The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1893-12-05

The secretary Of war reports that the
strength Of the army on the 30th day OF
September last was 25,75s enlisted men
and :. IA officers. The total expenses Of
this department for the year ending June
30. 1893. amounted $5i. $50 ORA So OF this
sum 81 ~. SSH % Was for salaries and con-
tingent expenses, SIS. 81. SIS IS for the sup
port of the military establishment,
$6.o77. 033. % for miscellaneous objects.
so. i5s, 63i Al for public works. This lat
ter sam incIudes So, 296 SO. 46 for river and
harbor improvement and s., 2b6. l41. ID for
Notifications and other works OF defense.
The total enrolment of the militia of the
several states was on the 31st OF October OF
the current year liz, 597 officers and en-
listed men. The officers of the army de-
tailed for the inspection and instruction
OF this reserve OF our military force
report that increased interest and
progress are apparent in the discipline
and efficiency of the organization. Neither
Indian outbreaks nor domestic violence
the year. and the only active military duty
required has been in the department of
Texas, where violations of the neutrality
laws OF the United States and Mexico
were promptly and efficiently dealt with
bv the troops. eliciting the warm approval
OF Ire civil and military authorities Of
both countries.
Ths operation of wise laws and the in
firences of civilization constantly tending
to relieve the country from the dangers Of
Indian hostilities. together with the in
creasing ability of the states, through the
efficiency of the national guard organizes
tions, to protect their citizens from domes-
tic violence, lead to the suggestion that
the time Is fast approaching when there
should be reorganization of our army on
the lines of the present necessities OF the
country. This change contem plates
neither increase in number nor
added expense, but a redistribution OF the
force and an encouragement of measures
tending to greater efficiency among the
men and improvement of the service. The
adoption of battalion formations for in
fantry regiments, the strengthening of the
artillery force, the abandonment of forts
and the massing OF the troops at i'm portant
and accessible stations all promise to pro-
mote the usefulness of the army. In the
judgment OF army officers, with but few
exceptions. the operation of the law for
bidding the re-cniistment of men after ten
years service has not proven its wisdom,
and while the arguments that led to the
adoption were not without merit, the
experience OF the year constrains me to
join in the recommendation for its repeal.
lt is gratifying to note that We have be-
gun to attain completed results in the
comprehensive scheme Of sea coast de-
years ago. A large sum has been already
expended, but the cost of maintaining viii
be uncomfortable as compared with the
cost OF construction and ordnance. At
the end of the current calendar year the
war department will have nine Finch
guns, twenty 10-inch and thirty-four S-inch
guns ready to be mounted on gunl lifts and
carriages. and seventy -five 12-inch mortars.
In addition to the product of the army gun
factory now completed at Waterviiet, the
government has contracted with private
parties for the purchase of 100 of these cali
Der, the first of which should be delivered
to the department for test before July l,
1894. The manufacture of heavy ordnance
keeps pace with current needs. but to
render these guns available for
the purposes they are designed to meet,
empiacements must be prepared for them.
Progress has been made in this direction
and IL is desirable that congress, by ade-
quatc appropriations, should provide for
the uninterrupted prosecution of this
necessary work. After much preliminary
work and exhaustive examination in &C.
cordance with the requirements Of the law,
the board appointed to select q magazine
rifle of modern type to replace the obsolete
Springfield rifle of the infantry service,
completed its iabors during last year, and
the work OF manufacturing is now in pro-
gress at the national armory at Springfield.
III Is conDdently expected that by the end
of the current year our infantry will be
supplied with weapon equal to that of
the most progressive armies of the world.
The work on the projected Chicamaugua
and Chattanooga national military work
has been prosecuted with zeal and judy
ment, and its opening will be celebrated
during the coming year. Over nine square
miles OF Chicamaugua battle fields have
neen acquired: twenty-five miles of road
way have been constructed and permanent
tablets have been placed at many historical
points, while the invitation TO the states
To mark the position of their troops in the
battle has been very generally accepted.
The work of locating and preserving the
lines of battle at.the Gettysburg battlefield
is making satisfactory progress in the plans
directed by the last congress
The reports OF the military academy st
West Point and the several schools for
special instruction of officers show marked
advance in the education of the army and
commendabie ambition among its officers
to excel In the military profession and 10 nj
themselves for the highest service 10 the
country Under the supervision of Adjt-
Gen. Robert Williams, lately retired, the
bureau OF military information has be-
come we'll established and is performing A
service that viii put IN possession of the
government IA time of war most valuable
information and at all times serve a pur.
pose of great utility in keeping the army
ADVISED OF the worlds progress in all mat
tiers pertaining TO the art of war.