New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-11-30
td|'|||''''|||| 30
THE ARMY'SWORK FORAYEAR
SECRETARY IAMoNr,s ANNUAL REPORT.
THE TROOPS TO BE CONCENTRATED ON THE
COAsT-TIIE NEW EIFLE-IIEAvY ORD
NANCE AND sEACOAST DEFENCE.

ton is devoted especially to the progress Oh u"e
works the seacoast defences.
Secretary Lapont reports that II may be assuIheu
that Indian warfare is practically at an end IN
the United States: that demands for the employ
ment of the Army to preserve order withh '"c
States must become infrcquent. as state au'no'"''
on which that obligation properly rests ueinon-
strates its complete ability TO discharge H. anu
that. in consequence. the gradual conceh,'a'io"
of the Army on the seacoast and the frontiers Is
prescribed by the conditions of the time Any con-
siderable increase in the numbers OF the Army
would not meet with popular favor, ana i "ot
suggested by any contingency, immediate OF re-
mote: but the work of fertilization at thirteen OF
our large seaports already begun or projected LOT
the future renders the conversion OF n por-
ton OF the infantry to the artillery arm mani
fest necessity of the period directly ahead OF u.s.
STRENGTH OF THE ARMY.
The total strength OF the Army on September
go 1893. 2.1H officers and 2j.Ts enlisted men,
For various causes discharge, purchase. desertoi'
etc. the Army lost 1856 enlisted men during the
year and gained 907i recruits Transportation was
furnished for Sei.577 persons. 69s animals. and
80 692 tons of freight. The quarters. barracks
and buildings nj Army posts compare favofaby
with military structures abroad. The dlscipiihe'
health and general condition Of the Army are re-
ported good
The Secretary OF War recommends strongly the
repeal of the law fixing ten years as the maximum
perod of enlistment and favors reduction OF
the period OF first enlistment 10 three years In
stead Of five. The prosecution Of the experiment OF
enlisting Indian companies will be continued ohly
on the present small scale until It's success or ia-
ure has been proved. The three battalion organi-
zation for infantry regiments Is recommended
The adoption of the magazine rifle Is the
most important step taken for the infantry since
the civil war. A limited number VIII be completed
within sixty days at the Springfield armory, ana
the entire infantry force will be equipped Win the
now arm before the close of the coming year. The
gradual manufacture of reserve supply OF the
arm sufficient for the organized militia, Is recon-
mended. The issue OF the new 81 steel HELD guns
to the militia ard In limited numbers to colleges
and schools which manifest a special interest III
military instruction is suggested.
PROGRESS IL sEACOAsT Defence.
One..hrd Of the report is devoted TO the progress
of the last eight years In the manufacture OF
heavy ordnance and in seacoast defence under
tho nroiect Of the Endicott Board OF lsS Progress
already made warrants the belief that within the
time specified thirteen years from the first appro-
priation the essential features Of the plan VIII be
carried out The mounting OF the first twelve-inGh
Hook. is the evidence Of remarkable progress our
ing those eight years signiying ths ap'y OF h "r
power guns: the completion Of an army gun fac-
tory at Wateryet which iakrs rank wI(n a@
OF gun carriages and llts able 10 sustain ~. i
completion Of modern empac.ments The cost 20, OF
the type battery at Sandy Hook Is N2i,l2l 10y
January J. 1894. there viii be ready for mounting
nine Pinch guns. twenty lo-nch guns. thiriy-
four s-inch guns and seventy-nyr linen
land Me- Boston. New-York Washington Hamp-
ton Roads. and San Francisco enp,aoemehS az, IN
all four Pinch guns. twenty lgnch guns. hye
S-Inch guns. ard sxiy-four Pinch mortats.
also twenty,four cassmaies for submarine ad9eares
OF Narraneansett Bay yTe, h h. Se
and The savannah rive ana , h sdyancine next
year al thirteen OF the twenty.eght ports PROPOSE
Tor fortheaon 4y the MnaG sn factory IL meen
Pinch guns. fifteen io-inch ana , twsNe ,,,ns
Contracted for with the Bethlehem Iron Works -
due next year To keep pace win IN" mhhulac'nle
nronrjations for empiacements and batteries. and
for the purchase Of sites Tor ior,n1ato'ss a" rb
expenditures for seacoast defence ior the year
ended June 30 1882. were nl5,g, ., ,no-,c,,
brown and smokeicss powders for heavy ordnance
and for the ,Sn ecrsiar Of wsf urges
facturers to solve this problem Tor their own pron'
and National pride
MILITARY INSTRUCTION OF OFFICERS AND MEN
The report pays much attention to the education
Of officers and men OF the Army. and the instruc-
ton OF the militia and military schools. holIing tha'
the short duration OF recent wars demonstrates
the important part OF the exact sciences In modern
warfare and that progress In the war Department
must be along the lines OF "A National university
NJ military science as well AZ along those OF coast
defence An Increase In the number OF cahs's az
the West Point Military Academy 10 meet tne o. a.
mands Of higher and more genera, m aY IN ~.
Grovlnp interest in military instruction nj coll
,o AMI schools Is reported In is-si. 1856 stu
dents were reported under instruction by AIM
br yos 10 90 n gain OF A. per cent. The Secretary
OF War recommends that military ihs'ruTt,lonI ~ ~
Army officers be extended To the high schools Oh
Ssiugns Tep 90 S Sn orEa"o sana militia Mum"
bcrs 5000 are in the artillery arm. mali,alhen 10y
thirtyfour states and 5Gy in 'he cavalry; mp me
cooperation and assistance OF the Federal Govern
ment in the equipment and instruction OF ,ne n and
Are The index OF an intelligent interest In the Ma
tons military growth ana progress.
RIVER AND HAgBOR IMPROVEMENT.
The Improvement Of the harbors and Internal
waterways Of the country n work OF immense con
sequence to our commerce and general benefit 10
the people, has made excellent progress under the
spport OF the liberal appropriations voted for ta'
purposc The chief Of engineers estimates that III
the continuance OF these works in accordance with
the existing projects as adopted by Congress the
sum OF s3s77OGll can he expended during the next
fiscal year This estimate has been transmitted
IN the Secretary OF the Treasury as required by
law, but 1t is not the judgment OF the department
that public necessities demand 'nr an
nua amount actually expended for such work uus
and it is believed that this can well be redused
for the present year III 1 h climates
NATIONAL PARKS AND MONUMENTS.
The Secretary OF War recommends the erection
of n memorial bridge from Washington to Potomac
Heights both for commercial and military pur-
poses. and especially as a suitable approach TO inc
National Cemetery at Arlington. The sum OF sso''-
OF has been expended by the States on the hed
of Gettysburg. in addition TO considerable sums
contributed by private organizations. and IN me
absence OF any provision for the permanent main
tenance OF the field and Its monuments II has been
suggested Government
trusted with us control The greater part oi ,ne
work OF establishing the Chickamauga and Chatta-
nooga National Military Park has been completed.
and the States are beginning to erect monuments
on the field their troops. ,
The work OF the Record and Pension ONCE IN
the compilation and arrangement OF the recoorus
OF the service has so far advanced that the sec
rotary reports that reduction OF S3i50D can De
made In the cost OF its maintenance during the
coming year. 1t Ii recommended that Congress take