The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1894-12-05
THE WAR DEPARTMENT.
Mr.. Cleveland IndOrses Secretary
LamOntS pIan.

LamOnts Plan.
From the report Of the secretary of
war it appears that the strength of the
army on Sept. 80 1894 was 2,1S5 officers
and 25,756 enlisted men. Although this
Is apparently very slight decrease COM
pared with the previous year. the actual
effective force has been increased to the
equivalent of nearly two regiments,
through the reorganization Of the system
of recruiting. and the consequent release
10 regimental duty of the large force of
men hitherto serving at the recruiting de-
partmenIs. The abolition Of these de-
partments, it is predicted, will further
more effect an annual reduction approx
mating S250,000 in the direct expenditures,
besides promoting generally the health,
morality and discipline OF the troops
The execution of the policy of concen-
tratlng the army at important centers of
population and transportation, fore
ShadOWed in the last annual report of the
secretary, has resulted in the abandon
ment Of fifteen of the smaller posts,
which was effected under a plan which
assemblies organizations of the same
regiments, hitherto widely separated
This renders our small forces more read
lily effective for any service which they
may be called upon to perform, increases
the extent of the territory under prOtec-
ton, without diminishing the security
heretofore afforded TO any locality, and
improves the discipline, training and
esprit de corps of the army, besides con-
Siderably decreasing the cost Of its main
tenance. Though the forces of the de-
partment Of the East have been some
what increased, more than three-fourths
of the army is still stationed west of the
Mississippi. This carefully matured pol
icy, which secures the best and greatest
service in the interests Of the general well
fare from the small force comprising our
regular army, should not be thoughtlessly
embarrassed by the creation of new and
unnecessary posts, through acts of con-
gress to crafty the ambitions or interests
of localities.
While the maximum legal strength Of the
army is q, 600 men, the effective strength
through various causes is but little over
90 900 men. The purpose of congress does
not, therefore, seem to be fully attained by
the existing condition. While no consider
able increase in the army is, in my judg-
ment. demanded by recent events. the
policy of sea coast fOrtifcat tions in prosecu-
tion of which we have been steadily en-
gagged for some years, has so far developed
as to suggest that the effective strength Of
the army be now made at least equal TO
the legal strength.
Measures taken by the department during
the year, as indicated have already consid-
erably augmented the effective force and
the secretary Of war presents a plan, which
II
gress, TO attain the desired end. Economies
effected in the department in other lines of
its work will offset. to a great extent the
expenditure involved in the proposition sub
mitted. Among other things this contenl-
plates the adoption Of the three battalion
formation of regiment, which for several
years has been indOrsed by the secretary of
war and the generals commanding the
army Compact in itself, it provides a
skeleton organization, ready to be filled out
in the event of war; it is peculiarly adapted
to our strength and requirements, and the
fact that every other nation, with a single
exception, has adopted this formation 10
meet the conditions of modern warfare
should alone secure for the recommenda-
ton an early consideration.
Expenses for the Year.
1t is hardly necessary to recall the fact
that, in obedience to the commands Of the
constitution and the laws, and for the
purpose of protecting the property Of the
United States, aiding the process Of fed
era courts and removing lawless obstruc-
tons to the performance by the govern
ment OF its legitimate function, 1t became
necessary I'm various localities during the
year to employ a considerable portion of
the regular troops. The duty was dis
charged promptly, courageously and with
marked discretion by the officers and men,
and the most gratifying proof was thus
afforded that the army deserves that COM
plete confidence in its efficiency and dis
cipline which the country has at all times
manifested.
The year has been free from disturbances
by Indians and the chances of further
depredations on their part are constantly
growing more remote and improbable.
The total expenditures for the war de-
partment for the year ended June go 1894