The evening herald. [volume] (Shenandoah, Pa.) 1891-1966, 1891-11-21
PROGTORAS REPORT.
The Secretary of War Reviews
Military Affairs.
PROBLEM OF COAST DEFENsEs.
Recommends an Annual Appropriation Of
$500,00O for sites for Forts,

New York and other Ports to be Made
Improguabls-Ind Make Good Sol
disrs Heavy Ordnance Now MadsiI
This Country Eniolency of the, Army
Inoroased- Expenses of the War De-
pnrtmept.
WASHINGTON, Nov. 81. The annual
report Of Secretary Of War Redfeld
Proctor has just been issued 1t briefly
revieSs ths' new Legislative and ad-
ministtative measures affecting the De-
partrnent which have been inaugurated
dhfing the present Administratio on, and
gives many interesting details regard
ing the Department., showing that
great Improvement has been made not
onlyiin the coast defehses, but in the
regular service IN all its branches,
The Secretary gives the Indians the
credit FOR showing themselves capable
of becoming good soldierS The pro-
gress made recently IA rifled cannon aud
small arms is also detailed. Generally,
the work shown by the report ref ects
credit on the Secretary and Govern
ment.
On the subject of coast defenses Sec
retary Proctor says:
"rhe problem of adequate coast de-
fense has practically been settled. at'or-
tunately it is not question of party
poliUics. Our coasU cities, which in 1860
were well protected, in 1890 were de-
fenseless
"Sftes for new Qualifications have been
selected and engineering work has been
begun on bat teries for mortars and em-
placements at New York. Boston, San
Francisco, Hampton Roads aud Wash
ington.
"Two appropriations of $500, 900 each
for the purchase of sites for fertilization
and sea coast defenses were made by the
last Congress, Allotments have been
imade under these appropriations for
sites for gun and mortar bate ries at
Glover Cliff in Boston HRrbor; Point
C6n1fort,p Fort sWadsworbh Plumb Isl
and, and Sand Point in New York Har-
bor; Laguna Merced in San Francisco
Harbor, and Sheridan Point on the
! Potbrnac Proceedihgs OF condemn at ion
have been commenced TO obtain other
sites near Fortp1W WadswortRr and Fort
Hamilton in New York HArbor; Will
loughby Spit IN Hampton Roads aud
Point Lobos in San Ffah eiso HarDor.
''Over one half OF the entire appro-
|
$350,000 expended. d I recommend that
an appropriations OF 100000 be ex-
pended annnalig until the Important
sites are secured. 1t will require this
amount for several years to payifor sites
as rapidly as they VIII be Needed for
use, and 1t is economy to acquire them
as quickly as possible after their loca-
tioIf has been determined upons''
tThe point has now been reached when
| by the contiIuance Of the present rate
of appropriations for coast defenses,
| which have been moderate, the work
can be carried on systematically and
| judiciously. To stop or check the work
now would be to lose much that has
febeen done; to continue, will be both
safetyfa and economy. Each year some
part of it can be completed no as to be-
come available, and thereafter every
gun mounted viii add to its efficiency.
| The Board of Ordinance and Fortifca-
tion in their report say: Four years
continuance of similar legislation and
activity and it can no longer be said
that the United States is defenseless
against foreign powers
Abiding to the experiment of en- ploy-
| ing Indians as soldiers, the report says:
81 have had an opportunity. to person :
| allv inspect some of these Indian cavalry
| troops and received full reports show
ing the condition of others. In good
conduct, drill and military bearing at
tention to duty, observance of courUesies
and care of horses, arms and equip
ment, clothing, barracks, mess rooms
and kitchen, they are at least equal to
soldiers of other races of no greater ex.
Perience. Satisfactory reports have
slso been received of the progress of the
| Indian infantry companies. ,"
The report also touches upon deser
tions, post-traders, militia, national
cemeteries and other interesting topics.
A memorandum of expenditures, appro-
priations and estimates shows that the
department spent during the year end
ing June 80, 1891, .$51, 450, ,764,6S, re-
ceiYed $50, 1873, 425 05, and looks forward
4 to spending $45, 915 60& 81 during the
current year.