The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-11-21
WARS RUFFLED FRONT.
ANNUAL REPORT OF THE SEC
RzTARY OF WAR.

Places st Which Sites Have Been Sc
cured for Coast Defense Fortifica-
tions-Magszine sman Arms still
Far From Perfect-A Decrease IN the
Number of Desertions.
WASHINGTON, Nov. 20.-The report of
the Secretary Of War was made public to
day. The following are extracts from it:
In the line OF coast defense, sites fer
Notifications have been procured, and en-
gineering work has been begun on batteries
for mortars, and emplacements for guns at
New York, Boston, San Francisco, Hamp-
ton Roads and Washington.
MAGAZINE SMALL ARMS.
During the year a board has been APP
pointed, consisting of officers from the ord
name cavalry aud infantry, to consider,
test aud report upon magazine small
arms. They have examined those in use in
the principal European armies, but salts
factory smokeIess powder is an essential
element for consideration in fixing upon the
| reduced caiiber. Their experiments and
reports Of similar trials made abroad indi-
cate that magazine arms are i'll so far
| from perfection that it is not wise to change
| from our present excellent single loader to a
magazine system in too great haste.
| DISCRETION.
Desertions from the army for the year
| ending Sept. 30 have been less than in any
other year in the history of the army. Pre-
vlous to 1870 there are no reliable records,
| but from that time to the beginning of the
war the average annual rate of desertion
was las per cent. Of the enlisted strength,
| and since the war it has been nearly the
same. From Jan. l, 1867, TO June 80, 1891,
| 2415 years, the number OF dessrtions from
the army was IS, 475. For the year ending
June 80, 1889, the rate was l1.6 per cent.
for the year ending June 80, 1890, per
| cent; for the year ending June 80, 1891, q. !
per cent. During the twelve months ending
Sept. 80, 1891, the rate was only 81 per
cent
The present method of allotment Of the
annual appropriation of S400, 900 for arming
and equipplng the militia, which is pre-
scribed by the act of Feb. u, 1887, and
which gives to each state an amount pro-
| portionate to its congressional representa-
ton, is not such as TO produce the best re-
suits. The aid given different states is very
| dlsproportionate. The amount of govern
ment aid recei 7ed by some states is not more
than half that received by Others that main
tain double the number of men in their
national guard. There is no inducement for
the maintenance Of q greater number OF
militia than is actually required by the law,
but rather the reverse, If economy be con,
suited. The allotment as now made is moi
based upon what the states do in return for
the appropriation. but what they ought tc
do. 1t would be better to help those who
help themselves. II the appropriation, OF
even one-h half of it, was distributed upor
the basis Of the effective force of the ma
tional guard maintained by the several
states, it would better accomplish its pur.
pose of encouraging that organization.
The expenditures for the army for the
fiscal year ending June 30, 1901, were S51,
450,76 Is.
THE YOUNGER OFFICERS.
The secretary says: II wish to pay
well-deserved tribute to the younger Off.
GERS, who have not mad the great war op
portunities of their seniors. Nothing in my
connection with the army gratified me 81
much as the general high character anC
professional attachments Of the younger OF.
ficers of the army, who have made the mos
of their opportunities under the condition
of comparative peace. 1t is upon them tina
we must depend in the future, and they cal
be implicitly relied upon TO be equal to th
| requirements of any emergencYO