The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1894-12-04

Warm Endorsement Of Secretary La
mont's Request for More Enlisted Men,

Warm Endorsement Of Secretary La
mones Reqaes. for More Enlisted Men,
Prom the report OF the secretary of war IL sD-
pesrs that the strength Of the army on ssptem-
Der B.. 1894. 2 l35 officers ana "a enlisted
men. Although this Is apparently a very ighs
decrease co5a pared With the previous year, the
actual effective force has been increased 20 the
squlvsl eat OF nearly two regiments through the
reorganization Of the system of recruiting aud
the consequent release 20 r@gmental duty OF
large force Of men hitherto serving at the re-
eTu8ting dspots- The abolition OF these depSts
viii, IL 10 predicted, furthermore EFF ct al an
nuai reduction approxtsnctIng s1S9,o1 IN the
direct expenditures. beside promoting generally
the health, morals and disctpIine OF the troops.
coNcExrRArrss rHx rgooPs
The execution OF the policy of concentrating
the army ct i'm aortant centers OF population
and transportation. toreshsdeSsd In the last
aRuual report OF tire secretary. resulted ia the
absndoEn ent of fifteen OF the sma Ter posts,
which was effected under a plan whleh assou-
bied ORGANIZATIONS II the same regiments hith-
erto widely separated. This renders our small
force more readily effective for any service
which they insy be called upoa 70 perform. iu-
efeasss ths extent Of territory under protsctioa
without diminishing the security heretofore
afforded to many localities, AMI improves the
discipline, training and esprit du corps OF the
army besides considerably decreasing the cost Of
It's maintenance. Though the foEcss OF the de-
partment OF the East have been somewhat in
dressed, mora than three-fouFths OF the army is
stationed west OF the Mississippi. This csre-
full matuFed policy, which secured the best
aud greatest service Ia tire interest OF the gen.
sral welfare irom the small forces comprising
our regular army, should not be thoughtlessiy
embarrassed By the creation of new and nnnec-
essary poets through aets OF congress to crafty
the am oitons or interests OF localities
TIRE MED CT MORE xKS
While the maximum legal strength. through
various causes, is but like over 1000 men. thu
purpose Of congress does rot seem to be fully
attained by the existing conditions. While no
considerable increase ia the army Is, Ia my
judgment, demanded by recent events. tie
policy OF coast civilizations. 10 the pl osocu-
ton of which We have been steadily engaged Tor
some years, has go az developed y 10 suggest
that the effective strength OF the army be now
made az least equal 20 the legal strength. Meas
ures taken Dy the department during the year.
indicated, have already considerably aug.
msntcd the effective force, aud the secretary of
war presents a pan, which recommend 70 the
consideration of congress, TO attain the desired
end. Economics effected in the department in
other lines OF work Will offset to great extent
the expenditure inyolvsd in the propositions
submitted. Among Other things this cants m
plates the adoption of ths three-batt
ion formation o. regimeat, which .or
of war aud the generals commanding the army.
Compact IN Itself. u provides skeleton organ
ization Feaay 10 os flied out in the svent of war,
and which i peculiarly adapted TO our strength
snd requirements. aud the fact that eyery other
nation. vita single exception, has adopted
this formation to meet the conditions OF modern
warfare, should alone secure Tor the recon-
msadasion an early consideration.
SUPPRESSION OF THE srRIKs.
1t Il hardly necessary 20 recall the fact that In
obedience 10 the commands OF the constitution
and the laws, and fer the purpose of protecting
the property OF Ths United States. aidiug the
process OF the Federal courts aud removing law
less obstruenons 10 The performance by the gov
eminent OF az legitimate functions, IL became
necessary In various localities during the year
20 employ considerable portion OF the regular
troops The duty sas discharged promptly.
courageously and with marked discretion by tue
officers and men, and the most gratifying
prOof was thus afforded that the army deserves
that complete confidence in its efficiency and
discipline which ine country has at all times
manifested.
This year has bsen free frox disturbances Of
Indians, and the chances OF further depreda-
tons on their part srs becoming more remote
and i'm probable.
The total expenditure for tho war department
for The year ending June 50. 1894 amounted TO
Sa5,e59.eQ9SA OF this sum k2,e.o,si499 was for
salaries aad contingent expenses; tZaG55 l5e-i6
for the support OF military establishments:
S2.ool, 6S1gs for faiscsi Ianecus objects. ana
*@5Sil, tb1 e. for public works This Latter sum
Includes $40 4lf a87 81 Tor river ana hrrhor m
proponents, and s3,97i,S63a6 for fortideations
and otner works Of defense. The appropriations
Tor tue current year aggregated t52.419. Ia q,
and the estimates submitted by ths secretary OF
war Tor the hseal year call for appropriations
Amounting ga ta5,3ie cess.
The skin and industry OF cur ordnance officers
aad Inventors have. its believed, overcome the
mechanical obstacles which have heretofore &C.
isy2d the armament of cur coasts. This great
uationsi undertaking upon which we have en-
tered Dsy noW proceed - rspidiy a. cor gress
sHNlt determine VITA asUpHiy OF 2n3She1 NWEH
a. large csltber already on hand. to which Rdel-
uons should now rapidly fosioW, ire wisdom Of
providing carriage snd clnpiscement for their
mount eanaot be Zoo strongly urged.
THx MILITIA.
The tctal enroll maat OF the uaaifffs OF the sew
eFal states j. 83 ofheers sad enlisted aneu an
increase Of a3is ever the nun bar reported the
close u tac previous wear. The Tenorts of mill
"a fuspeettoCs ty regular srnay officers show
uiarked laeTasse in iatarest An8 ieney n tie
state o. Saa iEsticrs, aad strongly recommend
continuance OF tss policy ot rfariing every
practical encouragement possible 10 this In
pozsaai srxi iasY O. our military establish Erons
Iha condition ct TIE Apache Indians held 81
prisoners ov the gpgcca fnc1t for eight years 80
c9ss o g. 90 ass Seen changed during she
year from captivity to ere whfch gives tEsu an
Opportunity 70 demuustrgte tacir capacity Tor
selt -stisr ott. aud 1f feast partial civilization
Los &}st3aa enacted so enc latest session of cap-
sgess gave she war tepartn-a autaus4tY 10
trRHsser the sarv v1Ts. uvaa Der a. 9gs from
Mount NeTcon hssEseEs, lH A5sbsna to any
sattaais reservation. Ihe a~rzrttAenf Sc sctas.
81 tAa.r tat0Fe hcue tle mli starry lands rear
fgrs SiL ku4iau Kerr tory, wasre. utder mjEf-
tafT snFveiiiaucc tie tcgasex PRISONERS have
bcea css1h aee ia agriculture au4sr coaal.
t-oas iaFeTs q thelr asveacemeuL
Az HeNoKAsY RANK FOR scBoF1eLo.
In sceaEAislna % taa lnaz Sai distinguished
r1i4ttrT aeEvi.se &H1 fa4tasul disshsFge az deli
csta ant fessaafftls c}rI datfes n MAJ Get
tca1 H. @aaace4e. nov Eoalrsi commanding
t1s eEsaFs e - sus-esis B - congress t4sG ire
te-tF0-egy faNtFat ot tac Este - Eeutausnt
ge1crst ID his -s1ef wUnis b. fast and ga.
slous acS. 6a1 wausa pegai- AIS rssireEasat. aesv