St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1893-12-05

civilization constantly tending to re-
lieve the country from the danger of
Indian bOstilities. together with the in
creasing ability of the states through
the efficiency of the national guard
organization to protect their citizens
from domestic violence. lead to the sug-
gcstion that the time is fast approach
ing when there should be reorganization
OF our army III the lines of the present
necessities OF the country. This change
contempiates neither increase in num-
Der nor added expense, but a rediStribu-
ton OF the force II all encouragement
OF measures tending TO greater efficiency
among the men and improvement of
the service.
The adoption of battalion formation
for InfaDtry regiments, the strengthen
ing of the artillery force. the abandon
ment of smaller and unnecessary posts.
and the massing of troops at important
n accessible stations all promise to
promote the usefulness of the army. In
the Judgment of army officers, with but
few exceptions, the operation of the law
forbidding the re-enliStment of men
after ten years service has not proved
its wisdom, and. while the arguments
that led to its adoption were not with
ont merit. the experience of the year
ihO I " JUL lu Ill
alton for its appeal.
1t is gratifying to note that we have
begun to attain complete results in the
comprehensive scheme of seacoast
defenses and fortitcation entered upon
eight years ago. A large sum has been
expended. but the cost of maintenance
VIII be inconSiderable as compared with
the expense of construction and ord
nance. and at the end Of the current
calendar year the war department will
have nine 12-incb guns. twenty 10-inch
and thirty-four s,inch guns ready to be
mounted on gun lifts and carriages, and
seventy-ive 12-inch mortars. In
addition to the product of the
army gun factory, now completed
at Watervliet, the government
has contracted with private parties for
the purchase of 100 guns of these cali
bers, the first of which should be de-
livered to the department for test before
July 1, 1894. The manufacture of heavy
ordnance keeps pace with current
needs, but to render these guns avaiia-
bic for the purposes they are designed
to meet: emplacementS must be pre-
pared for them. Progress has been made
in this direction, and it is desirable that
congress, by adequate appropriations,
should provide for the uninterrupted
prosecution of this necessary work.
After much preliminary work and eX-
hauStive examination in accordance
with requirements of law the board APP
pointed to select a magazine rifle of
modern type, with which to replace the
obsolete Springfield rife of the in
fantry service, completed its labors dur
ing the last year. and the work of manu-
facture is now in progress at the ma
tional armory at Springfield. 1t is con-
l hHnnfIu nvanafnd fhof hy Tho and Of fhO
current year our infantry will be sup
piled with a weapon equal to that of
the most progressive armies Of the
world.
The work or the projected Chicka-
manga and Chattanooga national mil
ltary park has been prosecuted with
zeal and Judgment, and the opening
will be celebrated during the coming
year.
Over nine square miles of the Chick
amauga battlefield have been acquired,
twenty-five miles of roadway have been
constructed and permanent tablets have
been placed at many historical points,
while the invitation to the states to
mark the positions of their troops par
%ticipatlng in the battle has been very
generally accepted. The work of locat-
ing and preserving the lines of battle at
the Gettysburg battlefield is making
satisfactory progress on the plans di-
rected by the last congress-. The re-
ports of the military academy at West
Point, and the several schools for spe-
cial instruction of officers, show
marked advance in education of the
army and a commendable ambition
among its officers to excel in the mill
tary profession, and to fit themselves
for the highest service to the country.
Under the supervision of Adjt. Gen,
Robert Williams. lately retired, the
bureau of military information has be-
come we'll established, and is perform
ing a service that will put in possession
OIL the government in time of war most
valuable information, and at all times
serve a purpose of great utility i'll keep
ing the arIny advised of the worlds
progress in all matters pertaining to the
| art of war,