Warren sheaf. [volume] (Warren, Marshall County, Minn.) 1880-current, 1892-12-08
THE WAR DEPARTMENT..
xtracts from Secretary Elkins' Report
on It's Business for the Year.

THE WAR DEPARTMENT..
Extracts from Secretary Elkins' Report
on It's Business for the Year.
WASHINGTON. Dec. 5.-The annual
report OF the secretary of war has been
made public. The efficiency Of the
different corps is the subject of com
ment aud the revival of the grade OF
Lieutenant general is urged, the follow
ing reasons being advanced:
'The interests Of the nation demand that the
administration Of military affairs shall be at.
tended with dignity and authority. To this end
it is necessary that the commanding general
should be conspicuously superior in rank to all
subordinates. Experience has shown that
rank; as well as command, is essential to give
proper effect to authority in any military or
ganzation of Importance. Accordingly, it is
recommended that the lieutenant generalcy be
revived as permanent grade of army rank. y
Secretary Ellsins wishes to elevate
the enlisted personnel of the army and
makes recommendation as follows:
. If good men are wanted for the army they
must be paid something near what wnge-earn.
ers receive in the ordinary pursuits Of civil life.
Under the pressure of national prosperity rep
.
under favorable conditions, Should be one OF
the most desirable trades Of youth, and there
can scarcely be a doubt that bright and ad-
venturous young men would seek our colors IN
considerable numbers il it were generally un-
derstood that courage and merit would BIO
suitably rewarded. Under present conditions
there is scarcely any pencuniary benefit to at
tract man to the ranks. Promotions to COM
missioned grades ore necessarily few, and the
difference between the pay Of q private
and noncommissioned officer is hardly
appreciable, when considered in the light of an
inducement to enlistment 1t is therefore rec
commended that at least the pay of all non-cOm-
naissioned grades be increased to the extent OF
making promotion thereto the object of legiti
mate ambition, thereby inducing the enlistment
OF the very best material to compete for the adj
yantages of promotion to the grade OF both
commissioned and non-commissioned officers"
The report urges that small posts be aban-
doned and that regimental posts should be
located at or near the principal CEN
tiers, where transportation facilities are
ample, and movements OF both men and sup
plies may be rapidly and economically made.
The army could be maintained under
these conditions much cheaper than ever be-
fore in its history It is thought that the
cities near which such posts may be located
should be required by congress to donate to
the government sufficient land, say /, COZ acres
ing such posts in their immediate
vicinity Officers and men would thus
have access to churches, schools, IL
braries, and other advantages which are only
to be found near large centers of population.
Added to this, the presence Of troops in the
states would familiarizc the people with the
army. lead them to better understand its opera
tons, and, it is believed foster kindlier inter-
est in it.
Following are the recommendations regard
ing West Point military academy:
THE high standing of the military academy
at West Point has been maintained. The re.
ports of the boards of visitors and Of
the superintendent show marked advance
ment and speak well of the condition
and management of the institution. Its
capacity is not oyertaxed. Vacancies in the
list of cadets constantly exist, which it is i'm
portant should be kept full. 1t is recommended
that the president be givenauthority to appoint
ten cadets at large each year, as was author
lied by law prior to June H. 1858
Referring to military drill in colleges in the
United States. the report says that over 1000
boys are now undergoing such instruction by
army officers detailed for that purpose. E
The following refers to the national guard:
."The importance of maintaining and improv-
ing the militia of the several states and the Dis
trict Of Columbia is generally admitted The
national guard is the reserve force OF the
dIuS. tAllcALOu ~ 1IlS lieu 10 INC nee.
essary appropriations for arming and
equipping this reserve force. In 1903
the appropriations for the militia of the states
was 100000 The highly-improved arms and
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 1t was
then, and tho demand for these
equipments has increased many times
An appropriation OF only five times the amount
appropriated in 1903 can hardly be considered
extravagant. Recent appropriations have been
entirely inadequate and the war department is
under the constant necessity of refusing sup
supplies called for from the different states.
An appropriation Of at least 100000 for this
purpose is recommended"
Indian soldiers according to the inspector
generals report, show rcmarka BILE aptitude for
military service. In speaking Of the army gen.
orally, he says that reports of inspections
made since the new drill regulations were
issued show commemorate alacrity on the part
OF the men in learning them, and that those for
the infantry and cavalry are considered an I'M
provement
The report OF the surgeon general shows the
health of the army to be good Taking into
consideration the number OF admissions to hos
pital, the number constantly sick, the number
OF deaths and the number discharged for dis
ability, the rates are lower than for the pre-
vious year, and considerably lower than the
rates OF the previous decade.
'The chief signal officer reports the continued
Improvement Of the signal service and impor
tant AGO uisitions in knowledge and in material
and instruments. A course of instructions has
been established at Fort Riley, Kan, which
comprises practical and theoretical work in
electricity, field surveying, telegraphy, tel
ephony and signaling. "A plan outlining the
work and equipment of the corps in
case of hostilities has been approved,
and will be carried out as appropria
tons are made and opportunities occur. inves-
legations of the possibilities of electric fash
light are in progress. The management of the
military telegraph has been satisfactory, and
some new lines have been constructed a prac.
teal test of the field telegraph train has been
made in the construction of q flying field tele-
graph line about IS niles long in twenty-four
hours time
The expenditures for the fiscal year ended
June 80, 1892, were ISL, 21s, go. So
The appropriations for the fiscal year ending
June 30, 1893, were S56, 5a2, 922. 81.
The estimates for the fiscal year ending June
80, 1894, are S3, 354, $40 70
Following is the reference to the worlds fair:
"The plans for the war department exhibit at
the World Columbian exposition are as nearly
perfected as time and circums tances will per-
nit. All sections of the proposed exhibit are
we'll in hand 1t is expected to be illustrative
OF the advancement Of the age in all that per-
tains to the art of war and the relative stand
ing OF our government among the great military
powers OF the world
Among the important events OF this great
year Of jubilee will he the naval display at
Hampton Roads in April next. There will
doubtless be a great gathering OF the naval off,
Gers Of the nations. In certain sense they
will be our guests. The war department. has
an important military post and school at Fort
Monroe, and should be in condition to doits
full share in making this a great success An
appropriation of sss5, 600 for this purpose is rec
commended y
RANCHES FLOODED.
Great Damage Follows the Breaking OF
San Joaquin Levee.
San FRANCISCO, Dec. S. The strength
of the great southeastern was broken
Thursday, but rain still falls heavily