Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-11-10
FORTS WITHOUT MEN.
Gen. Breckenridge Speaks Of the
Defenseless Southern Coast.
WORKS PERMITTED TO DECAY.
He Recommends Increasing the
Number of EnIistments.
THE MORALS OF THE ARMY.

The annual report of Gen. ]. Z. Breckn-
ridge. inspector general of the army, which
was made public today. contains many new
| and original ideas of interest 20 the service.
In chapter devoted to military posts Gen.
| Breckenridge makes the following startling
I disclosures:
The very careful inspection Of ungar-
risoned posts between Barataria bay, I.oui-
slana, and the Delaware river, has brought
| very plainly to view the defenseless coudi-
ton or our southern coast, and the great
| Importance of immediate action If these
| fortifications are to be relied on to repel at
| tack. No intelligent and experienced officer
can look on our southern defenses without
feeling the deepest solicitude for the safety
of our entire coast line. That there is no
immediate probability of a foreign war will
be granted, but 1t must be admitted that
such a contingency is not impossible and
that should it happen within the next ten
years we must rely in the main for the pro-
| lection of our harbors on the forts and guns
we now have, no matter how inferior they
may De as compared with more recent in
ventions.
For various reasons the garrisons of
tWenty-seven of these forts have been with
| drawn until there is not now, nor has there
! been in most cases for more than twenty
years, single soldier to care for them,
ordnance sergeants sometimes superannu-
ated and decrepit. alone excepted.
AS matters stand the forts are going to
| ruin, and the condition OF their guns, car
riages and ordnance stores generally is
| reported as disgraceful, notwiths landing
| they are included in the defensive plans Of
| the seacoast, more especially for the opera
ton ana protection of torpedo lines"
The following suggestions offered by the
inspector, Maj Sanger, are concurred in by
Gen. Breckenridge:
, That an estimate be made for cleaning
and clearing up the forts to prevent further
deterioration. -
That sufficient expenditure be author.
| lied to put all guns and carriages which
are to be relied on in connection with the
| operation OF torpedo lines in a serviceable
| condition.
| That as soon as practicable the particular
| ordnance sergeants on duty at the forts
inspected be replaced by younger and more
active men.
That an effort be made to counterfeit the
| impression which prevails. even in the army
| that these forts are junk shops and their
| armament and stores obsolete.
| That an estimate be made for the repair
or construction of the necessary wharves
| and landing stages.
| That an estimate be made for barracks
| and quarters, and for the prepare ton of the
necessary sites outside forts occupying i'm
portant defensive points when outside sites
are available.
He suggests that the pri yilege of enlist
ing recruits who can not read or write be
discontinued.
The Indian ms n Soldier.
| In chapter on the Indian as a soldier,
, Gen. Breckenridge says: 1T is manifest
from the reported condition Of the several
Indian troops and companies that there are
various degrees Of aptitude and inclination
among our Indians depending apparently
on antecedent circumstances and influences
| and that their subordination and efficiency
| are largely dependent on the zeal and spe-
| cial qualifications of the white officers
placed over them. The reports received are
| in some instances so satisfactory that the
maintenance of Indian troops would appear
| to be beyond the experimental stage, while
| in respect to other organizations 1t is ap-
| parently an experiment no longer worthy
of trial. The main difficulties reported re-
! suit from marital relations, restlessness,
| vicious habits, and an objection to military
restraint applied to them. How far these
| difficulties can be modified or overcome ex-
| perience alone can answer There is no
question of the general aptitude Of Indians
| for military service or of their subordina-
| ton to leadership of their own liking.
| Whether they can be made to yield obedi-
ence to army officers and to adopt habits
| of sensual restraint when unsupported by
! the necessities of actual warfare, can only
be determined by further trial under the
most careful and judicious control.
| Morals of the Army.
| In closing his report, Gen. Breckenridge
refers to some complaints against the
army" and says: "a body composed of
| representatives of various churches. ap-
pointed for the purpose of studying and
promoting the moral and religious needs
of the regular army and navy, have rem
| dered a report during the year which has
| been adopted by at least one Christian body
| and perhaps others, in which some rather
| unkind and unjust charges are made
against the army Doubtless the unkind-
ness was unintentional and caused by a
| lack of correct information. To deny such
| charges among those who are acquainted
with the status and regulations of the army
| Is of course unnecessary; but as they are
in circulation on such high authority. it
| may be well to invite attention to sections
| 1123 and 1l26 Revised Statutes and army
| regulations 40. $50 and S97, and general or
ders No. so of 1889 and the column headed
| Enlisted men-temperance' in my last an
nual report compared with the report
of this commission.
| He quotes the report Of the commission
in full, charging all sorts of violations of
moral and religious ethics by the army, and
| says: IF the whole body of our chaplains
| agree with our regimental officers this can
| doubtless be corrected. Some effort to cor
rect this impression has been made. Though
no word of commentator is found in this
Christian commission report, still all know
| the army deserves well of the country, and,
may it not be sad of the church? In Its
| own way 1t does its very best And at this
| transition period there is a special call on
| all its officers to stand by it and do their
| utmost for its honor and even its disci-
pline and instruction; and yet there are
always many other important interests that
! constantly call them away. No matter
what are the difficulties. the main tenance
| of the army as a perfect and model mill
| tary force depends mainly on their exer-
| lions and devotion; and how true they are
! always to their duty is proved by the ad-
| mirabe military conduct and character 1t
| has displayed throughout all our history.
| The Vice President VIII Speak.
| Secretary Proctor of the New York lar