The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1892-12-08


I. AsHINdroa, Dec. The snnual
report o. the seeretsry oaf war has lbsan
made public The e1iciency sc tl,e
ISinerentscorps Il the subject 81 COM
ment md the revfyal 81 the grade 81
lieutenant general IS urged. the fellow
Ing reasons being advanced:
The interests Of tho nation demand that the
administration OF military affairs shall be At.
tended with dignity and authority. TO this end
+ q necessary that tho commanding general
should b conspicuously superior n rank % III
eub0rd1nate1 Experience has sh0Wn that
rank, asfwell - command, Is essential to give
proper effect TO authority In any military Of.
ganization OF importance. Accordingly, II is
recommended that the lieutenant generally be
revived % permanent grade Of army rank. -
Secretary Elkins wishes TO elevate
the enlisted personnel OF the army and
makes recommendations 40 follows:
i good men are wanted for the army they
must be paid something near what wage-earn.
ers receive In the ordinary pursuits Of civil life
Under the pressure of ational prosperity rep
resentative men command good pay. The army.
under favorable conditions, should DO one OF
the most desirable trades Of youth. and there
can scarcely be q doubt that bright and I'd.
venturous young men would seek our c0lors in
considerable numbcrsif 1t were generally nm
derstoOd that courage and merit would be
suitably rewarded. Under present conditions
tract man to the ranks Promotions TO COM
mtsstoned grades ore necessarily few, snd the
difference between the pay Of . private
and non-commissioned oflcer 4 is hardly
apprecfable, when considered In the light Of an
tnducement to enlistment It Is therefore rec
commended that at least the pay OF all non.com-
misstoned 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.
vantages Of promotion to the grade OF both
commissioned and non-commissioned o6acers,,
The report urges that small posts be abap-
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 1000 acres,
In consideration of building and maintain
ing such posts in their immediate
vicinity. onicers and men would thus!
have access to churches, schools, IL.
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
tfons, and, 1t is believed foster kindlier inter-
est in it,
Following are the recommendations regard
Ing West Point military academy:
1.-The high standing of the military academy
at West Point hos 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 1t is i'm
portant should be kept full. It isrecommended
that the president be given'authority to appoint
ten cadets at large each year, as was author
lied by law prior to June II. 1862
Referring to military drill in colleges in the
United States. tho report says that over 1000
army officers detailed for that purpose.
The following refers to the national guard:
1.-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
army: Attention is invited to the nee
essary appropriations for arming and
equipptng 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
e1ghty-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 i've 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 SUD-
supplies called for from the different states
An appropriation of at least 81, 0O0 900 for this
purpose is recommended"
Indian soldiers, according to the inspector
generals report, show remarkable 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 commendable alacrity on the part
OF the men in learning them, and that those for
the infantry and cavalry are considered IN i'm.
provement.
The report of the surgeon general shows tho
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-
v1ous 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 acquisitions in knowledge and in material
and instruments. A course Of instructions has
been established at Fort Riley, Kan, which
comprises practica! 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 hostilites has been approved,
and will be carried out as appropria
tions are made and opportunities occur inves.
legations Of the possibilities of electric flash
light arc in progress. The management of the
military telegraph has been satisfactory, and
some new lines have been constructed A prac-
tical 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 So 1892 were S., 21s, 970.59
The appropriations for the fiscal year ending
June 30, 1903, were $56 $50, OF 81
The estimates for the fiscal year ending June
30, 1894, are A3. 354, 679 r. i
Following is the reference to the worlds fair:
1.-The plans for the war department exhibit at
the Worlds Columbian exposition are as nearly
perfected as time and circumstances will per.
init All sections OF the proposed exhibit are
well In hand. 1t is expected to be illustrative
OF the advancement Of the age In all that per-
ta1ns 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 Re the naval display at
Hampton Roads in April next There will
doubtless be great gathering of the naval off,
GERS OF the nations. In q 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 do its
1ull share in making this . great success. An
commended" ::