The Coeur d'Alene press. (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) 1892-1907, 1893-12-09

works Of defense. Tie total enro lment
Of the militia III the several states was
on the 3lst Of October nj the present
year liz 5T Officers and enli.issi men.
The officers Of the army detailed for the
inspection and ms, rnrtion Of this reserve
Of our military force report that i'm
creased interest and pr,gre.s are app r.
ent in the dirciplinr and efiirienry Of
the organization. N.iiher Indian ont
breaks nor domestic viOl..nce has called
the army into service dnring the year,
and the only active military duty re-
quired Of it las bern in the department
OF Texas. where violations OF the nen-
trality laws Of the United States and
Mexico were promptly and efficiently
dealt with by the troOpe. elicitip9 the
warm approval of the civil and military
authorities Of 10th countries.
YEAR OF PEACE.
The operation Of wise laws and the in.
fuences OF civilization constantly tend
ing TO relieve the country from the dan
gers Of Indian hostilities. 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 il fast ap-
preaching when there should be . re0r-
ganizst;on Of our army on the lines of
the present necessities Of the country,
This change cOntemplates neither An in
crease in number nor added expense.
but redistribution OF the force and an
encouragement OF measures tending to
greater efficiency among the men and
the improvement Of the service. The
adoption of battalion formations for in
fantry regiments, the strengthening OF
the artillery force, the abandonment Of
certain unimportant positions and the
maseing Of the troops 1t important and
accessible stations, all promise to pro-
mote the usefulness OF the army. In the
judgment of army officers, with but few
exceptions, the operation OF the Law for
bidding the re-enlistment of men after
10 Year, service has not proven its wis
dom, and, while the arguments that led
to its adoption were not without merit,
the experience OF the year constrains me
to Join in the recommendation for ita
repeal.
orR COAST DETKxsKs.
1t lie gratifying to note that We have
begun to attain completed results in the
prehensive scheme OF sea-coast de
fence and Notifications entered upon
eight years ago. A large sum has beeu
already expended, but the cost Of main.
tanning will be inronsiderable as com.
pared with the expense of con .tructiou
| and ordnance. At the end of the cur.
rent calendar year the war department
| will have nine IL inch gums 20 10 inch and
"a inch gune ready to be mounted OF
gun-lifts and carrIager. and rs l2-inch
IT, mI.I,s..,,, 90
the army gun factory now completed q
Waite vliet. the government has con
iiaciesi with private parties for tn,
purchase Of 100 guns of these calilers
the first OF which sh puid b. delivered tn
tine department for test before July
| 1894 The manufacture of heavy ori
nance keeps pare with current neels
Int To render these guns available 70
the purposes they are designed to meet
I'm pla~inents must he prepared TO
them. Progr.ss has l@en male in THU
direction. and il is desirable that ron
siess. hy adequate Appropriation.
Should provide for the uninterrupie,
prosecution Of this necessary work.
THE NEW RIFLE SELECTED.
| Alter muci preliminary work and ex
haustive examination in accor1anc,
/
iDar.l ap,olnte,i to seles-t q nagAzin'
rifle al m" fern type u, replace the ob>o
ieie Springfield rifle. Of the infanir s,.r
vi e c"tupietesi it's ialors during the las
| wear, and tie work Of manufacturing /
nov in pr,g ess at the national ariiior
at Springfield, Ii is confidently IL
pez.,ei that hy the emil OF the curreil
year our infantry will be supplied wit
a weapon equal to that OF the most pru
gressive armies Of the world.
NATIONAL MILITARY PARKS.
The work on the projected Chicks
mau "a and Chattanooga military par
has been prosecuted with zeal and jud,
ment. and it's opening will he celebrate
during the coming year. Over mir
square miles OF the Chickamauga BATH,
field have been acquired, Is miles {
road have been constructed, and pc
manent tablets have been placed 1
many historical points, while the inv
tation to the states to mark the positio
Of their troops participating in the ba
tie has been very generally accepted.
The work Of locating and preservir
the lines Of battles at Gettysburg BATH
field is making satisfactory progress
! the plans directed by the last congress
, MILITARY ACADEMIES.
The reports Of the military acaden
at West Point and the several schoo
!. for special instructions Of officers sho
! marked advance in the education OF Il
I army and commendable ambitit
a among its officers to excel in the mi
tary profession and to fit themselves {
! the highest service to the oountr
Under the supervision Of Adjutant- &c
eral Robert Williams, lately retired, Il
bureau Of military information has b
come well established and is perforr
Z ing a service that will put in possessi'
OF the government in time Of war me
valuable information, and at all tim
: serve purpose Of great utility in kee
= ing the army advised Of the worlt
progress in all matters pertaining to 4
= art Of war.
e Rostm Aater- General.
l. The report OF the poetmaster-gene,