River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1894-12-06
THE ARMY.
secretary Lamont Recommends the Bat
fpIinn EnrInafl 1,r,-

talon Formation
WASHINGTON. Dec. 8-Secretary OF War
Daniel ;. Lamont IN submitting his annual re-
port 10 the president gives the expenditures
OF his department for the fiscal year ending
June so, 1894. at S56, 039 .00g 81 The appropria-
tons for the fiscal year of 1895 are So 40 ll2 Is
The estimates for the fiscal year ending June
30, 1896, are s52.sis6-a55
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 be ,ond Oc-
casional calls for police duty in the neiehbor-
hood Of Indian reservations. the arns will
henceforth be relieved to a greater degree
each year Of the labor OF armed surveillance
over the tribes Of TIE west
There have heen no serious infractions OF
the neutrality laws on the Mexicl frontier
during the year, but the presence Of a regular
force there for some time to come is clearly
prescrit ed by the conditions Of civilization in
that region
1t 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 defied
and resisted, = 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 number OF enlisted men in service on
October 81 was 255l6. Deducting the sick.
those in confinement, recruits not yet joined.
those absent on furlough, and others employed
in stan departments or on detached service,
the effective field strength on the same date
was % ia Of all arms
The report says: II earnestly recommend
that congress enact the legislation necessary
to est iblish in the army the battalion forma-
tion. now adopted by the armies of every other
civilized nation. As necessary to effect that
change recommend the removal OF the limit
OF $1,000 men fixed by the act of June Is, 1874,
and a 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 the
actual strength of the army up 10 the nominal
strength now fixed by law. BY these changes
the army will be increased in efficiency 20 per
cent. In numbers about 1914 per cent and in
cost OF mainter nee only about per cent.
The organization of the line OF the army
has undergone no material change since the
close OF the civil war. During this period Of
thirty years every large foreign army has been
completely reorganized Changes and i'm
provements in arms and ammunition and
equipments have forced upon the leading tacti-
clans OF the great armies of the world the ne
cessity OF a broad departure from the old sys-
tactical unit for infantry and artillery serv-
ing as infantry, and nearly all tie
equivalent OF the squadron as the cavalry
unit. The light artillery battalion has a
similar composition. Should our army ever
be brought into collision with disciplined for
eign troops, our present formation would prove
so defective as to turn the scale against US in a
conflict on terms otherwise equal.
The policy OF concentrating the troops and
abandoning unnecessary posts has been pros
ecuted throughout the year. Where prac-
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 trans portation and utilizing improved IA
ciities for the prompt dispatch OF troops to
any point where their services may be re-
quired. The changes have in no instance
lessened the protection afforded by the army
to any region Ia which a garrison has hereto
fore been stationed but have considerably
augmented the extent of territory over which
that protection can promptly and effectively be
afforded.
On June 80 1898 the army was distributed
among ninety-five independent posts. During
the last year the number of posts was reduced
TO eighty, with garrisons ranging from 60 20
$50 men. The aggr. gaze area Of the military
reservations abando ned since the last annual
report is upwards of 20s0OC acres.
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 Oh better
footing now than ever before in time Of peace.
In several instances army attachments took
part in state camps, and the profit &c
the army in acquaintance with the soldierly
qualities OF the militia and to the militia in
observation OF the attention Of the regulars &c
details, which is necessary to the perfect sol
der, is both a present benefit and an invest
ment for the future from which we should
reap returns in any emerg eEcy calling for the
cooperation Of the two forces. The strength
OF the militia shows an increase of about b,OOl
since last year. the latest returns showing a
total organized force OF M, 533 officers ana en-
listed men. The artillery arm, maintained by
thirty three states. has an enrolment OF 5,922
officers and men: the cavalry arm, maintained
by twenty-six states, of 00J.