Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-10-11
FOR A BIGGER ARMY
Gen. SChOfeld Says More Soldiers
Are Needed.
FONTS FROM HIS ANNUAL REPORT
The Lesson Taught by Recent
Public Disturbances.
THE SCATTERED TROOPS

Mai. Gen. Schofeld. commanding the
army, submitted report of military opera
tions during the past year to Secretary La
mont today, and it was given to the press
late this afternoon. The report details at
some length the operations of the troops in
connection with the sO-called industrial
armies and the disturbances at Chicago and
elsewhere. growing out of the railroad
troubles. Its most important recommenda-
tiOn. based on the experiences OF the past
year. Is for an increase of the army.
On this point Gen. Schofield says:
THE country is now. for the first time
s4Garely confronted with the necessity of
making adequate provision, not only for
defense against any possible foreign aggres-
sion, but also for defense against domestic
violence in the form of forcible resistance
to the laws of the United States. 1t there
fore becomes more than ever necessary to
calmly and dispassionately consider the
adequacy of means to that end. a just esti-
mate of these means requires consideration
of the vast extent of the United States
territory, and the great amount of prop
erty, widely dispersed throughout this ter
ritory, either belonging to the United States
or in such condition as to be under the pro-
lection 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 re-
quired. 1t is true that in the recent emer-
gency, by the most prompt and vigorous
action and the concentration OF troops from
various parts of the country, the duty re-
quired was promptly and effectively per-
formed
But the military resources were taxed
nearly to the extreme limit for this pur-
pose and in the event of such extension of
disorders for some time threatened
and made to appear more than probable.
IL was found by careful estimate that the
resources of the government would prove
inadequate to give the necessary protection
in all parts of the country; that vast
injury would have resulted to the public
interests throughout large part of the
United States before the resources of the
government could have been so augmented
rs 10 nave suppressed the insurrection.
A Great Disproportion.
TT is certainly manifest that the present
condition of the country. with a population
OF nearly 1O.OO0,ODO under the danger of
disorder now known TO exist, cannot be met
by the same force that was deemed ade-
quate twenty-five years ago, when the popu-
latiOn of TIE country was less than half its
present amount, and domestic violence was
not apprehendel. One man TO fourteen
Square miles of territory, or one man to
2,Su OF Population, Is surely very small
guard to protect property and prevent viola
tiOn Of law, leaving out of consideration the
force necessary to guard the extended sea-
coast against sudden attack by a foreign
enemy.
1t IS also worthy of remark that more
than CDce in the last summer an infuriated
mob iE a single city was twice as fOrmid-
able in numbers and capable of doing vast
ly greater injury to lie and property than
the most formidable con bination OF Indian
vaIrsJrs that ever confronted the army in
this country. In other words, the army
has recently been required TO deal with an
enemy far more numerous and dangerous
to the country han any savage enemy
which it has heretofore bCen called upon to
meet.
1t seems clear that the effective strength
OF the army should now be considerably
increased y ct. this can be done at a very
small comparative Increase in cost. The
present rgIuental ORGANIZATIONS need not
be largely increased TWO additional reSi-
meats Of artillery Tor the Necessary sea-
coast defense, twO additional regiments of
cavalry To patrol the long lines of rail-
ROAD under govtrnmtDt protection and the
present twenty-f regiments of infantry
converted into three iattalIOn organiza-
tons, NC uid, il is believed, be a Just con-
servat-se estimate Of what is now actually
neels-- For this the existing number Of
comm ssiOned officers is nearly sufficient"