The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1893-11-30
UNCLE SANS SONS OF MARS.
Secretary Lamont Submits His An
lual Report.

Near Future-A Total of 2,144
officers and 25,77s Men in the
Army on Sept. 3O-The New Maga-
Coast Defenses.
Washington, Nov 29--The annual re-
port Of the Secretary of War gives the
usual review of the condition and opera
tions of the army, and in addition is de-
voted especially to the progress of the
works on the sea coast defences.
Secretary Lamont reports that it may
be assumed that Indian warfare is prac-
tically at an end in the United States
that demands for the employment of the
army to preserve order within the states
must become infrequent, as the state
| authority, on which that obligation prop
erly rests, demonstrates its complete
ability to discharge it, and that,
in consequence, the gradual concentra-
tion of the army on the sea coast and the
frontiers, is prescribed by the conditions
of the times. Any considerable increase
in the numbers of the army would not
meet with popular Favor, and is not sug-
gested by any contingency immediate or
remote, but the work of fortitcation at
thirteen of our large seaports, already
begun or projected for the near future
renders the conversion of portion of the
infantry to the artillery arm a manifest
necessity OF the period directly ahead
of US.
STRENGTH OF THE ARMY.
The total strength of the army on Sept.
30, 1893, was ?, IA officers and 25,71S en-
listed men. For various causes, discharge,
purchase, desertion, etc. the army lost
9,4j6 enlisted men during the year, and
gained 9,071 recruits.
The new quarters, barracks and build
ings at the army posts compare favorably
with military structures abroad.
The discipline, health and general con-
dltlon OF the army are reported good.
The Secretary of War recommends
strongly the repeal Of the law fixing ten
years as the maximum period of enlist
ment and favOrs a reduction of the period
of first enlistment to three years instead
of five.
The prosecution of the experiment of
enlisting Indian companies will be contin-
ued only on the present small scale until
its success or failure has been proved
The three battalion organizations for
infantry regiments is recommended.
THE NEW RIFLE.
The addition of the new magazine rife is
| the most important step taken for the in
fantry since the civil war. A limited num-
Der will be completed within sixty days
at the Springfield armory and the entire
| infantry force viii be equipped with the
new arm before the close of the coming
year The gradual manufacture of a re
| serve supply of the arm sufficient for the
| organized militia is recommended
| The issue of the new 80 steel field guns
to the militia, and in limited numbers to
colleges and schools which manifest a
special interest in military instruction, is
suggested.
HEAVY ORDNANCE.
One-third of the report is devoted
to the progress of the last eight years in
the manufacture of heavy ordnance, and
in sea coast defense under the project of
the EndicOtt board of 1885. The progress
already made warrants the belief that
within the time specified. thirteen years
from the first appropriations, the essen
tial feature of the plan can be carried
out. The mounting of the first 12-inch
gun, with its lift, in its emplacement at
Sandy Hook, is an evidence of the re-
markable progress during these eight
years, signifying the ability of our manu-
facturers to produce heavy fOrgiugs for
high power guns, the completion of an
army gun factory at Watervliet, which
takes rank with the best in the world
| the invention and manufacture of gun
carriages, and lifts able 80 sustain the
weight and the recOil of these great guns,
and the completion Of modern emplace-
ments.
The cost of the type of battery at Sandy
Hook is S524, ,12I.
By Jan. /, 1894 there will be ready for
mounting nine 12-inch guns, twenty 10
inch guns, thirty-four S-inch guns and
seventy-five 12-inch mortars.
The engineer corps is preparing at
Portland Me, Boston, New York.
Washington. Hampton Roads, and San
Francisco, emplacements in all for four
l2-inch guns, twenty i0-inch guns, five
S-inch and sixty-four 12-inch mortars,
also "a casemates for submarine
torpedo operations.
DEFENsEs OF THE COAST.
Work on the coast defenses of Mar
raganset bay, Charleston, Tybee roads
and the Savannah river, and Pensacola,
will be begun during the year Work
will be progressing next year at thirteen
OF the twenty-elght ports prapOSed for
fortihcation by the EndicOtt board.
The annual output of the Watervliet
gun factory is fifteen l2-inch guns, fifteen
l0-inch and twelve S-inch guns, and the
first Of the 100 large guns contracted for
with the Bethlehem Iron Works is due
next year. To keep pace with the manu-
4dCGuIt VI uilSs i9ttItIdIy IAdluOuJ recon-
mends ample appropriations for emplace-
lnents and batteries, and forthe purchase
of sites for forti6cations, all in accord
ance with the scheme adopted in 1885
The expenditures for sea coast defense
for the year ending June 30, 1893, were
So, 163,094
sMOKELEss POWDERS.
The invention and manufacture of
American brown and smokeless powders
for heavy ordnance and for the magazine
rifle have made slow progress, and the
Secretary of War urges manufacturers
TO solve this problem for their own profit
and our national pride
The report pays much attention to the
education Of the officers and men of the
army, and the instruction of the militia
and military schools. holding that the
short duration of recent wars demon
strates the important part of the exact
sciences in modern warfare and that
progress in the department must be along
the lines Of a national university of
Ailitary science as well US along those of
coast defense. An increase in the number
of cadets at the West Point military acad-
emy TO meet the demands Of higher and
more general military instruction is sug-
gested for an early day in the future.
Growing interest in military instruc-
tion at colleges and schools is reported
In 1SQ0-gl. Z .}G6 students were rpnorted