The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1893-10-19
ARMY AND NAVY,

Ins.-Gen Breckenridge has made report to
the Secretary OF War in which he retells with
good effect the old story of the utter iHadequacy
of our coast defenses to prevent foreign i'll
vasion.
:" No intelligent and experienced officer can
look upon our Southern coast defenses without
feeling the deepest solicitude for the safety OF
our entire coast line.
80 For various reasons the garrisons of 81 forts
have been withdrawn until there is not now,
nor has there been III most cases for more than
20 years. single soldier to care for them. Ord
nance-Sergeants sometimes superannuated and
decrepid, alone excepted.
AS result of this long abandonment, and
the changes which. have meantime affected
methods of attack and defense the forts and
their ornaments have come to be regarded as
obsolete, deserving and receiving but little at
tention, until they now serve the single pur-
pose apparently Of reminding US of the high es-
tate from which We have fallen, and that we
are not well prepared for resistance against any
bold and aggressive Government"
Gen. Breckenridge will suggest to Secretary
Lamont the adoption of certain measures to-
ward correcting The abuses and neglect that
have placed the Southern coast so absolutely at
the mercy OF an enemy.
Gen. Miles in his annual report strongly con-
dennis the Proctor law, prohibiting the re-en-
listment of men who have served 10 years or
moro In tho Army, or who have attained the
age of 30 years. The General claims that the
effect of this law is injurious to the service, de-
priving the Governmitnt, it does, of ex-
perienced, heroic aud patriotic men, whose
presence in the Army would, from every point
OF view, promote its efficiency and character.
A bill has been introduced in the House by
Mr.. Curtis PA, R. repeating the clause of the
Army appropriation bill of 1893 which pre-
vents the re-enlistment of privates who have
served 10 years who are over 80 years of
age. In lieu of this section the bill provides
that hereafter the term of enlistment in the
Army shall be three years. and no soldier is to
enlist for second term who is not specially
well qualified for the military service. or whose
service has not been honest and faithful dur
ing his preceding term of enlistment
The only vessels of the North Atlantic Squad
ron which will be sent South this year are the
San Francisco and Kearsarge The departure
at an early date of these ships will remove from
the home waters all the vessels that partici-
pated in the Naval Review last A pril except
the Miantonomoh and Vesuvius.
There are now 25 vacancies in the grade of
Second LieuteDants in the Army To fill these
there will be several appointments made from
civil life. The remainder will go over to next
years West Point class aud commissioned
officers who pass examination for promotion.
The first foreigner educated at West Point to
get commission in the Army will be Swiss
named LIE Compile, who graduated from the
Military Academy in June. He was educated
out of courtesy to the Swiss Republic, but was
not commissioned with the rest of his class in
July. He is the son of Col. LIE Compile who
came from Switzerland TO fight on the Union
side during the war