Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-11-30
UNCLE SANS ARMY.
Some Interesting Points from Mr.,
l am its Report.
MONUMENTS In WASHINGTON.
TIE Proposed Bridge to the
Heights Of Arlington.
GUNS AND COAST DEFENSES.

GUNS AND COAST DEFENSES.
In his annual report Secretary Lamont
reviews the operations and condition of the
army, and devotes special attention to the
subject of sea coast defenses. He says
that it may be assumed that Indian war
fare is practically at an end in the United
States; that demands for the employment
of the army to preserve order within the
states must become infrequent as state au-
thority, on which that obligation properly
rests, demonstrates it's complete ability to
discharge it. and that, in consequence. the
gradual concentration Of the army on the
sea coast and frontiers is prescribed by the
conditions of the time. Any considerable
increase in the numbers of the army, he
says, would not meet with popular favor.
and is not suggested by any contingency,
immediate or remote; but the work of forti-
fication at thirteen Of our large seaports,
already begun or projected for the near fu-
ture. renders the conversion of portion Of
the infantry to the artillery arm a manifest
necessity of the period directly ahead of u.s.
The Strength of the Army.
The total strength of the army on Sep
enlisted men. For various causes. dis
charge, purchase, desertion, ETC., the army
lost 9.456 enlisted men during the year. and
gained 9.074 recruits. Transportation was
furnished for 367.577 persons. 6.94s animals
and 99,692 tons of freight. The new quar-
tiers, barracks and buildings at army posts
compare favorably with military structures
abroad. The discipline, health and general
condition of the army are reported good.
The Secretary Of War recommends strong
ly the repeal of the law fixing ten years as
the maximum period of enlistment and
favors a reduction of the period of first en-
listment to three years instead of five. The
prosecution of the experiment of enlisting
Indian companies. he says. will be contin-
ued only on the present small scale until
its success or failure has been proved. The
three-battalion organization for infantry
regiments is recommended.
The adoption of the new magazine rifle is
regarded as the most important step taken
for the infantry since the civil war. The
report says limited number will be COM
pleted within sixty days at the Springfield
armory, and the entire infantry force will
be equipped with the new arm before the
close Of the coming year. The gradual man.
ufacture Of a reserve supply Of the arm,
sufficient for the organized militia, is recon-
mended. The issue Of the new 30 steel
field guns to the militia and In limited num-
a special interest in military instruction Is
suggested
Making Heavy Ordnance.
One-third Of the report is devoted to the
progress Of the last eight years in the man
ufacture Of heavy ordnance and in sea
coast defense, under the project Of the En-
dicott board Of 1855.
Progress already made warrants the be-
A. ho ha
time specified. thirteen years from the first
appropriations. the essential features Of the
plan can be carried out. According to the
report the mounting Of the first 12-inch
gun. with its lift. in its enlightenment at
Sandy Hook. Is the evidence of remarkable
progress during these eight years. signify
ing the ability Of our manufacturers to
produce heavy forgings for high power
guns. the completion Of an army gun fac
tory at Watervliet. which takes rank with
the best in the world the invention and
Of gun carriages and lifts
able to sustain the weight and recoil Of
these great guns. and the completion of
modern emplacements. The cost Of the
type battery ut Sandy Hook Is 1924, 121. By
January l, 1894. there will be ready for
mounting nine Pinch guns. twenty 10
inch guns, thirty-four S-inch guns and sew
enty-flve Pinch mortars.
The engineer corps is preparing at Port
land. Me-. Boston. New York. Washington,
Hampton Roads and San Francisco en-
pidceIuentS III all LOT TOUR l2-lnCh guns,
twenty 1O-inch guns. five S-inch guns and
sixty-four Pinch mortars. also twenty-four
classmates for submarine torpedo opera
tons.
Defenses of Washington.
The scheme of defense for Washington
on which progress is reported contem-
plates for the present the following arma-
ment: Four 12-inch guns. six 1O-inch guns,
three s-inch guns. eight Pinch mortars
and two classmates: and for Hampton
Roads. Va, five Pinch guns. ten 1O-inch
guns, thirty-two Pinch mortars and two
classmates.
Work on the coast defenses Of Narragan-
sett bay, Charleston. Tybee Roads and the
savannah river and Pensacola will be begun
during the year. Work will be progressing
next year at thirteen of the twenty-eight
ports proposed for fertilization by the En-
dIcott board. The annual OUTPUT of the
Watervl1et gun factory is fifteen Pinch
guns. fifteen 1O-inch guns and twelve g.
inch guns. and the first of the 100 large
guns contracted for with the Bethlehem
Iron Works is due next year. To keep pace
with the manufacture of guns Secretary
Lamont recommends ample Appropriations
for emplacements and batteries. and for
the purchase of sites for Notifications ali
In accordance with the scheme adopted IN
1883. The expenditures for sea-coast de-
were 81. 163 O94 o'
Amorf-
can brown and smokeless powders for heavy
ordnance and for the magazine rifle have
made slow progress and the Secretary of
war urges manufacturers to solve this
problem for their own profit and our ma
tional pride ~ "
The report pays much attention to the
education OF officers and men Of the army
ana the instruction of the militia and mill
tary schools. holding that the short dura-
uon or recent wars demonstrates the inn
portant part or the exact sciences in mod
ern warfare, and that progress in the War
department must be along the lines of
NATIONAL university Of military science as
wen as along those of coast defense An
increase in the number Of cadets at the
west Point Military Academy to meet the
demands Of higher and more general mill
tary instruction is suggested for "A early
day in the future
Military Instruction.
Growing interest in military instruction
at colleges and schools is reported In 1901
1855 students were reported under instruc-
ton by army officers at these institutions
In 1923 the number was 1890 a gain of
rorty-two per cent The Secretary of War
recommends that military instruction by
army officers be extended to the high
SCHOOLS OF the larger cities.
me latest returns report an organized
militia Of 1887 in the states. of whom
IN round numbers 5000 are in the artillery
arm maintained by thirty-four states
trEd 300 in the cavalry maintained by
twenty -FOUR states. Requests for the CO.