The Delta independent., 1893-12-06
THE WAR DEPARTMENT.
Numerous Fact. of Interest Concerning
Our Standing Army.

Our Standing Army.
The following is synopsis Of the annual
report Of the secretary of war. 1t gives the
usual review of the conditions and operations
Of the army, and, in addition. is devoted
specially TO the progress Of the work Of the
sea-coast defenses:
The total strength OF the army on Septem-
Der 30, 1898, was ., l4i officers and 25,Ts en-
listed men. From various causes, discharge,
purchase, desertion, etc, the army lost 9,ilt
enlisted men during the year and gained 9,O14
recruits.
Transportation WAS furnished for 357, ST.
persons, G.giS animals and 1902 tons Of
freight The new quarters, barracks and
buildings at army posts compare favorsbly
with military structures abroad. The dlsci-
plinc, health and general condition OF the
army Is good
The secretary recommends strongly the re-
peal OF the law fixing ten years a. the maxi
mum period OF enlistment, and fayors a re-
ductiou of the period OF fret enlistment TO
three years instead Of five. The prosecution
OF the experiment Of enlisting Indian com
pAnies will be continued only on the present
small scAlc until its success or failure has
been proven.
The adoption Of the new magazine rife is
the most important step taken for the infant
~ since the civil war. A limited number will
lie completed SithIn sixty days at the Spring
field armory, and the entire infantry will be
equipped with new arms before the close of
the coming year.
The gradual manufacture OF n reserve sup
ply OF the arms sufficient for the organization
OF the militia is recommended The issue OF
the new 3 steel field guns to the militia, and,
In limited numbers. To colleges and schools
which manifest n special interest in military
Instruction, Is suggested.
One-third OF the report Is devoted 10 the
progress OF the last eight years in the manu-
fActure of heavy ordnance and In the Pacific
coast defence under the project Of the Endi-
colt board Of 1885.
By January !. 1894. there will be ready for
mounting nine l2-nch guns, twenty lO-inch
guns. thlrty-four s-inch guns and seventy-ave
l2-inch moriAre-
To keep pace with the manufacture Of guns,
the secretary recommends ample appropr!a-
tiors for emplaccment and batteries and for
the purchase OF sites for Notifications in ac-
cordance with the scheme adopted In lSss.
The expenditure. for sea coast defense for
the year ending June 20, 1898. were So, l63, ,094
The Invention and manufacture of Ameri-
can Brown smokelcss powders for heavy ord
nance and for the magazine rifles have made
slow progress and the secretary of war urges
manufacturers to solve the problem for their
own profit and our national pride.
Growing interest in the military instruction
a, colleges aud schools is reported In ls9o-?l
:, 800 students were reported under instruc-
ton by officers at these institutions. In
lsg2-a3 the number was 1890. gain of A.
per cent Mr. Lamont recommends military
in.tructio by army officers be extended to
the high schools OF the large cities.
The latest returns report an organized mill
tia OF H., ,59i In the states, OF whom, in round
| numbers 6.oo0 are in the artillery arm, main
tanned by thirty-four states, and 5000 in the
| cavalry, maintained by twenty-four states.
Expenditures for the year ending June 80,
1893, were s., 900, 900, for the present year,
s4s, ,ooo, 600 and the estimates for 1855 are as
follows:
Salaries and contingent expenses. & ,697, ,0l6
Military establishments. ....,..... %, 102 9a5
Public works, including river and
harbor improvements. ........ 9, ,l6S, ,3o7
Miscellaneous objects, 3916,26l
lolai' ........'......'.. .'.Se-' 'ofo,o's