Daily tobacco leaf-chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1890-1895, 1891-10-23
OUR ARMY.
Export of Major General S:hO-
field for the Past Year..
Valuable Experience Gained by
the Sioux Campaign.

the Army Greatly ImproVed-sea Coast
Fortifcations Needed.
= WAsHINGToN, Oct. 23.-Major General
j. M. Schofield, commanding general of
the army has submitted to the secretary
of war his report of the army for the
past year General Schofield says that
valuable experience has been gained in
the campaign with the Sioux Indians
last winter. If it were true, he says,
that the Sioux meditated a general mp
rising and their plans had matured and
been executed with the secrecy and
energy that characterize Indian move
ments, 1t would have been impossi-
BILE for the troops then at the
Sioux reservation to have prevent
ed great loss of life and property
to the surrounding settlements, while if
the uprising was to have embraced other
warlike tribes in different parts of the
country, the entire military force of the
United States would have been made
quate to prevent great damage to settlers
surrounding the reservations. But
whatever the plans of the Sioux Indians
were they were surrounded by an ef-
fective Gordon of troops before they
were ready for action, and the disaffec-
tion had no time to spread so far among
the other tribes us to become dangerous.
Hence the belief that by constant dis
erection in the management of the
Indians, coupled with justice in
all dealings Of the government
with them, the presence Of a sufficient
military force to overawe the turbulent
minority would prevent any intended
uprising of the Indians. The report rec
ommends an addition of few thousand
la eff ha
great reservations to remove the danger
of uprisings among the Indians, and the
expense of Transportation of troops from
distant parts of the country. The aggre-
gate strength Of the military force in
time Of peace should, he says, be such to
make it most effective and at the same
time capable of most ready expansion
whenever an increase is decided upon.
National Defenses.
General SUhofield says the important
question of national defenses is regarded
as settled by the last two legislative
actions Of congress by the wise policy
inaugurated, and that it will doubtless
be pursued until the great seacoast har-
bors are placed in condition to resist
any attack from foreign enemeny.
Gun Construction.
Concerning gun construction the re-
port says satisfactory progress has been
made in the construction of the gun fac |
tory at Watervliet, N. Y, in he manu-
facture Of type guns of the highest quail
tiles, and in the manufacture of service
mortars. and their emplacement at the
most exposed and important positions
upon the seacoast; while contracts have
been made for the material necessary
for the construction OF large numbers of
guns and mortars, id for the purchase
of completed guns of the highest type
1t will only require moderate annual
appropriations for the next few years to |
place the extended seacoast of this coun-
try in such condition that no foreign |
enemy could intiict upon it any serious
loss or damage. When this is accom- |
plished, the dignihed and just policy |
which this country has adopted toward |
all foreign nations may be steadily ad |
hered to without apprehension of re-
suits unfavorable either to the welfare |
or to the honor of this country
With view to ciyilizing the savage |
tribes and converting them from enc
mics into friends, it is stated that the
war department. has decided to enlist in |
the army, fair proportion of the In
dams in the western territories.
Military schools.
The artillery school at Fort Monroe
maintains high state Of efficiency.
The infantry and cavalry school at |
Fort Leavenworth, has been steadily de-
veloped until its condition approaches |
closely to the ideal standard which has |
been set for it.
The law of congress requiring eXami-
nations for promotion III the line stimu
lates the young officers to pursue their
military studies, and an advance has
been made IN the direction of general |
education In the army on the part OF the
enlisted men, who are required to attend !
the post schools. 1t is recommended |
that congress continue to make small |
annual appropriation for the support of
the infantry and cavalry school at Fort |
Leavenworth, as well as for the artillery
school at Fort Monroe, so that all the
essential military schools may have the
direct recognition and support Of con
gress.
During the year the practice of the in
fantry and cavalry troops with the
rife carbine and revolver had been car
ried out with the same zeal which has
characterized this branch of instruction
in preceding years.
Progress in light artillery and sea
coast artillery instruction continues to
be satisfactory, though it suffers from
the lack of modern material.
Personnel of the Army.
The personnel of the army has been
greatly benefited blythe legislation of the
last congress What remains most to
be desired, says the general is the re-
organization of the infantry and artil-
lery, and reasonable increase in the
compensation, and consequent dignity,
of the non-commissioned officers of the
line. In this country the difference be-
tween the lowest commissioned grade
and the highest non commissioned has
always been too great
This disparity has been, made still
more apparent, in recent years, by the
progress of general education, and such
improvements in the art Of war and the
tactics of armies, as have imposed much
more important duties and responsible
ties than formerly upon n on-commission-
ed officers of the line He recommends
that the pay of these non-commissiOned
officers be increased, 50 as to equal those
of like grades in the corps of engineers.
Seaport Notifications.
The report calls attention to the neCes-
sity of fortified seaport at some point
on the southern Atlantic coast and of
the necessity for the fertilization and
armament of the port at San Diego, Cal.
The report says the general state of dis
cipline of the army is excellent, with the
exception of the Fourth cavalry at Walla
Walia, members of which recently en-
gagged in fight.
How the Caribou Lode Was Located.