The National tribune., 1893-10-26
ARMY AND NAVY.

Assistant Secretary McAdoo has written n
letter to Commander Miller, of the New York
Naval Reserve, saying that the Navy Depart
ment has no intention of rejecting on the eff
cheney of the Naval militia and that arrange
ments are being made for the equipment of
large and commodious ship with proper arma-
meHt for the special use in the annual cruises
of the Naval Reserve of the various States.
On the important topic of coast defenses, Gen.
Howard, commanding the Military Depart
ment OF the East, says: =" Liberal appropria-
tions have already been made sufficient to
make a beginning inGthe proper protection of
our harbors, so many Of which are in this De-
partment. The rapid development of the Navy
and the encouragement OF the Naval Reserves
have placed that branch OF the service con-
siderably ahead Of the permanent works on
this coast. This is doubtless for the best but
it may be remembered that the Nays work in
case Of war is rather in the offensive than the
defensive establis hment; SO that for the de-
fensive purposes Of permanent works the sea-
coast batteries, including mortar shells and
other projectiles, and all the modern torpedo
preparations, must be kept in mind. There has
been good beginning, but / urge for these
purposes, in connection with the work of the
Engineer and Ordnance Corps, the most liberal
support.
Secretary Herbert has sent to Senator Nc
Pherson and Representative Amos J. Cum
mings letters from Hon. Thomas d. Porter,
United States Minister to Chile, recommending
that Congress make provision for suitable
monument to be erected in cemetery at VAL
paraiso over the graves Of the sailors who were
killed in the battle between Capt. Porter's ship
Essex and British men-of-war in 1914.
The annual report of Capt. Samuel c. Lemly,
Judge Advocate General of the Navy, shows
that during the year there were 13 courts mar
tial ordered for the trial Of commissioned Off
GERS and 86 for the trial of enlisted men, The
0ffanaAa nj thesa rfa I'd
embraced nearly every violation of the Rules
and Regulations, and the findings of the courts
imposed all puDishments. One of the most
important matters touched upon in the report is
in regard to the inequality of punishment re-
sulting from suspension of officers from duty.
1t is suggested that courts martial, in the case
of an officer found guilty of an offense for which
greater punishment is not deemed necessary
should, instead of suspending him from duty
sentence the accused to be reduced a certain
number of files. or to retain his present number
on the list until he shall have lost certain
number of files in his grade.
Regarding the Indian soldier experiment
Gen. Schofield says in his report that the en-
listment of Indians in the Army aud their or
ganization into companies attached to the
Regular regiments appear thus far to have ac-
complished in a very satisfactory manner the
principal objects con plated in that policy:
Also he advises that the term of enlistment in
the Regular service ia his country be reduced
from five to three years, aud that tho legal re-
striction upon enlistment be removed so
that the War Department may be at liberty to
continue in service those enlisted men whose
services are found to be valuable.
The official report of Capt. G.. w. Sumner,
U. s. N, who witnessed the preliminary trial
trip of the new cruiser Columbia, was received
at the Navy Department, and it shows that the
vessel has demonstrated that she will be one
OF the best vessels of the new Navy. The addi-
tion OF the Sponsor armor has stiffened the
vessel somewhat. but she ran smoothly and
evenly. and hardly needed a rudder at ap.
pears" says Capt. Sumner, las though the ship
might run for days at time under natural
draught at the rate of 20 knots an hour with
good coal. and in moderate weather" The
officially calculated speed developed on the
run was 2l.24 knots for 80 minutes and q. 80
knots for 45 minutes; mean speed 81 04 knots