The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1893-12-06
SECRETARY LAMONT's REPORT.
Review of the Condition and Opera
tiOns Of the Army.


tiOns OF the Army.
The following is a synopsis OF the
annual report Of the secretary Of war,
| 1t gives the usual review of the condi.
ton and operations Of the army and in
addition is devoted especially to the
| progress Of the work ON the seacoast
defenses.
Secretary Lamont reports it may be
assumed that Indian warfare is practi-
cally over in the United States, and that
in consequence the gradual concentra~
ton Of the army on the seacoast and
the frontiers is prescribed by the condi-
tions Of the time. Any con-
| siderable increase in the numbers
OF the army wouldn't meet with
popular favor, and it is not suggested
by any contingency, immediate or re
mote; but the work of fertilization at
thirteen Of our largest seaports already
begun or projected for the near future
renders the conversion Of a portion Of
the infantry to the artillery and a mani
fest necessity of the period directly
ahead Of US.
The total strength Of the army on
Sept. so. 1898. was 2.144 officers and 25.-
as enlisted men. From various causes,
discharge, purchase, deseruon, etc, the
army lost 9,456 enlisted men during the
year and gained 9,074 recruits.
The secretary Of war recommends
strongly the repeal of the law fixing ten
years as the maximum period Of enlist
ment, and favOrs a reduction OF the
period Of enlistment TO three years in
stead of five.
The adoption of magazine rifle is the
most important step taken for the in
fantry since the civil war. A limited
number will be completed within sixty
days at the Springfield armory and the
entire infantry force will be equipped
with the new gun before the close OF
the coming year.
The invention and manufacture OF
American brown and smokeless powders
for heavy ordinance and for the maya
zine rifle have made slow progress and
the secretary Of war urges manufacture
ers to solve the problem for their own
profit and our national pride.
The report pays much attention 10 the
education of officers and men OF the
army and the instruction of the militia
and military schools, holding that the
short duration Of recent wars demon
strates 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
of military science as well as along
those OF coast defense. An increase in
the number OF cadets at the West Point
military academy TO meet the demands
of high character and more general mill
itary instruction is suggested FOR an
early day in the future. Growing inter-
est in military instruction at colleges
and schools is reported. In $780, 1896
students were reported under instruction
by army officers at these institutions. In
1928 the number was 1890, a gain Of
AZ per cent 1t is recommended that con-
gress take appropriate action for the re-
lief of the sufferers in the accident at
the old Ford's theater building.
Expenditures for the fiscal year ending
June 30, 1893, are as follows: Salaries
and contingent expenses. 1892. ISL; mill
tary establishments, S23.377, SOS; public
works including river and harbor i'm
provements, 20,51S.6 32; miscellaneous OBJ
jects, SCOT, O33. Total, 51,966,074
Appropriations for fiscal year ending
June so 1894, We're as follows: Salaries
and contingent expenses, S2.045, 196; mill
tary establishments, S24,563, 9S1; public
works including river and harbor i'm
provements, 81, POI, 165; miscellaneous OBJ
jects, S4.213,1S3. Total, $4S,023,525
Estimates for fiscal year ending June
80 1895: Salaries and contingent ex-
penses, S1.697, ole; military establish
nents. S25, zoe, SOS; public works includ-
ing river and harbor improvements, S21,-
As, 307; miscellaneous objects, $3,976,2S
Total, $50. SAG. 499.