The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1893-11-30
THE WAR OFFICE REPORT.
COZ LANNON'S RETIEw OF THE OP-
ERA TIONs or ms DEPARTMENT.

| Armed with the New MnEnzine Hinr.
WASHINGTON. Nov. 2o.-secretary OF War La
mont in his annual report says 1t may be as
sumed that Indian warfare Is practically at an
end in the United Statcs that demands for the
employment OF the army to preserve order with
In the States must become infrequent as state
authority. on which that obligation properly
rests. demonstrates it's complete ability to dis
charge IT, and that. in consequence. the grad
ual concentration OF the army on the seacoast
and the frontiers is prescribed by the condi-
tions OF the time. Any considerable In
crease in the numbers Of the army would
not meet with popular favor and Is not
suggested by any contingency Immediate or
remote; but tho work OF fertilization at thir-
teen Of our large seaports. already being used
or projected for the near future renders the
conversion Of a portion OF the infantry to the
artillery arm a manifest necessity Of the period
! directly ahead OF US.
| The total strength Of the army on Sept. 30.
| 1893 was .. | "a officers and 25.77S enlisted
men. For various causes discharge. pur-
! chase. desertion. Sc.-the army lost D.45O en-
listed men during the year and gained 0.074
| recruits. The discipline. health. and general
| condition Of the army are reported good
| The Secretary recommends strongly the re-
peal OF the law fixing ten years as the maxi
mum period OF enlistment. and favors a reduce
tion OF the period OF first enlistment to three
years instead Of FIVE. The prosecution OF the
experiment OF enlisting Indian companies will
be continued only on the present small scale
until its success or failure has been proved.
The liberalization organization for infantry
regiments is recommended.
1 he adoption OF tho new magazine rifle Is
the most important step taken for the infantry
since tho 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 arm before the close OF
the coming year. The gradual manufacture
Of a reserve supply OF the arm. sufficient for
the organized militia. Is recommended. The
issue OF the new 81 steel field guns to tho
and schools which man ifesta special interest
in militia instruction. is SUGGESTED
progress Of the last eight years In the manu-
ihcture OF heavy ordnance and in seacoast
as4cS pPas 'he o. ire mSS
warrants tho belief that within the time sprci
fed. thirteen years from the first arpr9rria-
ready for mounting nine l2.inch guns, twenty
elineer Corps is - preparing at Portland,
Hampton loads. and San Francisco en-:
placements In all for four l3,inch guns;
sixty-iour l2.inch mortars. ais? twenty, four
casemates for submarine torpedo operations.
Bay. Char lies 1 TyGsc Hoad.. and The SavSn
nah River and Pensacola will be- begun during
the year. work will 30 progressing next year
annual output Of the Watervlet gun. factory is
Twelve s-ndR guns. The first Of the To- large
guns contracted for with the bethlehem Iron
the 'Ts %s1 SSas SP 'pGs
recommends amp,e appropriations Tor om-
OF sites for Notifications. all accordance
with the scheme adopted In lSSS The ex.
ending June 20, iSsf3 were 81 i,i3. o"4 ."' year
The invention and man ufacture Of American |
brown and smokeless powders for heavy ord
nance and Tor the magazine rifle have made |
slow progress. and the Secretary urges manu-
facturers, to solve this problem for their own
The report pays much attention to the edu-
cation Of officers and men Of the army and |
schools. holding that the short duration Of !
recent wars demonstrates the important part ,
that progress in the war department must he
along the lines Of national university OF
military science as we'll as along those Of
cadets Mt the West Point Military Academy to
meet the demands OF higher and more general .
military instruction. is suggested for an early 1
day in the future.
The latest returns report AZ organized mill,
numbers. 5000 are in the artillery arm, main
tanned 10y thrty-four States and 5000 In the
cavalry. maintained 10y twenty-four States.
EeIueSts for the co 'peraton and assistance Of
the Fcderai Government in che equipment and
destruction Of the militia are greater than ever
in times OF peace. and are the index OF an in
telligent interest In the nations military
growth and proGress
nal water ways of the country. work OF inn
m"nse conSeGuence to our commercial and
lent progress under the literal appropriations
voted Tor that purpose. The chief Of engineers
works Ia accordance with the existing PRO ects
as adopted iy Congress the sum Of S3S, no.
Bll can be expended during tho next fiscal
year. This estimate has been trans tted to the
Secretary OF the Treasury as required by law.
but 1t snot the Judgment Of the Department
that public necessities demand the eXpendi-
ture OF such an amount at this time. The
average annual amount actually expended for
about slu.UOO,OOO, and 1t Is believed that this
can we'll be Trdnced for the present year. II
liked in The department estimates.
Tho secretary rec0mmends the erection Of a
mem rial bridge from Washington to Potomac
Heights. 10th Tor commercial and military
purposes and especially MS suitable approach
to the Na H,., "a Cemetery at Arlington TIE
States on he field of Gettyshurg. in addition
TO considerable sums contributed by private
vision for the permanent maintenance OF the
field and its monuments. IT has been suggested
with its control Tho greater part OF the work
Df establishing the ChickamAuga and Chatta-
pleteh. and the states are beginning to erect
on the field 10 their troops.
l lie Work oi tue kacOrd Enl Tension llflHe in !
he com pi alton and arrangement ~ the Zee
1rds Of the service has SO far advanced that
he Secretary reports that reduction Of S3I5.-
100 can he made in the cost of it's maintenance
Turing the coming year II is recommended |
hat Congress take appropriate action for tho
'slrt Of tn" sufferers Ia the accident at the old
Furd's Theatre building.
The expenditures for fiscal year ending June |
20, lS9 were:
,'arIs an ,ontin gent expenses Sllp2.5SI gS
" tATE rstabas IA. nj ..-..--- ..... @JS,IS IS
Public sores including river aud hATbor
uIps'N emrUts ,....,,.. ...,.-.. 20 Sls HII Al
hscr Iahtuus OBJECTS ..r,,..-..t.t..... hUlIO33 ~
Total So 500 O74 50
d, Appropriations for fiscal year ending June
hIarts And contingent expenses. - O45 1914 90
Ag r.,...,.. ... 80. ~, b63 $50 "a
fG1.c .urEs. including river and haF6oT ,
~ IMPROVEMENTS '...,..,...,..... II 2OI. IB6 80
SSe"aAeous oDlects .,....,.,.,.,,.,,. AZlS.lsj ~
Total .S1s o235 2B 10
!, ne estimates for fiscal year ending June 30,
salaries ana contingent sxpsnss1 .. 81 GpT OLE on
y @ sstAu ....... Is. OasJ5 40
improvements 49, 49, '-'3' ~ aaa q,- az | t,