The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1893-10-25
UNCLE SANS SOLDIERS.
They Have Been Chasing Boomers In
stead of Indians This Year.

washington, OcCODef l4.-IulS morn
ing General Schofield, General Miles and
General Merritt have made their annual
report upon the United States army, it's
duties and prospects, its craftsmanship,
drill, discipline and weapons. The year
which is reviewed in the annual reports
of the commanding general of the army,
the department commanders and the va
rious staff corps officers, has been one of
exceptional tranquility for the military
establishment
The Indians nearly everywhere have
been quiet, and the contrast between the
anxiety and trouble they formerly gave
the troops and their present attitude as
a whole is gratifying. There has been
no recurrence of the Messiah delusion,
which once threatened SO much trouble
among the Sioux and other Indians.
There was brief excitement in Black
Horses band of Navajos, but it was east
ly disposed of, as was the trouble among
the Choctaws.
One task of considerable difficulty i'm
posed on the troops was that of expell-
ing the squatters from the Cherokee
outlet and keeping it clear, SO as to give
all the settlers an equal chance in the
race for new homes.
But the chief feature Of the campaign
ing has been along the Rio Grande, in
preventing and Furnishing violations of
the neutrality law by armed bodies wish
ing to cross into Mexico. The task was
hard one, as the fordable portion of the
river boundary is so long, and the dense
chapparal offers such means of conceal
ment: but our troops were REINFORCED,
81 1a, HI 20 l,n
and the duty was creditably performed,
the invading bodies being broken UP and
dispersed.
In what condition is our little army to-
day?
Gen. Schofield says that it's standard of
discipline is. satisfactory, and his views
are corroborated by those of other officers.
Gen. Miles, for example, fiBds a good
state of discipline and faithful service on
the part of the troops, and good judg-
ment and discretion among the officers,
as shown by the task of keeping peace
between the hostile factions of the semi
civilized tribesssand in removing tress-
passers from the public lands.
Those troops also that attended the
dedication ceremonies of the World rs Fair
presented, he says, a fine appearance,
were well equipped and marched and
manoeuvreu with commendable skill and
accuracy.
Gen. Merritt says that the discipline of
the troops is excellent, and that the
capacity and disposition of the officers
were never better. Others could be
quoted to the same effect.
I Gen. Schofield also notes that the stand
ard of craftsmanship in the army, both
with artillery and small arms, was
probably never SO high as now.
For Coast Defences.
Washington, October 24.-Nearly three
millions for the coast defences. That is
the amount that General Casey, the army
chief of engineers, will ask OF Congress.
His annual report has just been complet-
ed and is in the hands of the printer.
Evidently, says the report, the element
of time cannot be disregarded in the
construction of Notifications. Funds
hitherto appropriated have been allotted
to the construction of emplacements at
Portland, Washington, Hampton Roads
and San Francisco. The government is
experiencing great difficulty in securing
land for the Notifications. Most of it
has been secured by condemnation, and
several sites have not yet been taken
possession of because of the excessive
prices applied to the property by owners.
1t is said that 100 acres of land must
yet be acquired at different localities on
the coast. Much of the land continues
to increase in value from year to year,
and it is to the interest of the govern
ment that it should be acquired at an
early date. Land has been selected and
will be acquired as soon us possible at
Growers Cliff, Massachusetts,, and at
CuShinp'S Island Portland barhor Naive