Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-10-20
u. S. A R NJ Y.
Annual Report Of Gen. John M.
Schofeld, Its Commander.
ON FORTFICATION AND ARMAMENT.
The Object Of EnIisting Indians
Satisfactorily Accomplished.
HIGH STATE OF DISCIPLINE.

q.
Maj. Gen. John NJ Schofield, commanding
the army, has made a report of the mill
tary operations during the past fiscal year
to the Secretary Of War. 1.-The most ardu-
Gus service which has been rendered by the
troops during the past year." he says.
and in some sense the most important has
been that required to suppress and punish
violations Of the neutrality laws between
this country and Mexico. This service re-
Quired considerable addition to the troops
before stationed in the department of
Texas. and to prevent a recurrence of such
lawless acts 1t may be found necessary to
continue the increase thus made Of the
force serving in that department. The re-
port OF the department commander gives
full details Of all the service rendered. and
shows that the trotops were finally entirely
successful. after a most laborious pursuit,
in breaking up and capturing the criminals
who had been engaged in violating the hos
pitalities Of this country for the purpose Of
conducting lawless enterprises against our
friendly neighbor. I regard the troops in
the department Of Texas as deserving of
high commendation for the manner in
which they have discharged this arduous
duty
No Violence IL the Territories.
Happily the army has not been called up
on during the past year to assist in the
suppression of domestic violence in any
part Of the territories Of the United States
But in connection with the opening of the
new territory Of Oklahoma, the troops have
been called upon to aid the civil authori-
ties. and the service thus performed has
been commendable.
CT
cipline OF the army continues to be salts
factory, and that the efficiency Of the army
with respect to heavy guns and small arms
has probably never been 80 high. 1t Is
supply Of the most approved infantry rifles
and OF the standard breech-ioading rihed
field guns be provided In amount sufficient
not only for the regular troops and organ
lied militia, but for such volunteers as may
be Immediately called into service In the
event OF war.
Fertilization and Armament.
In chapter on fertilization and arma-
ment Gen. Schofield says:
Satisfactory progress has been made dur
ing the last year in the fabrication Of mod
ern high-power guns, and considerable work
has been done In providing emplacements
for such guns and mortars. Experiments
have also been continued in respect to dis
appearing carriages for such guns. Con-
elusive results In this last regard have not
yet been reached, but yet such progress has
been made that efficient carriages could he
rapidly constructed In case Of immediate
need. IT Is hoped that necessary appropria-
tions for the continuation Of this work will
not be withheld. so that the policy which
has row been steadily pursued during the
past nve or six years may be continued
until the great seapcrts Of the United States
are placed in condition OF security
Il desire again to invite attention to the
necessity for special appropriation for the
construction Of barracks and quarters at
those seaport stations from which the
troops were withdrawn for field service
some years ago. Many Of those posts have
now become defenseless and unfit to occupy
In their present condi ,Ion. 1t Is believed
that all important seaports should be re-
In serviceable condition and preparation
armament"
Indians az Soldiers.
In regard to the question of Indian SOL
diers the general says:
The enlistment Of Indians in the army
ana their organization into companies at
tacheo TO the regular regiments appear thus
far to have accomplished, in a very satis-
factory manner, the principal objects con-
templated in that policy. The principal of
these objects Is understood to have been for
the purpose Of withdrawing from the war;
ment to considerable number of Young
men who were generally dissatisfied and
liable at any time to become hostile; for
the purpose of educating the Indians In the
rules and customs Of civilized as contrasted
with those of savage warfare; and to assist
In the efforts Of the government to trans
form the Indian character from that Of
savage enemy to that Of friend and citizen
OF the United States. There has been no
serious indication of hostile disposition
manifested By any Of the Indian tribes since
this policy was inaugurated
A secondary object was the organization
OF comparatively small contingent of In
dian troops. partly with a view to any ser
wee whlch might be required of them, but
actual trial what the value Is or NAV be
made Of the warlike tribes of Indians as a
part OF the military strength of the United
states; TINS upon the general theory that all
parts OF the people OF country should be
prepared to do their share in time of need
of the military service which the country
may require. 1t is yet too early to reach a
final conclusion upon this question. Results
vary from one extreme to the other In
some cases the Indian troops have proved
highly satisfactory: in others. less So
The Period of Enlistment.
Gen. Schofield discusses the subject of en-
listment. and concludes that the present
period OF five years Is too long, while the
limit OF service. under existing laws, ten
years, Is much too short he says, to enable
the government to obtain the best services
from men who have proved to be In all re-
spects satisfactory. Another serious objec-
ton to the limitation of ten years, Gen.
Schofeld says. is that that period is much
too long for a young man to devote to the
military service II he must ultimately make
his career In civil life. 1t therefore seems
advisable that the term Of enlistment in the
regular service in this country be reduced
from five to three years, and that the legal
restriction upon re-enlistment be removed,
SO that the War Department may be at lib
erty TO continue In service those enlisted
men whose services are found to be val
liable.
As to Purchasc of DISCHARGES.
"A reduction Of the first term of enlist
ment to three years." he says, would also
In a large measure remove the reason for
the existing law providing for the purchase
OF discharge. which latter has proved very
pre1udicial to military discipline. As soon
as young soldier has saved I'D money
enough to purchase his discharge he es
teens himself Independent of his Command
Ing officer and becomes restive under neces
sary discipline, since all he has to do to
avoid further submission to such discipline
is to buy his discharge. It would. in nv
judgment, be beneficial to the military ser,
ice to repeal the law authorizing the mr..
chase of discharges"