The evening times., 1895-11-11

Mai. Gen. Miles, commander of the Uni
ted States Army, Will advocate in his an
nual report to the Secretary Of War q
large increase In the enlisted force, q reor-
ganizasion OF the artillery and infantry
branches, and some definite plan for the
better defenses of the country ut exposed
points.
Gen. Miles says in his report that the
present standing army is entirely too
small for the vast interests it has TO pro-
tect in event OF labor outbreaks or civil In.
surrcction, and that the present limit of
5000 should be increased by at least ten
or fifteen thousand more.
Gen. Miles suggests tnat for every 1000
Inhabitants there should De one soldier.
This would give n regular army of 30 200,
assuming that the population OF the country
is about 1O,OO0,0O0.
COAST DEFENsEs.
Regarding coast dcfcnscs, Gen. Miles
will urge that Immediate steps he taken
10 afford proper protection 10 all great
commercial cities, such rs New York. PElla-
delp.ia Baltimorc, Charleston. Sav;in-
nan, and the important cities OH the Gulf
and Pacific coast.
hv suggests that the scops and plan or
inc utItIfNt OI New uc
pan,i,s,, and that Sandy HCok lc converted
into the strongest military garrison in
the country.
He regards as essential the establish
mpnt OF modern foruriCations for the pro-
tion OF Puget Sound, the most important
point stratcgetically OH the coast, and Will
say that that section of the country Is now
without defenscs, although its location
calls for the strongest.
Tie general regards The artillery as IN
important branch OF tEc service, and one
which will he called upon Ia perform most
important service. in manning coast de-
fcnses during the war.
Even when the Improvements ion the forti-
fications already provided by Congress are
made, the artillery force now. authorized !.
he says, Will Re inadequate to man all the
guns and garrisons OF the proposed de-
fcnses. But, with the completion of more
mcdcrn and expensive fortific:tions. slch
as those contemplated for New York and
san Francisco, the requirements OF the
army will be- almost double, and unless
there is some Increase in this branch OF The
service, the new forts would be left with
out sufficient Officers and men Ia fght
them. He will. therefore urge a decided
increase in the artillery branch.
MODERN DRILLS IMPOSSIBLE.
The infantry branch Gen. Miles looks
upon as sadly deficient. its organization
obsolete, and modern drills an almost i'm
possible thing, owing 10 insufficicncy i'll
numbers.
He advocates the adoption OF the three
battalion system, which has been before
Congress in some shape for years, and which
would give an approved state or affairs
and insure promutiou OF enlisted men 10
commissioned places
Gen. Miles also thinks the cavalry requires
attention, hut he viii suggest that nn legis-
lation is necessary tn correct existing evils
in this branch. md that for the present Con-
sress should give heel Ia he other branches.
Gen. Miles believes that the enlisted man
is the representative soldier. and through
him the people at large should lie brought
into closer relations with the service.
The present law offers little encourag ge-
ment To thc-enlistcd man, but Gen. Miles
thinks that all who take the competitive
examination for promotion to the com
missioned grade, and who fail of appoint
mcnt because OF lack uf adequate vacan-
cics. should, if they retire from the Army,
be appointed second li,utcnants, without
pay, where they would have in civil life
the title of an officer Of III. regular ser
vice, and in case of war would be available
to take comma MI of volunteer forces.