The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1895-12-18

Referring to the necessity of coast defense,
the Secretary quotes from the message of
President Clevelan in 1888 and points out
how, if the recommendations Of Secretary
of War Endicott had been adopted
the coasts would be fully protected
now. If future appropriations for the
manufacture Of guns, mortars and carriages
be no larger than the average authorized FOR
the purpose since 1888, it will require twenty
two years more to supply the armament
of the eighteen important ports for
which complete projects are approved.
To complete the armament for the
ports will require SS6, ,342, 1886, exclusive Of
the balance due to the Bethlehem Iron
Works of about S3,5O0,00 and S23S.J00
which may be required for rapid-fre guns in
certain Notifications.
For emplacements for guns and mortars,
finished or building, So, ,521 900 has been ap-
propriated, ,and appropriations of S41 ,68S, ,093
will be required to complete this work. 1t
rests with Congress to determine by Its ap-
preparations the period which shall elapss
before our coasts shall be put in satisfac-
tory condition OF defense. The amount re-
quired for eighteen ports is about S82, ,OO0,-
600. and the entire work can be completed
within ten years.
The Secretary recommends the appoint
ment of q board of army officers to su-
pervse and direct this work. The Secretary
says the Watervliet On. W gun factory can
produce in ten years all ths armament re-
quired for the present project.
The estimates for the department for 1897
amount to s51, ,945.G43. The total OF enlisted
men of all grades on October 81 was rs, FOG,
but counting all men on Through. SICK and
detailed to ths department, the effective
field strength Of all arms on that date was
2O.5S4. The quality OF the men enlisted has
been greatly improved. The health record Of
the army for the year shows q death rate
only fraction higher than the lowest rate
recorded. Alcoholism as a cause of nom
efficiency has notably declined in the past
few years. The trials by general courts
martial during the year were 1928, compared
with 2ls9 for the previous year; by inferior
courts-martial 1O, 1897, compared with l5,0S6
last year.
The Secretary says that by far the most
essential need ofthe army is the adoption OF
the three-batta.ion formation. No increase
in the cavalry is proposed. To make these
changes will require an additional appro-
priation of 81 .2U0, 900.
The conditions are favorable to the de-
velopmenr of volunteer force ofupward Of
0,OOD men, Of the highest efficiency and
prepared for any service. The variety Of
weapons which now obtains is so great
as to preclude the employment of consider
able bodies of the militia Of different States
in cooperation, and the longer the Federal
Government delays action the greater the
possibility that different States will select diff
ferent models Of rifles, requiring different
forms of ammunition, thus rendering almost
impossible the employment in joint action Of
the troops OF the different States. The Sec
retary points out that from S26, 1912, ,4Sl. SO
spent on the Mississippi River improvements
the navigation interests have received little
practical benefit.