The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1894-12-08
vac AMY.
Secretary lamont Recommends tho hat
TALON Formation

secretary I<1mont Recommends the Hat
TALON Formation
wAsRrSGroS. Dec. i.-Secretary OF War
Daniel :. Lamont IN submitting has annual re-
port 10 the prcsident gives the expenditures
Of his department for the fiscal year ending
June 30. 1894. IA s56.03o 0)g 81 The appropria-
tions for the fscalyea OF 1925 are s5e sso. hats
The estimates for the fiscal year ending Juns
90 1890 are Sc. ais gp.a6
The reports Of the oricers IN command OF
the several geographical departments corrobo-
rate the opinion. expressed IN the last annual
report that Indian warfare Is virtually nt an
end In the United States. ana that beyond oc-
easional calls for police duty in the nctghoor-
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 infractlons OF
the neutrality laws on the Mexican frontier
during the year, but the presence Of regular
force there for some time TO come Is clearly
prescribed by the conditions OF civilization tn
that region
II was found necessary during the period be
ginning with March and extending through
July OF the current.year. In various sections OF
the country 20 employ q considerable part or
the army 10 execute the orders OF the United
States courts, otherwise successfully dcned
and resisted. 10 protect the dispatch OF the
United States mails, 70 remove restraints to
travel and commerce. ana 10 guard the proper
" OF the EuNtEumtnt inc movement OF
troops thus necessltatcd was the largest which
has taken place since the close OF the civil war
The dncult ana extraordinary tasks Inn
posed upon the Officers and men OF the army
we're discharged promptly ARMY and iudic-
iousiy. In a manner which attcsted 90 tho cour-
age intelligence and loyalty OF those called
into active duty, ana the thorough efficiency OF
every branch of the service The militia OF
the states wherever employed also proved gem
orally TO be composed o. qualified and reliable
soldiers
The report says. II earnestly recommend
that congress enact the legislation necessary
20 establish Ia the army the battalion forma-
ton now adopted by the armies OF every other
civilized nation. As necessary 70 efect that
change recommend the removal OF tho limit
Of 2b.000 men fixed by the act OF June Is. 1874.
aud return 20 the limit fixed by the act OF
July rs, is70 Legislative approval OF these
two propositions will restore 10 the effective
force about 1900 enlisted men. bringing tho
actual strength Of the army up 20 the nominal
strength now hxed by law. BY these changes
the army will be Increased In efficiency 20 per
cent. In numbers about loA per cent and la
cost OF maintenance only about per cent
"The organization OF the line OF the army
has undergone no material change since tho
close OF the civil war. During this period OF
thirty years every large foreign army has been
completely reorganzed Changes and im-
proycments In arms and ammunition and
equipments have forced upon the leading lacti-
cinns OF the great armies OF the world the ne
ccssity OF broad departure from the old sys-
TENS. an have adopted the battalion as tho
tactical unit for infantry and artillery serv-
Ing as infantry, and nearly all tho
equivalent OF the squadron as the cavalry
unit The light artillery battalion has
similar composition. should our army ever
bn brought into collision With disciplined for-
elgn troops, our present formation would provo
SO defective as 80 turn the scale against VS. IN
conflict on terms otherwise equal.
The policy of concentrating the troops and
abandoning unnecessary posts has been pros
ecuted throughout the year Who're prac-
tirahlc small garrisonS remote FROM railroads,
whose further retention has become unnecces-
sGry by q change OF conditions. have been con-
s0iidated with gnrrisons nt more important
centors, thus reducing the cost OF maintenance
aud transportation and utilizing improved Ia
ciitios FOR the prompt dispatch OF troops 10
any point where their services may be re-
Quired. The changes have IN no instance
lcssened the protection afforded by the army
70 any region IN which garrison has horct0-
fore been stationed but have considerably
augmented the extent Of territory over which
that protection can promptly ana effectively DO
afforded
( on june 30. ise3 tho army was distributed
among ninoty-fyc independent posts During
the last year the number OF posts was reduced
60 eighty, with garrlsons ranging from 90 To
80 men The aggregate area OF the military
reservations abandoned since the last annual
report Il upwards OF EOS 900 acres.
Army officers on duty with tho national
guard OF the states, OF whom twcnty-seven
were regularly assigned 10 state headquarters.
concur Ia reporting steady improvement Ia tho
training and efficiency OF the militia Tho
fact that state camps OF instruction. In which
forty additional army onicers participated.
wcru held by thirty-three states Is proof that
state military establishments are on a better
footing now than ever before Ia time Of peace.
In several Instances army dctachmonts took
part In state camps, and the profit 10
the army IA acquaintance with the soldierly
qualities OF the militia and Go the militia In
observation OF the attention OF the regulars 10
details which IS necessary 90 the perfect sol
der. is both present benefit and an invest
mcnt for tho future from which We should
reap returns In any emergency calling for tho
cooperation OF the two forces Tho strength
Of the militia shows an Increase OF about 1000
since last year, the latest returns showing u
total organized force Of ii7bS3 officers hnden-
listed men. The artillery arm, maintained by
thirty-thrcc states. has an enrolment OF b92s
officers and men the cavalry arm, maintained
Dy Iwcutv-slx states. OF 1909