The Yellowstone journal., 1894-12-05
WAR DEPARTMENT.
No Present Neoessity For Increasing the
Army-Coast Fortificztions.

No Present Neoessity For Increasing the
Army-Coast Fortifications.
From the report Of the secretary Of war
II appears that the strength Of the army
on Sept. 30. 1894, was 2,l35 officers and
%, '65 enlisted men.
Although this Is apparently q very slight
decrease compared with the previous year
the actual effective force has been in
creased TO the equivalent of nearly two
regiments through the reorganization of
the system Of recruiting, and the conse-
quent release to regimental duty of the
large force Of men hitherto serving at the
recruiting depots The abolition of these
depots, it l. predicted, will Furthermore
e!iee. an annual reduction approximating
s2io,OtG ia direct expenditures, besides
prcniosiDg generally the health, morals
AID discipline Of the troops.
Small Ioris Abandoned.
The execution Of the policy Of concen-
traiing the army nj important centers of
pop. p..la i0h aud transportation, fore shad-
owed ia Tie last annual report of ale SEC
retary, has resulted in the abandonment
OF 10 of the smaller posts, which was ef-
fected under plan which assemblies or
ganization of the same regiments hitherto
widely separated This renders our small
forces more readily effective for any serv.
ice which they be called upon to perform,
increases the extent of the territory under
protection without diminishing the secur-
ity heretofore afforded to any locality, in
proves the discipline. training and esprit
de corps OF the army. besides considerably
decreasing the cost Of its maintenance.
Though the forces of the department of
the East have been somewhat increased,
more than three-four,hs of the army is
still stationed west Of the Mississippi.
While the maximum legal strength of
the army Is 5000 men, the effective
strength. for various causes, Is but little
over 2O.OOO men. The purpose of congress
does not, therefore, seem to be fully at
tained by the existing condition. While
no considerable increase in the army is, in
my Judgment. demanded by recent events,
the policy OF sea coast fortification, in the t,
prosecution of which we have steadily en-
gagged for some years, has so far devel- |
oped as TO suggest that the effective
strength of the army be now made at
least equal to the legal strength. Measures /
taken by the department during the year,
rs indicated, have already considerably |
augmented the effective force, and the |
Of war presents plan which l |
to the consideration of con- |
yress TO attain the desired end
Three Batt~lisa Form.siou.
Economies effected in the department in |
,ther lines of its work will offset to a
great extent the expenditure involved in
he proposition submitted. Among other
.hings this contemplates the adoption of |
he three battalion formation of regiments
which for several years has been indorsed |
)y the secretaries of war and the generals
the army.
An AiIusion to Int~riov Disturbasesa.
IL is hardly necessaryeto recall the fact
hat IN obedience to the commands OF the
and the laws, and for the
,uIpose OF protecting properly Of the
Jni,ed States, aiding the process of tine
ederal courts, and removing lavless OBJ
truciions to the performance by the gov
inment of It's legitimate functions, il he
anne necessary in various locali les dur
NJ the present year to employ consider
be por.ion of the regular troops. The
uty WAS discharged promptly, CO lrage-
usly, and with marked discretion by the
Ulcers and men, and the most gratifying
roof was thus afforded that the army de
erves that complete confidence In it's elii-
iency aud discipline which the country
as At all times manifested
The year has been free from disturb
noes by Indians and the chances OF far
her depredallons ON their par are con-
lantly becoming more remote and i'm
roLable.
Coass Ar0amrus.
The skill and industry Of our ordnance
Ulcers and inventors have, IL In believed.
vercome the mechanical obstacles which
ave heretofore delayed the armament Of
" coasts. and this grent national under