The sun., 1893-10-23
THE ARMY OF TO-DAY.
Its Duties and Prospects-MnrLs sm nu hip.
Drill, Dl.cipIIne, md Mcnponr.


Drill, Discipline. ana Weapons.
WASHINGTON. Oct. 22.-The year which is re.
viewed in the annual reports Of the Command
ing General Of the Army. tho department com
manders, and the various staff corps officers.
has been one OF exceptional tranquility for
| the military establishment The Indians
nearly everywhere have been quiet. and the
contrast between the anxiety and trouble they
formerly gave the troops ana their present
attitude. as whole, Is gratifying. There has
been no recurrence OF the Messiah de-
lusion. which once threatened SO much
trouble among the Sioux and other
Indians. There was a brief excitement in
Black Horso's band OF Navaio.. but it was
easily disposed Of as was the trouble among
the Choctaws. Ono task Of considerab ble diffl-
Guilty imposed on tho troops was that Of ex-
pelling the squatters from the Cherokee Out
let and keeping it clear. SO as to give all the
settlers an equal chance in the race for new
homes. But the chief feature OF campaigning
has been along the Rio Grande. In preventing
and Furnishing violations OF tho neutrality law
by armed bodies wishing to cross into Mexico
Tho task was hard one. as the fordable por-
tion OF the river boundary Is so long. and tho
dense chapparal offers such means Of conceal
ment: but our troops were reinforced. at con-
siderable expense to the country. and the duty
was most creditably performed. the invading
bodies being broken up and dispersed.
In what condition is our little army to- day
Gen. Schohsld says that its standard Of dis
ciplne is satisfactory. and his views arc cor
roborated by those OF other oficers. Gen.
Miles. for example. finds q good state Of dis
cipline and faithful service on the part OF the
troops. and good judgment and discretion
among the officers. as shown by the task Of
kaa hafU fha hoc Soo -
the semi mi-civillzed tribes and In removing tres
passers from the public lands. Those troops
also that attended the dedication ceremonies
OF the Worlds Fair presented. he says. a fine
appearance. were well equipped. and marched
and manpuvred with commendable skill and
accuracy. Gen. Merritt says that the dis
cipline Of the troops is excellent and that the
never better. Others could be- be- quoted to "ths The
same effect.
Of marks smanshIp In the army. both with artil-
high as as now This his latter praise seems well
at Fort Sheridan the scores were said to bo
not only the highest ever made by the military
records. When the teams com pete the next time
tho weapons used, perhaps will be the new
Krag rifles. OF which some should be ready for
distribution by the end OF this year. At all
events. the selection Of magazine arm is one
Of the leading features Of the twelvemonth
q leading feature OF the current tweIyemolith.
ttsed tsed the new drill regulations: Col. hsyl Of
that while he has heard some adverse crltl-
cism upon them among officers. with desire
opinion 10 that an advance has been effected.
He suggests that 1t might be well. before max
s n eS hS
four battalions OF infantry. two OF cavalry. and
three Or four llght batteries. foGct6sr with
gether with everything necessary for a three
months campaign; and camping drilling. and
One hs THG %tS III.
tions. 1t had been hoped that with tho pHr-
improvement OF tho condition Of % he troops. o ln
this evil would continue to diminish as it had
surprise the number Of desertions has In
creased. and the result is dlssatisfaction with
co.'s RrSi9r sT to
almost universal among. company command
ers that the law. especially the fl,rlough pro-
Of the army. As a rule. they favor abolishinR
the purchase system and reducing the term OF
service law is also considered an incentive to
desertion; The, recruiting service. however
has been brought to high standard. and the
OF good recruits-
~ The operations Of the lycsums are praised.
leees by the army officers is especially dwslt
upon by Adjt.-Gen. Williams. who shows that
{ he total average attendance at these institu-
tions for the last year was 23.62S as against
10 lot the year before. and 1887 the year be-
fore that. t., o. course course the growth. is in part
was sti mulated by the drills. And il these |
are advantageous to the institutions they |
are TO the Government which finds in them |
the sources Of reliance on a trained body OF |
young men In case OF need Since the report |
Of Gen. Williams was drawn up. the House Of |
representatives has passed without n dissent |
ing vote bill increasing tho possible number |
Of details OF officers from tho army as instruc-
tors to 100. making with the navy details an |
aggregate OF 10. |
The reorganization OF the artillery and In |
Iantry Is one OF the measures for which the |
army looks to Congress. and yet perhaps not |
very confidently. since 1t is dfficult to secure |
Increased efficiency under the plans proposed |
without some increase In expense. The pro- !
,ess OF concentrating troops by the abandon
nent OF small posts continues. and the result |
Will be TO increase the comforts and adyan-
lagos OF the mon. as well as their efficiency By |
placing them mostly In large forts of modern |
and modern convenences, while |
snatling them also to be supplied ut less er-
1ense and TO be drilled in larger bodies. Now
hat q magazine rifle has beon selected. and
hat the army has been furnished with breech- |
oading rilled field guns OF a new pattern,
10 hoped that n reserve OF both weapons |
will be authorized by Congress. so that the |
militia may have them. and that supplies will |