The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1893-12-20
THE WAR DEP ARTMENT.
SECRETARY LAMONT FILES
HIS ANNUAL REPORT.

Great Progress Made In the Manu-
facture of Heavy Ordnance and In
Scacoast Defence-The Entire In
fantry Force to be Armed With
the New Magazine Rife.
The annual report of Secretary OF War
Lamont Is quite lengthy, containing some
Is, 900 words. It gives the usual review OF
the condition Of the army. Some of the facts
presented concerning various arms OF the
service are very interesting.
Indian warfare, the Secretary says, Is prac.
tioally at an end in this country. This fact
alone is an argument against an increase In
the numerical strength of the army. Such
an increase would not meet with popular
favor, and is not suggested.
The strength of the army September 80.
1898, was 2144 officers and 25,778 enlisted
men. The Secretary recommends reduc-
ton Of the term OF enlistment fron i've to
three years. Tho experiment OF enltsting
Indian companies will be continued
The adoption o. the new magazine rifle, Is
the most important step taken In the In
fantry arm Of the service since the Civil
War. ~
One-third OF the report Is devoted to the
progress during the last eight years In the
manufacture OF heavy ordnance and in sea-
coast defence under the project OF the
Endicott Board In 1885.
Progress already made warrants the belief
that within the time specified, thirteen years,
from the first appropriations the essential
features of the plan can be carried out. The
mounting of the first twelve-inch gun with
its lift in its emplacement at Sandy Hook is
the evidence OF remarkable progress during
these eight years, signifying the ability OF
our manufacturers to produce heavy forg-
ings for high-power guns.
Work on the coast defenses at Narragan-
sett Bay, Charleston, Tybee Roads and the
saynnnsh River and Pensacola will be begun
during the year. Work will be progressing
next year at thirteen OF the twenty-eight
ports proposed for fortifcation by the Endi-
colt Board, The annual! output OF the
Wateryliet gun factory Is fifteen twelye-tnch
guns, fifteen ten-inch and twelve eight-inch
gums, and the first of the 100 large guns con-
tracted for with the Bethlehem Iron Works
Is due next year.
The expenditures for sea-coast defence for
the year ending June 80. 1898. were S3,-
3,094.
The invention and manufacture of Ameri-
can brown and smokeless powder for heavy
ordnance and for the magazine rifles have
made slow progress, aud the Secretary OF
War urges manufacturers to solve the prob
/ lem for their own profit and National pride.
The report pays much attention to the ed.
ucation OF officers, and men OF the army and
the instruction Of the militia and military
schools. An increase In the number of cadets
at the West Point Military Academy. to meet
the demands of higher and more general MIL
itary instruction, Is suggested. ~
Growing interest In military. instruction at
colleges and schools Is reported: In 1880
1891 1865 students were reported under In
struction by army officers at these institu.
tions. In 1892-1893 the number was 10, $40, a
gain of forty-two per. cent. Tho Secretary
further recommends that military instru cdon
BY army officers be extended TO the high
schools OF the larger cities.
The latest returns report an organized
militia OF ,597 In the States, OF whom, IN
round numbers, 5000 ara In the artillery
arm and 5000 In the cavalry.
The Secretary recommends the eree-
ton OF q memorial bridge from Wash
ington to Potomac Heights as suit
able approach to the National Gene
terry at Arlington. The sum Of 1855, ,017
has been expended by the States on the field
OF Gettysburg, In addition to considerable
sums contributed by private organizations
The greater part Of the work OF establishing
the Chickamauga and Chattanooga National
Military Park has been completed, and the
States are beginning to erect monuments on
the field to their troops.
Expenditures for the fiscal year ending
June 90, 1898, are as follows: Salaries and
contingent expenses, 81, ,s92, ,5s1 !; military
establishments, $2s, SIT s2s; public works
including river and harbor i'm
provements, s20,5ls,6 !; miscellaneous OBJ.
jects, sc, OFT ,0SS.
Appropriations for fiscal year ending june
80, 1894, wore aS follows: Salaries and con-
tingent expenses, S2.o45, 1876; military es-
tablishment, $24, ,563, ,9S1; public works, In
cluding river and harbor improvements,
$l7, POI, ,165; miscellaneous objects, s4,2lS,-