The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-12-05
ARMY OF THE NATION.
THE ANNUAL REPORT MADE By
SECRETARY ELKINs.

BE Recommends the Revival OF the
Lieutenant Generalcy as q Perma-
nent Grade OF Army Rank-OnIy %
Per Cent. OF the Applicants for En-
listment During the Fast Year Ac-
cepted.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 4.-The annual re-
port Of the Secretary Of War, Mr.. Elkins,
win be made public tomorrow. 1t is o
short paper, but covers all important mat
ters relating to the war department. The
following are some OF the points touched
upon:
The interests Of the nation demand that
the administration of military affairs shall
be attended with dignity and authority. To
this end 1t is necessary that the command
ing general should be conspicuously superior
in rank to all subordinHtes. Experience
has shown that rank, as well as command,
is essential to give proper effect to authority
In any military organization of Importance.
Accordingly, it is recommended that the
Lieutenant generalcy be revived as a perma.
nent grade OF army rank.
The immediate effect of legislation in this
behalf would, It is assumed, create pro-
motion at the head of the army by the ad-
vancement of the senior major general.
who, by reason Of brilliant achievements in
war aud long and distinguished services, is
eminently entitled to such recognition.
This view of the case, although appealing
strongly TO individual feelings, is regarded
as incidental only to the main argument,
which is advanced exclusively upon the
broad basis Of public expediency.
ENLISTED PERSONNEL OF THE ARMY.
The general conclusion, gathered from all
sources, is to the effect that while the en-
listed personnel OF the army Is, as a whole,
very much better than at any time pre-
vious, much remains to be accomplished in
this connection before we can rest entirely
satisfied.
THE recruiting service has been admin
istered with exceptional vigor and success
during the past two years; and the standard
of qualifications has been raised until the
test at recruiting rendezvous is so critical
that only 2S per cent of the applicants
for enlistmeut were accepted during
the fiscal year ending June 80, 1892.
NATIONAL GUARD.
The Importance Of maintaining and i'm
proving the militia Of the several states and
the District Of Columbia is generally ad>
mitted. The national guard Is the reserve
force of the army. Attention is invited to
the necessary appropriations for arming and
equipping this reserve force. In 1908 the
appropriations for the militia of the states
was 100000. The highly improved arms
aud equipments OF the present day cost for
the same number OF men more than treble
what they did eighty-four years ago. The
population Of the country Is many times
what It was then. and the demand for these
equipments has increased many times
An appropriation OF only five times the
amount appropriated In 1905 can hardly be
considered eXtraVagant. Recent Hppropria-
tlons have been entirely inadequate, and
the war department is under the constant
necessity of refusing supplies called for
from the different states. An appropria-
ton of at least 81, 900 900 for this purpose
is recommended. It is also recommended
that the present law bo so changed that
arms and supplies which have become un-
servicesble In the hands of the militia may
be sold and the proceeds of the sale be used
for furnishing new supplies, instead OF
being covered into the treasury. IL is also
recommended that the act of March =, 1889
be so amended that an independent issue OF
supplies may be made to the National
Guard OF the District of Columbia and not
be taken from the limited supplies of the
regular army.
INSPECTOR GENERALS DEPARTMENT.
The inspector general reports that ''the
spirit and progress Of the army was never
DebtSr tnan nOW." In referring TO lndiaL
soldiers he says that they show remarkable
aptitude for the military service; that they
are ameuable to discipline end are generally
Of good habits and proud OF being soldiers,
and, considering their ignorance of the
English language, their progress in drill has
beon extraordinary.
CHIcKAMAUGA AND CHATTANOOGA
The commission to whom has been in-
trusted the work Of establishing the nat tlonal
park, which is TO include the battlefield Of
Chickamauga and parts Of those of Lookout
Mountain, Mission Ridge and Tunnel Hill,
has made very gratifying progress with its
work during the fiscal year. The greater
part of the land has been acquired, roads
have been opened and satisfactory progress
made IN the restoration of the field to the
condition In which it was at the time of the
battle In 1868. The data for Identifying and
marking the lines Of the union and confed-
crate armies has been obtained and verified,
and the work Of establishing tablets In place
will soon be undertaken. The work, when
completed. will be Of great interest and Inn
portance, not only 60 those who took part
on both sides in the memorable events
which occurred there. but to the country at
large and to future generations.