little in either the Army or the Navy from
whirh conclusions to efficiency of personnel may be
drawn. 1t can be said, however, that the Army has
been Kept mp to It's high standard. The reports sent
In from reginental commanders show that the drilling
Of the troops at posts and In many instances during
the summer In camps has been constant and with ex-
cellent results
The subject Of most general interest and importance
to the seaboard is that Of coast defence. After an
effort extending over ten years and the recommends
lions OF Presidents Hayes Arthur, Cleveland and Har-
rson and their respective Secretaries of War, the De-
partment has succeeded in securing provision from
Congress for the beginning Of the defence project.
The scheme m it's entirety was developed in 1855,
during Mr. Endcotts administration, but 1t has been
left for the present Secretary begin the great work
The defence, far the years plans cover,
templates work at New York. Boston and Francisco
The total expenditure authorized is 81 OOO besides
100000 for the purchase OF sites and several millions
for the manufacture OF tOrpedoes and guns. The
Board Of Ordnance and Fertilization is vested with
privilege OF the distribution Of details in the general
scheme, and already the decision OF the Board has
been approved by Secretary Proctor. The READY
action Of the Board In dsposng Of the items In the
Forifcon act sustans the position Of the Departments
that the defence Of the coasts is urgent The details
Of the scheme, far New York is concerned IN
clude battery for twelveinch Lift at Sandy HOOK
at cost Of S154OOO battery Of eight mortars at
Sandy Hook, $201 900; battery OF eight mortars
at Coney Island, 81 81 900; position for one eight
inch rife at Staten Island Narrows $4,000;
one battery Of four niortas5 at Fort schuy-
Ter, 100000; position for one eight-inch
gun at wiIletts Point, $4,000, making
total for the defence OF New-York Of $4,000 Bos-
ton will get 1895, 900, and San Francisco S26ooOo.
As part Of the Boards plan for coast defence the
Ordnance Office has advertised for proposals for gun
and mortar forgngs and for the manufacture Of 100
guns Of eight-inch, ten-lnch and tweke-nch caibre
AS In tho Navy Department, every ENCOURAGEMENT IS
to be given to domestic manufacturers
The work Of tho Ordnance Ofhco has been princi-
paly that Of experiment The forginGs and guns
needed for coast defence the OILY Important de-
velopments reported. The search for a smokeless
powder stu goes on and the report of General Benet.
chief ordnance officer is likely to exhibit some prog
ress In this article Of modern warfare Last year no
complained that no powder submitted for test:
his remarks this year destined to Fave en- interest,"
even nothing absolutely successful can be recorded
The ONCE is ready to experiment with smallcalioe
rife and only awaits the receipt OF powder from
abroad These experiments are TO be carried on
Jointly with the Navy. General Denet rctires from
active service next January after occupation OF the
Office OF chief OF ordnance since 1874. His admins
traton OF the corps has been able and progressive
In Mr. Proctor's annual report small space Will
be given the subject of desertion 1t is fact that
this evil essened in the last year. It's proportions
were menacing when Mr.. Proctor assumed charge OF
the War Department and his first efforts were Ill
rected against this form Of service dissolution. The
records show that deserton this year has decreased
one half compared with the previous year. III VIII DC
difficult to give proper credit for this good lnnuen'e
but probably all the benefits and privileges aecoded
TO the enlisted men contributed to the gratifying
result. During the year system OF enlistment mas
been begun by which the recruit has abundant oppor
tlnity for observing the life lie is about to enter
pound Of fresh vegetables Is added TO the soldiers
rGtions and in other directions the subsistence mas
been improved, AS when the Issue was announced OF
100 per cent fresh potatoes, or 90 per cent fresh
potatoes and 20 per cent onions, or 20 per cent
potatoes and per cent canned tomatoes or Of other
vegetables. The question OF subsistence is an i'm
portant and there is good deal of merit to the
theory that cJnentment goes with wellhlled stoin
ach. The term OF enlistment remains at five years
but the privilege is given Of applying for discharge at
the expiration Of three years with Burroughs, or o.
purchasing discharge after years service that Is
during the second and third years Of enlistment The
surroundings at posts have been frightened. every
effort has been made TO make Army life more con-
genial the prospect is that the service will have
10 trouble securing good, honest capable men for
the ranks
The difficulty of securing men has been obvisted in
part by the estat lishment Of regfment recruiting
The central recruiting depots located In cities were
found to furnish recruits the majority OF whom were
lln
from the country districts. The trial has therefore,
been made of system OF recruiting IN the vicinity OF
displaced the depots service but IT may lead 70 tnat
as mas been done. to certain extent In the Marine
The election of the post trader and the s
Of the post sante s Army The occasion
was syaIled Of by the Prohbitioniss IN and out OF
saw in the OF t the ae
With enlisted men has qualified them to Judge have
sustained IN their and eonssauen asore
has been essened BY the canee lem IN the some 1e of
stances the ;os scheme hem ha mas Seneed morally pyscs
Intellectually and financially by the operation ,sso
Ine p mnon' Two companies OF each Of the twenty
Eve infantry regiments and two troops d Saon OF I'M. ne
zen n,srsi distributed among tho remaining companies
4 number OF posts have been abandoned ana inc
tations The change in the medical department rom
Surgeon General Moore to surgeon General BNtT WIN
Ges BE Bassers long experience At the deparent
a.. him for his new once. During the year Inc
ne forns has been strengthened book OF tactics
for rs government has been prepared and changes In
no. nital enuiDment been made. fault sun re-
naips desplte the efforts Of the Department onicals
T,e list OF medical officers has been and Is encumoera
With nhysicsns who have been recommended Tor re-
t,renent on account Of disability They are unht Tor
service and while they occupy the active list ctner
ofcers cannot be appointed The limited retired llst
il made up of line officers, and vacancies. rare In any
case are filled from the same source This mas enppi'o
the effriency of the Medical Corps.
The Division Of Military Information has 1usuhea
It's organization. 4 large amount OF material CON
sentafiyes abroad and has often proved o. vane U
the department. The army Officers detailed as
ndefaticsbie in the procurement Of information Little
hiss been done in the ouartermaster's Department.
0enetsI Holahird has retired and General Batcheor
has succeeded him Quartermaster General The
former Officer left little to be done in clothing and
enrinn,nr the Army. The Introduction OF musical in