Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1894-12-06
UNCLE SANS ARMY.
Dan Lamont Presents His Report
as Score tary of War.
The Necessity of Battalion Formation.
without Which We Could Not Cope
with Foreign Armies, Urged
Concentration of Troops.

NOhCe-teAAhOu OF lFOOpe-
WASHINGTON. Dec. SECRETARY OF War
Daniel s. Lamont in submitting his annual re-
port TO the president gives the expenditures
of his department for the fiscal year ending
June 80. 1894, at $50, 0Se OOs a. The appropria-
tions for the fiscal year OF 1895 are $50 42o 27s
The estimates for the fiscal year ending June
80, 1896 are So. 3ls,62e.55
Indian Warfare Ended.
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 beyond oc-
casional calls for police duty in the neighbor-
hood Of Indian reservations the army will
henceforth be relieved to a greater degree
each year Of the labor Of armed surveillance
over the tribes Of the west
There have been no serious infractions OF
the neutrality laws on the Mexican frontier
during the year but the presence of a regular
force there for some time to come is clearly
prescribed By the conditions OF civilization in
that region.
During the Strikes.
1t was found necessary during the period be
ginning with March and extending through
July Of ths current year, in various sections OF
the country, 70 employ a considerable part OF
the army to execute the orders OF the United
States courts. otherwise successfully dehed
and resisted, &c protect the dispatch Of the
United States mails, to remove restraints to
travel and commerce, and TO guard the proper
~ of the government The movement of
troops thus necessitated was the largest which
has taken place since the close OF the civil war.
The difficult and extraordinary tasks inn
posed upon the officers and men of the army
were discharged promptly, firmly and judo
iously, in manner which attested to the cour-
age, intelligence and loyalty OF those called
into active duty, and the thorough efficiency OF
every branch of the service. The militia Of
the states wherever employed also proved gen.
orally to be composed Of qualified and reliable
soldiers.
Strength of the Army.
The number of enlisted men in service on
October 81 was 25,5id Dedueting the sick,
those in confinement, recruits not vet joined.
those absent on furlough, and others employed
in stan departments or on detached service,
the effective field strength on the same date
was y, ia Of all arms
Battalion Formation.
The report says: 81 earnestly recommend
that congress enact the legislation necessary
to establish in the army the battalion foEma-
ton now adopted by the armies of every other
civilized nation. AS necessary to effect that
change recommend the removal of the limit
of % 600 men fixed by the act Of June 49, 1874.
and return to the limit fixed by the act of
July 15 1870. Legislative approval OF these
two propositions win restore to the effective
force about 1000 enlisted men. bringing the
actual strength of the army up to 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 maintenance only about per cent.
Concentration of Troops.
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-
solicited with garrisons at more important
centers thus reducing the cost of maintenance
and transportation and utilizing improved IA
cilities 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
10 any region in 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.
Distribution OF the Army.
All the foot artillery is serving near the sea-
coast Notifications. One-half Of the field ar
tillery. more than two-thirds of the infantry,
and nine tenths Of the cavalry are still re-
tanned at posts west OF the Mississippi river,
while eight regiments OF cavalry In Rarri-
sons within near the great mountain and
plain region lying between the one hundredth
ians. 1t is 10 the sparsely settled portions OF
this pastoral and sterile belt that the Indians
would resort in the event Of their breaking
away from their reservations.
The Militia.
Army officers on duty with the national
guard of the states. of whom twenty-seveD
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 ofhcers participated
were held by thirty-three states Is proof that
state military establishments are on 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 soidierly
qualities of the militia and 70 the militia in
observation OF the attention of the regulars 70
details, which is necessary to the perfect sol
der is both present benent and an invest
ment for the future from which we should
reap returns In any emergency calling for the
cooperation of the two forces. The strength
OF the militia shows an increase Of about 5000
since last year. the latest returns showing
total organized force OF 1883 officers and en-
listed men The artillery arm, maintained by
thirty three states has an enrolment Of 5.e22
officers and men; the cavalry arm, maintained
by twenty-six states, OF 5.069
Other Topics.
Among other topics touched upon in the re-
port are the following: Small arms and equip
ments field and siege guns, sea coast defenses,
srsenals and armories powders ana projectiles,
dynamite guns. education Of the army, mill
tary academy at West Point, national soldiers
nome. military prisons, Apache prisoners Of
war, rivers and harbors, preservation OF battle-
fields, military reservations monuments 70
Gems Logan, Sheridan, Hancock and Sher-
man pension ONCE. national cemeteries and
war records
Central IL Hanged.
REII EXILE Ill Dec 1-Genroa