Fisherman & farmer. [volume] (Edenton, N.C.) 1887-19??, 1893-12-15
THE WAR DEPARTMENT.
SECRETARY LAMONT FILES
HIS ANNUAL REPORT.
Great Progress Made In the Manu-
facture of Heavy Ordnance and In
Seacoast Defence-The Entire In
fantry Force to be Armed With
the New Magazine Rifle.

fantry Force to be Armed With
the New Magazine Rifle.
The annual report of Secretary of War
Lamont is quite lengthy, containing some
Is. 900 words. It gives the usual review OF
the condition of the army. Some of the facts
presented concerning various arms of the
service are very interesting.
Indian warfare, the Secretary says, Is prac-
ticallv at an end In this country. This fact
alone is an argument against an increase in
the numerical strength of the army. Such
an increase would not meet with popular
favor and is not suggested.
The strength of the army September 30.
1893 was 2144 officers and 25,77S enlisted
men. The Secretary recommends reduce
ton of the term of enlistment from five to
three years. Tho experiment OF enlistinS
Indian companies will be continued.
The adoption of the new magazine rifle is
the most important step taken in the in
fantry arm of the service since the Civil
War.
One-thiri OF the report is devoted to the
progress during the last eight years IN tho
manufacture of heavy ordnance and in sea-
coast defence under the project of the
Endicott Board in 1885
Progress already made warrants the belief
that within the time specified, thirteen years,
from the first appropriations the essential
mounting of the first twelve-inch gun with
its lift in its emplacement at Sandy Hook Is
the evidence of remarkable progress during
these eight years, signifying the ability OF
our manufacturers to produce heavy forg-
ings for high-power guns.
Work on the coast defenses at Narragan-
set Bay, Charleston, Tybee Roads and the
Savannah River and Pensacola will be begun
during the year. Work Will he progressing
next year at thirteen of the twenty-eight
ports proposed for fertilization by the Endi-
colt Board. The annual output of the
Watervliet gun factory is fifteen twelve-i1ch
guns, fifteen ten-inch and twelve eight-inch
guns, and the first of the 100 large guns con-
tracted for with the Bethlehem Iron Works
is due next year.
The expenditures for sea-coast defence for
the year ending June 30. 1893. were 49,.
163,094.
The invention and manufacture of Ameri-
can brown and smokeless powder for heavy
ordnance and for the magazine rifles have
made slow progress, aud the Secretary of
War urges manufacturers to solve the prob
lem for their own profit and National pride.
The report pays much attention TO the ed.
ucation of officers and men of the army and
the instruction Of the militia and military
schools. An increase in the number OF cadets
at the West Point Military Academy, to meet
the demands of higher and more general mil
itary instruction, is suggested.
Growing interest in military instruction ut
colleges and schools is reported. In 1890
1891 1866 students were reported under in
struction by army officers at these institu-
lions. In 1892-1393 the number was TO- go, u
gain of forty-two per cent. The Secretary
further recommends that military instruction
by army officers be extended to the high
schools of the larger cities
The latest returns report an organized
militia of 112. 597 in the States, of whom, i'll
round numbers, 5000 are in the artillery
arm and 5000 in the cavalry
The Secretary recommends the cree
ton of 2 memorial bridge from Wash
ington to Potomac Heights as suit
able approach TO the National Gene
terry at Arlington. The sum of 1868. OH
has been expended By the States on the field
of Gettysburg. in addition to considerable
sums contributed by private organizations
The greater part of the work Of establishing
the Chickamauga and Chattanooga National
Military Park has been completed. and the
States are beginning to erect monuments on
the field to their troops.
Expenditures for the fiscal year ending
June 80. 1898, are as follows Salaries and
contingent expenses, 81. 992 ,581 : military
establishments, 1923, 377. 1928; public works,
including river and harbor i'm
provements. $40, SIS, 632 miscellaneous OBJ
jects. SCOT, 033.
Appropriations for fiscal year ending June
80, 1894 were as follows Salaries and con-
tingent expenses. $2.O45, 1876 military es-
tablishment 1924, 563, 981 public works, in
Guiding river and harbOr improvements,
81, POI, 100 miscellaneous objects, So, 2l3,-
1873.