The islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1891-1899, 1894-10-18
.SCHOFIELDON STRIKES
Treatment by the General
From a Military View.
THE COUNTRY'S REQUIREMENTS

THE COUNTRY'S REQUIREMENTS
| Conditions So Change That an Increase
i'm the Effective Strength of the Army
is Demanded Particular Reference
Made to the Debs Strike.
WASHINGTON, October 13.-Major-Gen
eral Schofield has made to the Secretary
of War his report on the operations OF
the army during the past year. General
Schofeld, who has been at the head OF
the army since the death of General
Sheridan, announced his retirement next
year. The report is principally devoted
to a discussion of the necessity for
strengthening the military arm of the
government to cope with internal dis
orders as well as possible danger from
without, particular reference being made
to the Debs strike. The report says:
"During large part of the year the
army has been employed in the suppress
sion of domestic violence which took the
form in many cases of forcible resist
ance to the execution of the laws of the
United States and the seizure or destruc-
ton of property under United States Of
ficers. These disorders, at first local in
character, spread at length to about one
half in number and two-thirds in area
of all the States and Territories exclud-
ing Alaska. So widespread and formida-
L no wiz
GUS action dictated by the President. At
the city of Chicago the resistance to law
assumed such formidable proportions
that it was necessary to concentrate at
that place nearly all the army forces
that could be made available from all
parts of the country, while on the Pacific
Coast the Navy Department placed at
the disposal of the department COM
mander the naval and marine forces at
the Mare Island navy yard, and these
forces rendered valuable services. The
responsible duties thus devolved upon
the Army Department commanders were
performed by them and the troops under
their command in the most satisfactory
manner The insurrection was prompt
ly suppressed without any unnecessary
sacrifice in any case. The prompt and
vigorous action of troops in all cases
and the great forbearance manifested by
them when subjected to all sorts of in
suits and indignities designed to pro-
woke retaliation were worthy of the
highest commentator. Itillustrated in
a most striking manner the great value
to a government of a well-disciplined
force at all times, subject to orders OF
that government for the enforcement of
the faithful execution of its laws.
cit would seem unnecessary to point
out the fact that any force like the mi
litia of State or the police of city,
acting primarily under another author
ity, though highly efficient in their ap-
propriate service, cannot be made re-
liable instrument for the prompt and
effective execution of the laws of the
United States. Manifestly every gov
eminent should have an adequate force
of its own for the execution of it's own
laws no less than the judicial executive
officers necessary for the same purpose.
"The country is now for the first time
squarely confronted with the necessity
of making adequate provision not only
for defense against any possible foreign
aggression, but also for defense against
domestic violence in the form of forcible
resistance to the laws of the United
States. A just estimate of those means
of defense requires consideration of the
vast extent of the United States and the
great amount of property widely dis
persed throughout this territory, either
belonging to the United States or in such
condition as to be under the protection
of the national government. When these
facts are duly considered it becomes
manifest that the present strength of the
army is not adequate to the performance
of the service which may at any time be
required. It is certainly manifest that
the present condition of the coontry,
with a population of nearly 10000, 900
and under the danger of disorder now
known to exist, cannot be met with the
same force that was deemed adequate
twenty-five years ago, when the pOpula-
ton of the country was less than half its
present number and destructive violence
was not apprehended. One man to four
teen square miles of territory or one
man to $500 population is surely very
small guard to protect property and pre-
vent violation of law, leaving out of con-
sideration the force necessary to guard
the extended seacoast against sudden at
tack by foreign enemy. It is also
worthy of remark that more than once
in the last summer an Infatuated mob in
single city was twice as formidable in
number and capacity of doing vastly
greater injury to life and property than
the most formidable combination of In
dian warriors that ever confronted the
army in this country. In few words,
the army has been recently required to
deal with an army far more numerous
and dangerous to the country than any
savage enemy which it has hitherto been
called upon to meet"