Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1893-11-30
WAR DEPARTMENT.
SECRETARY LAMoNT'S REPORT AND
RECOMMENDATIONS.
Upon MainIy-Thc Militia
of the States.


The annual report of the Secretary OF
War gives the usual review OF the condi-
ton and operations OF the army. and In
addition is devoted especially to- the pro-
gress Of work on the sea-coast defences.
Secretary Lamont reports that 1t may
be assumed that Indian warfare Is prac-
tically at an end In the United States;
that the demands for the employment OF
the army TO preserve order within the
States must become infrequent, as the
State authorities. on which that obligation
properly rests, demonstrate their complete
ability to discharge IT, and that In conse-
quence the gradual copcentration OF the
army on the sea-cosst and the frontiers
Is prescribed by the conditions OF the
time. Any considerable increase In the
numbers OF the army would not be met
with popular favor, and Is not suggested
by any contingency, immediate or remote,
but the work OF fertilization at thirteen
OF our large seaports. already begun or
projected fon the near future, renders the
conversion OF q portion of the infantry
into artillery a manifest necessity of the
period directly ahead Of US.
The total strength of the army on Sep
tember 30, 1888, was 2,lA officers and 25,77S
III.
charge, purchase desertion, &c.-the army
lost s,45s enlisted men during the year
and gained 9.074 recruits. The new quar-
ters, barracks, and buildings at army
posts compare favorably with military
structures abroad. The discipline. health,
and general condition of the army are
reported good
RECOMMENDATIONS.
The Secretary OF War recommends
strongly the repeal of the law fixing
ten years as the maximum
period of enlistment, and favors
reduction of the period of first
enlistment to three years instead of five.
The prosecution of the experiment of en-
listing Indian companies will be contin-
ued only on the present small scale until
its success or failure has been proven.
The three battalion organization for In
fantry regiments is recommended. The
adoption of the new magazine rifles Is
considered the most important step taken
for the infantry since the civil war. n
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 reserve supply for the
army sufficient for the organized militia
is recommended. The issue OF the new
80 steel feld-guns to the militia, and In
limited numbers TO colleges and schools
which manifest special interest In mill
tary instruction Is suggested.
One third OF the re- ,ort is devoted to
the progress of the last eight years IN
the manufacture of heavy ordnance and
In sea-coast defence under the project or
the Endcott board OF 1885. The progress
already made warrants the belief that
within the time specified, thirteen years
from the first appropriations, the essen
tlal features of the plan can be carried
out. The mounting OF the first Pinch
gun, with its lift, in its emplacement at
Sandy Hook. Is evidence of remarkable
progress during these eight years, signi-
flying the ability Of our manufacturers
TO produce heavy forgings for hlgh-power
guns. The cost OF the battery at Sandy
Hook is s52il2l. BY January |, 1894, there
will be ready for mounting nine 12-inch
guns, twenty 1O-inch guns, thirty-four
s-inch guns, and seventy-1ve Pinch NOR
tars The engineer corps Is preparing at
Portland. Me, Boston, New York. Wash
ington, Hampton Roads. and San Fran
cisco, emplacement I'm all for four Finch
guns, twenty 10-inch guns, five S-inch
guns. and sixty-four Pinch mortars; also.
twentv-four easements for submarine
torpedo operation. Work on the coast
defences of Narragansett Bay and at
Charleston. In Tybee roads. and the Sa-
vannah river, and at Pensacola. will be
begun during the year. Work will be
progressing next year at thirteen of the
twenty-eight ports proposed for fortifi-
cation by the EndicOtt board.
To keep pace with the manufacture or
guns, Secretary Lamont recommends am
pie appropriations for emplacements and
batteries, and for the purchase of sites
for Notifications, all in accordance with
the Endicott scheme.
EDUCATION.
The report pays much attention to the
education of officers and men of the army
and the instruction of the militia and
students I'm military schools holding that
the short duration of recent wars demon
strates the important part Of the exact
sciences in modern warfare, and that pro-
gress in the War Department must be
along the lines of a national university
OF military science as well as along those
OF coast defence.
An increase in the number OF cadets at
the West Point Military Academy, to
meet the demands of higher and more
general military instruction, Is suggested
for an early day in the future.
Growing interest In military instruction
at colleges and schools Is reported. In
lS90-'gl 1895 students were reported under
instruction by army officers at these in
stitutions. In 1892 the number was 1880,
a gain of 42 per cent. The Secretary or
War re 'ommends that military instruc-
ton by army officers be extended to the
high schools of the large cities.
The later return reports an organized
militia of l12,597 in the States, OF which,
in round numbers, 60,OO0 are in the artil-
lery arm, maintained by thirty-four
States, and 5000 in the cavalry. main
tanned by twenty-four States. Requests
for the cooperation and assistance or
the Federal Government In the equipment
and instruction OF the militia are greater
than ever In times of peace, and are the
index OF an intelligent interest in the
nations military growth and progress.
RIVERS AND HARBORS.
The Improvement of the harbors and
internal waterways of the country. a
work OF immense consequence TO our COM
merce and OF general benefit to the peo-
pie has made excellent progress under
the support OF the liberal appropriations
voted Tor tnat purpose. Inc tnici VI
Engineers estimates that in the contin-
uance of these works, in accordance with
existing projects. as adopted by Congress,
the sum of s3S,770.si1 can be expended dur
ing the next fiscal year. This estimate
has Eeen transmitted to the Secretary OF
the Treasury. as requireu by law, but 1t
Is not the judgment of the department
that public necessities demand the expen-
diture of such an amount at this time.
The average annual amount actually ex-
pended for such work during the last
ten years has been about H0,0O0Vo. and
II is believed that this can well be re-
duced for the present year, IL judiciously
allotted. to S,50G.OO0. the sum In the de-
partment estimates.
The expenditures for the fiscal year
ended June 30. 1893. under the War De-
partment aggregated s5i.9s6074 including
s20.5lss3l for public works. mainly river
and harbor improvements. The appropri-
ations for the current fiscal year aggre-
gated AS023.525 including s17,20l.165 for
public works. mainly river and harbor
improvements.
The Secretary submits estimates for
f.. I'm