The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1893-12-07
WAR DEPARTMENT.
What Has Been Done and What Could BS
Probably Accomplished.

What Has Been Done and What Could Be
Probably Accomplished.
The secret ,ry of war reports that the
str myth of the army on the thirtieth day of
September last was 25,i7S tnlisted men, and
2,l4i officers. The toll expenses of the de-
partment for the year ending June 50, 1893,
amounted to S5l,96G, o74.59; of this 81 M l,92,-
5el95 was for salaried and contingent ex-
penses, 1888 ,S2o.35 for the support Of the
military establishment, S6077, 0o3.lS for mis-
cellaneous objects and Sc, sis, 3l.4 for public
works. This latter sum includes SIS ,2J6 81 g. Al
for river and harbor improvements and So
266, l41.2O for Notifications and other works of
defense.
The Militia.
The total enrolment # the militia Of the
several states was, on t le 3l,t of October of
the current year. 1857 officer and enlist d
men. The officers of the army detailed for
the inspection and instruc ton of this re erve
of our military for 9 report that increased in
terest and marked progress are apparent in
the discipline and efficiency of the organiza-
ton.
A Peaceful Year Internally.
Neither Indian outbreaks or domestic vio-
lence have called the army into service during
the year, and the only &C i've military duty
required of it has been in the department of
Texas where violations of the neutrality laws
of the United States and Mexico were
promptly and efficiently deaf with by the
troops. eliciting the warm approval of the
civil and military authorities of both coun-
tries.
The operation of wise laws and the influence
of civil ization constantly tending to relieve
the country from the dangers If Indian hos
tilities, together with the increasing ability Of
the states through the efficiency of the national
guard organizations to protect their citizens
from domestic violence, lead to the suggestion
that the time is last approaching when there
should be reorganization of our army on the
lines of the present necessitie, of the country.
This change contemplates neither increase in
number nor added expense, but a redistribu-
ton of the force and an encouragement of
measures tending to greater efficiency among
the men and improvement of the service.
The adoption of battalion formations for in
fantry regiments, the Strengthening of the
artillery force, the abandonment of smaller
and unnecessary posts and the massing of the
troops at important and accessible stations all
promise to promote the usefulness of the
army.
Coast Defenses.
It is gratifying t. n Jte that we have begun
to attain complex resu IS in the comprehen-
sive scheme of sea coast defense and fortifi-
cation entered upon eight years ago. A large
sum has been already expende /, but the cost
of maintenance will be inconsiderable as
compared with the expense of construction
and ordnance. At the end of the current cal
endar year the war department will have nine
2-inch guns, 20 10-inch and "a 8-inch guns
ready to be mounted on gun lifts and car
riages and - l2-inch mortars In addition to
the product of the army gun factory
now complete at Watervliet, the government
has contracted with private parties for the
purchase of 100 guns of these calibres, the
first of which should be delivered to the de-
partment for test before July ], 1884, The
manufacture of heavy ordinance keeps pace
with current needs but to render these gnns
available for the purposes they are designed
to meet, emplacements must be prepared for
them. Progress has been made in this direc-
ton. and it is desirable that congress by ade-
quate appropriations should provide for the
uninterrupted prosecution of this necessary
work.
Infantry Equipment.
After much pref "inary work and exhaus-
tive eXamina ton in accordance with the re-
qurements of law. the boarI appointed to
select a magazine rifle of modern type to Re-
place the obsolete springfield rife of the infan-
try service, compl ted its labors during the
last year, and the work of manufacture is now
in progress at the national armory at spring.
field. 1t is cInfiienSly expected that by the
end of the current y, ar our infantry will be
supplied with weapon equal to that of the
mOSC progressive armies OIL UDe world.
Chickamauga and Gettysburg,
The work on the projected Chickamauga
and Chattanooga national military park has
been prosecuted with zeal and Judgment, and
its opening will be celebrated during the
coming year. Over nine square miles of the
Chickamauga battlefield have been acquired,
25 miles Of roadway have been constructed
and permanent tablets have been placed at
many historical points, while the invitation
to the states to mark the positions of their
troops participating in the battle has been
very generally acce pied. The work of locat-
ing and preserving the lines of battle at the
Gettysburg battlefield is making satisfactory
progress on the plans directed by the last
congress.
The reports Of the military academy at West
Point and the several schools for special in
struction of officers show marked advance in
education of the army and a comm endable
ambition among its officers to excel in the
military profession and to fit themselves for
the highest service to the country under the
supervision Of the adjutant.