St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1891-11-26
SECRETARY PRocToR,s REPORT.

the president, IS OF more than Ord1n-
ary interest for various reasons. In
it the secretary devotes considerable
to the subject of coast
defence, and shows what is being
done. He congra tulates the country
that the matter has not been ques-
ton of party politics, but that it has
been generally recognized in congress
and by the public press as of national
concern. We have 1000 miles of
coast to defend, exclusive of Alaska.
Two appropriat of $500, 900
each for the purchase of sites for
fertilization and sea coast detences IN
twenty-six of the principal cities of
the Union were made by the last
congress. Over one-half of the entire
appropriation has been allotted and
about S35O,OOO expended. The
balance will, in all probability, be
expended during the next five
months, but will not be sufficient to
paw the awards of juries in cases now
pending. The recommendation is
made that 100000 be appropriated
annually until the important sites
are secured, which should continue
for several years.
The attention of the government
is now turned altogether toward the
use Of steel guns, and a contract has
been entered into with a Bethlehem,
Pa, company to manufacture 1913
breech-loading steel rifle guns of high
power, 81 of eight-inch calibre, sc Of
ten-inch and so of twelve-inch. Four
have already been finished, twenty
four more will be finished in 1892,
thirty-four in 1898, forty in 1894,
when the machinery a the gun fac
tory will be nearly complete, and
after that the output will be As per
year, which number may be continued
indefinitely, or as long as may be
desired-of these ten and twelve-inch
guns. The government has substan-
TALLY completed it's new gun plant at
Watervliet for the manufacture of
heavy steel ordinance, even up to
sixteen-inch calibre.
Good progress is also reported in
the production of rifed steel ordi-
nance of the latest improved pattern
all breech leaders. Of the 3.2-inch
steel field guns, 100 have been COM
pleted and 25 more are under way.
Twenty-four field guns of 3.6-inch
calibre are in the process of nanufac-
ture and sixteen mOrtarS Of the same
calibre, all steel and breech loading.
Eleven guns each, of five and seven
inch calibre, of the same sort, for
siege service, are to be finished dur
ing 1892. AS regards changes in
small arms and the use of smokeless
powder, the Investigations, so far,
have not warranted any departure.
Our government will content itself in
waiting for further experiments.
The provisions being made for
coast defence are encouraging. In
1865, when the war closed. we felt
ourselves secure in our defences as
they were felt at the time. For
twenty years no further thought had
been given the subject, notwithstand-
ing the art of constructing long range
guns and impenetrable vessels had
been making enormous progress in
Europe, which, under the condition
of things as they existed, placed US
at the mercy of some of the most
effete powers of the world. In 1885
congress began to wake up to the
subject, a board was constituted of
which the secretary Of war was pres
ident, to examine into the matter,
and its report was such as to lead
congress to commence systematic
appropriations for this purpose,
which have been continued since.
When Uncle Sam says yes, or no, the
decision should be respected, and
there is no way to give it such po-
tency as to have it understood that
such determination is we'll fortified
and sustained by the ''court of last
resort If the United States is to
be nation, it must improve its OPP
portunities to be such.
Secretary Proctor's report shows
that assertions for the year ending
Sept 80, have been less than in any
other year in the history of the army
and for this result credit is due the
secretary for the wise reforms which
he has instituted. Previous to 1920
there are no reliable records, but from
that time till the breaking out of the
war of the rebellion the average an
nual rate of desertion was 14.S per
cent. of the enlisted strength. and
since the war it has been nearly the
same. For the year ending June 80,
1889. the rate was 11.6 per cent.
which became reduced during the
past year to 81 per cent. The dim
mutton is still going on and the per
centage is being reduced month by
month.
The three-battalion organizat ton
for the infantry is again recommend
cd The secretary regards the SINGLE
battalion organization as defective
and unfit for actual service. under
present conditions. The develop
ment of range, rapidity and accuracy
of fire of modern arms is pointed out
as having been so great that small
er and more flexible battalion is es
sential, for this development makes
celebrity in handling troops on the
field prime necessity.
In March last general order was