New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-11-10
FOR A STRONGER ARM Y.
GENERAL MILES RECOMMENDS A FORCE
OF $1,000 MEN.
HE ALSO URGES THE NEED OF INCREASED COAST
nrrrNcrs AND MAKES VALUABLE sUG-
GEsTIONs FOR THE IMPROVE

MENT OF THE SERVICE.
rHy TELEGRAPH TO TIE TRrBUNEl
uoshirs,on Nov 9-The Secretary Of War has
roceived the first annual report OF MaJor-"enerd
Nelson A. Miles in his capacity as Cohiinanui"s
General of the Army 1t contains highiy interesting
and valuable information and recommendations.
General Miles takes advanced ground on several
questions Of Importance In the matter OF coast
defences he points out the country oehcehceS, anu
that serious attention be given to the subject
with a view early and extensive improvements
He regards as essential the establishment OF moo
ern defences on Puget Sound. and says tha' tia'
soc,ion If the country is now without any ,orti-
Ncations although II IS location which c'iis LOT
the best The defences OF New-York. san FRAN
ceco and other important commercial cities OF the
country also require great improvements Henerai
Miles calls attention to the value OF SANDY iiooA
as strategic point. and says that strong uele'eH'
armed with the most modern and powerful guns
should be placed there. Sandy HOOK mas some
Notifications now but It's conversion INTO inoie
powerfully defended position Is urged.
a,,onp other important questions with which Cen
eral Miles deals the increase IN 'he stehs'"
of the Aay and the reorganization OF the arullery
and infantry. He points out that al present tne
strength Of the Army is based on no reasonaoie
system Congress has arbitrarily fixed the number
- so,d;ars at o. 900 This strength is insufficient
o,d General Miles recommends that Congress be
urged TO authorize the enlistment OF more men, lie
thinks that general plan shoud De aoop'eu
and a definite system followed in determining the
strength OF the Army He suggests tnat IN uhe Vi
neace the minimum strength should be one soldier
IN every 1000 inhabitants of the country Ihls
u,ould give a regular Army of about 5000 men,
assuming that the population OF the country Is
70 600 900 The General suggests that az the coun-
trv increases in population the Army shoud De
enlarged proportionately under this system lie Is
~ the opnion that while there may be no imne-
Nth hcr
crease of the Army is necessary to cope win 90
nestle disorders which may be counted on to arise
General Miles regards the artillery as an I'M
portant branch. and one which VIII perform VaIu-
able service when the coast defences OF the country
are Of suitable size and strength. Even when the
improvements IN the Notifications already provided
for nv Congress are made. the artillery force now
authorized Will be inadequate to man all the guns
and garrison the forts. When more extensive, I'M
provefnens are adopted still larger force OF ar
tlIcrv viii be required. Therefore General Niles
recommends that attention be gwen 10 me suD1e IT,
and that the branch of the Army wnicn u 10 per
form service in fortifcations be augmented 10
Concerning the infantry, he points out that ms
9isi legislation is necessary The adoption Of the
three. battalion system is suggested This Will give
an approved organization to the Infantry ana IN
General Miles thinks the cavalry also requires a.
efiiciency, it being more important at present TO
give heed 20 the requirements OF the artillery ana III
General Miles has original idea as TO the means
Of pOpularz!ng the Army lie believes thdt lhe louch
between the service and the people should be closer
Under existing law non commissioned officers ana
nrivates may become commissioned officers after
pa ssing certain examinations as to their physical.
mental and professional qualifications. Generally,
however the vacancies not sufficient to permit all
the candidates who come before boards to be APP
pointed General Miles proposes that in such cases
enlisted men who have been examined and recon-
nendcd for commissions and who do not re-enlist
shall have the rank Of second Lieutenant These ON
GERS would receive no pay from the Government,
bu, would actually have In civil life the lite OF
officer of the military service They would have had
hve years experience In the Army. and In case OF
war naturally be the first TO volunteer for service
kEesides there would annually be thrown into civil
XAfe a number OF officers OF the Army This. General
T Niles believes, would tend TO popuarze the service
by famliiariz the people through association with
the requirements OF the service He expects that
these second leutenants would interest themselves in
local branchs OF the National Guard. and In that
manner be OF much value TO the States In which
they 1--we.