The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1893-10-21
REpoRr OF GEM scHoFIELD.
Progress On seseesst Defs,ees-The Tern,
or Eniistment sheuid ne Reduced.

| or Eniistusnt sheuid Ne Reduced.
WASHINGTON. Oct. 20.-The annual report o.
| the Major eneral commanding the army va,
| made public to-day. Gen. Schofeld says
Satisfactory progress has been made during
the last year in the fabrication OF modern
| high power guns and considerable work has
| been done In providing emplacemsnts for
such guns and mortars. Experiments have
also been continued In respect to disappear
inR carriages for such guns. Conclusive re-
suits in this last regard have not yet been
reached. but yet such progress has been made
| that efficient carriages could be rapidly con-
| structed In case OF imm ediate need. 1t 10
| hoped that necessary appropriations for the
| continuation OF this work will not be with.
held. 80 that the policy which has now been
steadily pursued during the past FIVE or six
years may be continued until tho great sea-
ports OF the United States are placed in con
dltion OF security"
On the enlistment question, which Ia at pres
ent attracting so much attention. Gen Scho-
field says:
In Al army small nj that permanently maintained
BY the United States tie aimpor,ant requisite is EFF.
hciency and reliability under any and all circum.
stances that may arise. To secure this It seems evi
dent that the policy should contemplate the emina-
tion as soon practicable Of all men who cannot be
moulded into trustworthy soldiers and tho retention
TO be entirely satisfactory The period Of i've years
uhnt of the present Term OF eniistmenD is much
longer than necessary to the rst purpose while the
limit OF the length OF service under existing law
namely. ten years-is much too short to enable the
to obtain the best services from who
have proved be in ali respects satisfactory There
is another serious objection to the present limitation
of ten years Tha, period I. much too long for young
nAtely make his career in civil life
Il. S o9 ,as
ten years OF service 10 quite insignificant They do not
SsaPns po % ss states ii s an
p"sS
m ,snsh of sn 1pa shsrs Irss
Which al young men esHas. Of bearing may be-
.hfss years the " ihS.
In an too al To-
valuable training school OF THIS character The organ
pose to a much better .ivsntav. without drawing
yGsnE s"s ss.ms hs'1 ss s of en-
et IN TIE regular service in h. c1pntrs be re-
sIreion upon rssnl,.men' be removed 50 that the
vice those enlisted men whose services are found to be
soldier. after they have become less efficient than
be- ~ e It won in
tudgmsnt be b.neacl.l 70 the minr, s,rvis. 10 re-
peal the law authorizing the purchase OF discharges
Gen. Schofeld disngrees with several other |
prominent officers in believing that the ex-
pertinent OF making soldiers OF Indians has
The enlistment Of Indians in the army and their or.
ganizaton into companies attached 10 the regular
regiments appear thus far to have accomplished in
yey ., manner h ne nrnsrH Sss
jectS is understood to have been for the purpose Of
vi. from the w.rke ,r5ss and ssinr s.s
men who were generally dissatisfied and liable at any
time become hostile for the purpose of educating
contracted with those OF savage warfare and assist
IN the efforts of the Government to transform the
ss ss. from ina e :"
serious indication OF hostile disposition mani
esed by any of the Indian tribes since ihs policy was
nAugurated.
A Secondary obJec. was the organization OF a com
'aratively small CONTINGENT of Indian troops. partly
hem but IN ainly for the purpose OF determining BY
.ctunl trial what tho value may be made Of the
sarke tribes Of Indians as part OF tn military
hoory that all parts Of the people of country should
70 prepared to DO their share In time OF need Of the
ret too early TO reach nnal conclusion upon this
question.
During the year the most arduous service
endered by the troops was IN expressing
md Furnishing violations OF the neutrality
avs az between this country TT and Mexico Fer
he troops In the DEPARTMENT Of Texas. The
tate Of discipline in the army continues to lie
'atisfactory. Reorganization OF the artillery
Ind infantry Is recommended. and a sugges-
e sSp 81 tho aS
loading rifed field guns be provided for
egulars militia and such volunteers as may
g mmediately called into service in the event
II war The recruiting service has heen
to a high standard under Adjt- Gea.
inues large. and. says Gen. SchoHeld
doubtless from causes entirely beyond con-
rol. unless it lie by increasing the certainly
nd severity OF the punishment for desertion."