The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1894-12-08
UNCLE SANS A. RMY.
Dan Lamont Presents His Report
as Secre tary of War.


as Secretary of War.
The Necessity Of Battalion Formation,
Without Which We Could Not Cope
with Foreign Armies, Urged
Concentration of Troops.
WASHINGTON. Dec. 1.--Secretary Of War
Daniel S. Lamont in submitting his annual re-
port to the president gives the expenditures
OF his department for the fiscal year ending
June 30 1894, at S56,O39 0Os.34. The appr opria-
lions for the fiscal year OF 1895 So 40 ll27a
The estimates for the fiscal year ending June
3d. 1896, are a52, 31s. $685..
Indian Warfare Ended.
The reports Of the officers IN command OF
the several geographical departments corrobo-
rate the opinion. expressed In the last annual
report that Indian warfare is virtually at an
end in the United States, and that beyond oc-
casional calls for police duty in the neighbour
hood of Indian reservations. the army will
henceforth be relieved to greater degree
each year of the labor OF armed surveillance
over the tribes OF the west.
There have been no serious attractions o.
the neutrality laws on the Mexican frontier
during the year, but the presence of regular
force there for some time to cOmeis clearly
prescribed by the conditions of civilization in
that region
During the Strikes.
It was found necessary during the period be
ginning with March and extending through
July OF the current year. In various sections OF
the country to employ considerable part OF
the army to execute the orders OF the United
States courts otherwise successfully defed
and resisted, to protect the dispatch OF the
United States mails to remove restraints to
travel and commerce. and to guard the proper
ty Of the government. The movement OF
troops thus necessitated was the largest which
has taken place since the close OF the civil war
The difficult and extraordinary tasks I'm
posed upon the officers and men Of the army
were discharged promptly, firmly and judic-
iously. in manner which attested to the cour-
age. intelligence and loyalty OF those called
into active duty and the thorough efficiency OF
every branch of the service. The militia OF
the states wherever employed also proved gen.
orally to be composed Of qualified and reliable
soldiers.
Strength OF tho Army.
The number OF enlisted men in service on
October 81 was $3.50 Deducting the sick,
those in confinement. recruits not yet joined,
those absent on furlough, and others employed
In staff departments or on detached service,
the effective field strength on the same date
was ~, lii Of all arms.
Battalion formation. al
The report says: II earnestly recommend
that congress enact the legislation necessary
to establish in the army the battalion forma-
ton now adopted by the armies of every other
civilized nation. AS necessary to effect that
change recommend the removal of the limit
of Is 900 men fixed by the act of June 1e, 1874,
and return to the limit fixed by the act OF
July IS, 1870. Legislative approval Of these
two propositions will restore to the effective
force about 1000 enlisted men. bringing tho
actual strength OF the army up to the nominal
strength now fixed by law. BY these changes
the army will be increased in efficiency 20 per
cent, in numbers about l6A per cent. and In
cost OF maintenance only about per cent.
Concentration of Troops.
The policy OF concentrating the troops and
abandoning unnecessary posts has been pros
ecuted throughout the year Where prao-
ticable small garrisons remote from railroads,
whose further retention has become unnecces-
sary By change OF conditions, have been con-
solidated with garrisons at more important
centers, thus reducing the cost of maintenance
and transportation and utilizing improved IA
oilities for the prompt dispatch Of troops to
any point where their services may be re-"
quired. The changes have in no instances
lessened the protection afforded by the army
to any region in which garrison has hereto
fore been stationed, but have considerably
augmented the extent OF territory over which
that protection can promptly and effectively be
afforded.
Distribution of the Army.
ALL the foot artillery is serving near the sea-
coast fortihcations Ole-half Of the field ar
tfllery more than two-thtrds of the infantry,
and nine-tenths Of the cavalry are still re-
tanned at posts west of the Mississippi river,
while eight regiments Of cavalry are In garr1-
sons within or near the great mountain and
plain region lying between the one hundredth
and the one hundredth and fifteenth merid-
ians It is to the sparsely settled portions OF
this pastoral and sterile belt that the Indians
would resort In the event Of their breaking
away from their reservations.
The Militia.
Army officers on duty with the national
guard OF the states, of whom twenty seven
were regularly assigned to state headquarters,
concur in reporting steady Improvement In the
training and efficiency Of the militia The
fact that state camps Of instruction. In which
forty additional army officers participated.
were held by thirty-three states is proof that
state military Establishments are on better
footing now than ever before in time CT peace.
In several instances army detachments took
part in state camps, and the profit to
the army In acquaintance with the soldierly
qualities Of the militia and to the militia In
observation Of the attention of the regulars to
details, which Is necessary to the perfect SOL
der, is both q present benefit and an invest
meut for the future rom Wn1cn We SQOul0
reap returns in any emergency calling for the
cooperation of the two forces. The strength
of the militia shows al increase CT about 5000
since last year, the latest returns showing
total organized force Of 1883 officers and en-
listed men. The artillery arm. maintained by
thirty three states. has an enrolment of 5,922
officers aud men: the cavalry arm, maintained
by twenty-six states. OF 5000.
Other Topics.
Among other topics touched upon III the re-
port are the following: Small arms and equip
ments, field and siege guns, sea coast defenses.
arsenals and armorles, powders ana projectiles.
dynamite guns, education OF the army, mill
tary academy at West Point, national soldiers
home, military prisons, Apache prisoners OF
war, rivers and harbors, preservation OF battle
fields, military reservations. monuments to
Gems Logan, Sheridan. Hancock and Sher
man, pension Office, national cemeteries and
war records.
constitutional Changes in Michigan.
LANSING, Mich, Dec. 5.-The official
canvas will not be made until next
week, but the returns show the con-
stitutional amendment permitting in
mates of soldiers homes to vote in the
township in which the home is situ-
ated was carried by nearly 100, 900 ma