People's voice. [volume] (Wellington, Sumner County, Kansas) 1890-1917, 1893-12-08
WAR DEPARTMENT.
Uncle Sans Army Numbers 25,77S En-
listed Men and 2,I44 Officers.

The secretary OF war reports that the
strength Of the army on the Goth day OF Sep
TENDER last was 25,77s enlisted men and 2lA
officers. The total expenditures OF the de-
partment for the year ending. June 30, 1898,
amounted to S51,966,O74S9 Of this sum sl,992,-
5Sl IS was for salaries and contingent expenses,
1857, S2S % the support OF the military
establishments, S6,077, 0S3 Is for miscellaneous
objects and s20,5lS6}l4l for public work This
latter sum includes Sl5, 1885, IS for river and
harbor Improvements and s. 966 l4I % for for
titications and other works Of defense
The total enrolment OF the militia OF the
several states was. on the 3lst Of October of
the current year, 1857 officers and enlisted
men The officers Of the army detailed for the
inspection and instruction OF this reserve OF
our military force report that increased inter.
est and marked progress are apparent in the
discipline and efficiency Of the or limitations
Neither Indian outbreaks nor dome tic vio-
lence have called the army into service during
the year and the only active military duty re-
CURED OF it has been in the department Of
Texas, where violation OF the neutrality laws
OF the United States and Mexico were -ompt.
ly and efficiently dealt with by the troops.
elcltlng the warm approval OF the civil and
military authorities of both countries
The question Of wise laws and the influences
OF civilization constantly tending 10 relieve
the country from the dan Iers Of Indian hOstil-
titles together with the increasing ability OF
the states, thrOu h the efficiency OF the ma.
tioDal guard organizations to protect their cit
liens from domestic violence, lead TO the sug-
Restion that the time is fast apprOachln when
there should be reorganization OF our army
on the lines Of the present necessities Of the
country This change contemplates neither
increase in number nor added expen-e, but q
redistribution OF the force and an ENCOURAGE
ment OF measures tending TO greater efficiency
among the men and Improvement Of the ser
vice
After much preliminary work and examina-
tion in accordance with the requirements Of
the law the board appointed 10 select a maya
zine rife OF modern type with orders TO replace
the obsolete Springfield rife OF the infantry
service, completed its labors during the last
year and the work Of manufacturer is now in
progress at the national armory at Springfield
II Is confidently expected that by the end Of
the current year our infantry will be supplied
with weapon equal to that OF the most pro.
gressive armies OF the world
The work OF the pro ected Chickamauga and
Chattanoo national. military park has been
prosecuted with zeal and jud ment and its
opening will be celebrated dIring the coming
year Over nine square miles OF the
Chickamauga battle field have been ACQUIRED
twenty miles Of roadway have been con-
structed and permanent tablets have been
placed at many historical points, while the
| invitation 10 the states TO mark the position
OF their troops participating in the battle has
been very generally accepted. The work OF
locating and preserving the lines OF battle at
the Gettysburg battle field is making salts
factory progress on the plans directed by the
last congress.