Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1891-11-23
The Report Of the Secretary OF War
Concerning Oar Defenders aud
Deienscs.
BATTERIES ron MoRrkRs CON-
MENctD.
Recruits. OILERS, Coast Deien''''
Gun Factories, Desoriions,
Indians. fic.
ny Telegraph 10 the SEw'i
ouR ARMY.
Report Of the Secretary OF war
Proctor.

geport Of the Secretary OF War
Proctor.
WAsu1surog, Nov. 22.-rhe report
of tie secretary OF war say silica have
hern procured and engineering work
hns been begun on batteries for NOR
tars, and en- placements Tor guns, At
New York. Heston, San Francisco
HAMPTON Roads and Washington.
The north wing and csntcf section Of
the gun factory at Watctvliot has been
completed and IA nearly equipped. a
south wing, doubling the capacity N
now being constructed. Provision has
nlrcady been made for the manufacture
by the government N niuely-cight
bruuch-loadiug steel rilied guns Of high
power, aud one hundred more have
been contracted for with private manu-
fartafcss. A supply Ofsubmariuc mines
aud scyonty.three l2-inch mortara are
alsr under constTuction'
For the Improvement OF tho enlisted
force
SEW METHODS oF RECRUITING
have teen adopted. It j. carried on
more In small towns aud rural cont
munitica, nnd the recruita are hgid On
probation and their antectlents care
FULLY inquired into. The mtion ha.
been increased by the aduitlOu ~ ono
pound Of vegetables daily. 5oldiefl
! are now entitled 10 o diHchnrge nj
the eni Of three years OF inithiul
service, aud are permitted 10 pur.
| chnso their discharge Ut Any tlme after
one year. Summary cOuru nave been
established Tor the speedy trial Of petty
ofienscA. n the men desire Il, compe-
tent ofilcsr. are assigned 10 defend
/ them before courts.marilRl. Punish
ments under the articles Of war IN Time
/ Of pesce have boon defined aud limit
/ I'd. Sunday Inspections aud tattoo roll
/ coll have been abolished; schools ana
nymuusla established. These, together
/ With the specific measures undertaken
/ Tor that purpose, have tetucnd the per-
ccnlags OF de.ortions to lower point
than ever LciOrn In the history OF the
army, and IN the last year have ro'
| duced the number u Inmates In our
military prison over 90 per cent.
A SYSTEM OF EXAMINATION
Of ofnccrl for prom sion has been e..
tsblishcd aud their promotion, with tho
exception Of Que grade, ihns boon put
upon lineaf basis throughout the
army. The retired list has been Tc.
lleved by appropriate legislation. An
efficiency record OF officers haA teen
kent, enabling their selection for special
duty TO be made on that basis.
In pursuance Of policy Of
CONCENTRATING THE TROOPS
Ia larger posts, about Oue-fourth Of the
number OF posts occupied In 1850 have
been abandoned, aud the reservations
turned over to the Interior Depart.
| ment. The employment OF contract
surgeons, In addition 20 the regular
medical corps, has been nearly dit
| pcnsed with. Tho licenses Of most
| Traders have been revoked. Tie en-.
listment Of Indian. Inns been success.
fully undertaken. The detail Of Of.
ficers 10 colleges has been increased
and new rules adopted. The rehellion
records have been published much
more rapidly under Increased apprOpri.
allOns aud n reorganization Of the work
The military aud hospital records Of
the late war have been brought 10.
gethcr In the record mud pension divl.
sion, the settlement Of pension claims
has hOen expedited, aud the pres-f.
walton Of these valuable records Tor
effective us1 Il well toward completion.
When finished coo clerks can DO de.
charged or Transferred 10 other dcpar,
ments.
The secretary details Mt length the
provisions OF law under which boards
TO report ON plans for
COAST DFRENsE
had been appointed aud what has
been achieved IN pursuance thereof
The general conclualon j. that land de.
I - - a..
not increased AS rapidly MS tho cost OF
means Of attacking them, and the cost
Of maintaining tuom IL nominal.
Those, combined with high.powcf
guna, will meet the best demands Of
military science,
A milli0n dollars was appropriated
By the last Congress 10 buy sites Tor
Notifications and srn coast defense.
| Allotmonts have been made under
these appropriations for sites for gun
mud mortar batteries NJ Glover Clifl In
Boston hathor; Point Comfort. Fort
Madawofth, Plumb Island, and Sand
Point In New York harbor; Laguna
MERGED In San Francisco harhOr, aud
Sheridan Point on the Potomac. Pro.
ceediugs OF condemnation have been
commenced 20 obtain other sites nOar
Fort Wadsworth and Fort Hamilton
In New York hafhof; Wiiloughby Spit
In Hampton Roads, aud Point Lobos
In San FmnciHco hafbsr. Over one.
half OF the entire appropriation has
been allotted and about s850,000 tx.
pended. other payments are to be-
made as soon "a tho examination OF
titles by the Department Of Juatlcc Ia
completed. Tho balance OF the nppro.
priation will probably he expended
during the next i've months, but 1t
will not be sufficient to pay the awards
Of jurics In cases now pending. 81
recommend that an appropriation OF
$500, 900 be- continued annually until
the important sites arc secured. II
will require this amount for several
years 20 pay for hlca ns rapidly M they
viii be- needed for use, ana II IL
economy 10 acquire them ~ quickly M
possible after their location las boon
determined upon"
Tho south wing of
TIE NEW aus FACTORY
at WRiorvliut II well advanced, AM
space IL left for the addition OF machin
cry for finishing lG-lnoh guns Il
their manufacture shouli loo though
best.
Under the law II Is designed that
private manufacturer may be brough
] to cooperate with tho government II