The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1894-12-19
CONDITION OF THE ARMY.
ANNUAL REPORT OF, THE SEC
RETARY OF WAR.

Estimates and Suggestions-Batta
lon Formation Urged - More
Troops Are Needed - Coast De-
fences - Better Recruits and
Fewer Desertions.
Secretary Of War Lamont, in his annual
report, says that the total number Of en-
listed men in the service on October 81 was
25,51s. OF this number 2s,775 were dis
tributed as follows among the various de-
partments California. 1895; Colorado, 81
22S; Columbia. 1905; DAKOTA, $3.50; East,
6626 Missouri, '3754; Platte, 2106; Texas,
1885. ! iss@iRs! '4JiF
The expenditures for the fiscal year were
csc, 6,039, ,009.34; appropriations for fiscal
year ending in 1895. $52, ,429, ,112. .7S; esti-
mates for that year, $50, ,318, ,62s. So
The Secretary earnestly recommends legis-
lstion to establish the three-battalion forma-
tion now adopted by the armies OF every
other civilized Nation. To effect that change
he recommends return to the law Of
1870. fixing at $4,000 the limit -of the
army. By the changes proposed the
army will be increased twenty per
cent. in efficiency. It Is proposed to add two
companies to each Of the twenty-five infan-
try regiments and two batteries to each OF
the five artillery regiments. No increase in
cavalry Is proposed.
The cost Of the increased number of en-
listed men would be- 81 200. .00e annually,
but as retrenchment has reduced admins
trative expenses Of the War Department
&5e0,000. efficient organization and greater
strength may be obtained at an increase OF
only e70o, 900. &
II Is proposed to meet the necessary In
crease In llne officers by reductions In the
staff, and to this end consolidation Of the
Quartermaster's Pay and Subsistence De-
partments into the Bureau Of Supply Is rec
commended. -. ~ 4f q .l,-tE. s.5.J
The concentration Of troops during the
past year at important centers has been ef-
fected without lessening necessary protec-
ton heretofore afforded to- any part Of the
country. ~ g$ III ~ nv y
The three recruiting depots have been
abolished, adding 1900 men to the effective
strength and reducing expenditures about
cruit1ng, which involves little or nc
expense nnd brings recruits imme-
distely Into the commands with which they
are to serve, will be extended. The char
acter Of recruits Is improved, and last year
only 7517 out Of 1851 applicants were ac-
cepted. All recruits must now write the
English language and must be cltizsns OF
the United States or must have declared
their Intentions. OF 2701 men discharged
by expiration Of service 2079 re-enlisted
Desertions show large decrease.
Seven regiments have been armed with the
new magazine rifle, and by May I, 1895, the
the new arm. The manufacture Of modern
| field and siege artillery has been continued.
Sea coast defence may now be prosecuted
as rapidly as Congress makes appropria-
| tions. The total cost OF finishing the arma-
ment OF our twenty-eight chief seaports,
OF which the first fourteen are
| Portland. Me-. Boston, NarraRansett
Bay, New York, Philadelphia, Wash
| ington, Baltimore, Hampton Roads, VIII
mington, Charleston, Savannah, Key West,
| Mobile and San Francisco, Is estimated,
to be $20,639.9S7 for guns. S9,s01, 100
for mortars. $12, SOC, 900 for gun carriages
and $685., 900 for mortar carriages, q
total. including contract work, of
| s50.277,248. Annual appropriations of
"a, 1850, 900 will be required for armament
during the next twelve years, which will
build and mount 683 high power guns and
8M high power mortars. By the end OF De-
cember we shall have seyenty-seven high
power guns awaiting carriages. One
twelve-inch gun is mounted at Sandy HOOK,
and another will soon be, and three OF
| this calibre are to be mounted during
the year at San Francisco. One battery OF
sixteen mortars, commanding the southern
| entrance to New York Harbor, Is nearly COM
pleted, and by July second battery COM
Manding the eastern entrance. and like the
batteries at Boston and San Francisco, Will
be mounted.
| Such progress has been made In sea coast
defence that board OF artillery officers has
been appointed to develop q system to
direct the fire ofEthe Qualifications at the
Narrows. New York, against hostile feet.
More liberal provisions Of law for arming
and equipping the National Guard arerecom-
mended. The militia numbers 117,5SS off,
GERS and men, an increase Of about 5000
since last year. The artillery arm, main
tanned by thirty-three States, numbers 5922 J.
the cavalry arm, maintained by twenty-six
| States, 5069. r. ,33,8 &
Secretary Lamont refers briefly to the use
| of troops to execute the orders Of the United
States courts last summer, and to the
thorough efficiency Of every branch Of the
service then demonstrated.
Secretary Lamont recommends that q
statue Of General Grant be erected at Wash
ington, between the Capitol and the Con-
gressional Library. IA
| The construction Of g memorial bridge
over the Potomace, as nm approach to the
National Cemetery at Arlington to connect
Washington and Fort Myer, Is again recon-
mended. y ~ tr,4Ea -