The herald., 1896-11-12
The Subject Of Report by Gen.
Nelson A. Miles
LIBERAL APPROPRIATIONS
Are Recommended for the Manufacture
of Ordnance
The Commander Of the Army Also
Wants a Very Large Increase of
the Military Force.
Associated Press Special Wire

WASHlNGTON, NOV. 11--1n MS an
nual report to the secretary of war, Ma
jor General Miles, commanding the ar
my, recommends liberal appropriation
for replacing the present decreasing and
antiquated post buildings, especially
those on what was formerly the Indian
frontier General Miles believes that the
freedom of the country of late from
Indian outbreaks is to be ascribed to the
fact that the Indians now receive better
treatment from the government, that
they are more impressed with the power
of the army to punish them, and that
their affairs are in many cases managed
by competent army officers. Therefore,
he recommends that this same policy as
to the Indians be continued.
General Miles again devotes a large
portion of his report to the consideration
of questions of coast defense. and renews
forcibly all the recommendations on that
subject made in his former reports. 1t is
recommended that liberal appropria-
lions be made for the manufacture of
guns. their emplacements, quarters and
barracks. The estimate that General
Miles makes for the next year for the
work of the ordnance, engineers and
Quartermasters' departments 1t the diff
ferent coast points include the follow
ing: San Diego, Cal, 5000. 600: San Fran
cisco, s902, $50; mouth of Columbia river,
1855 1926: Puget Sound. 1854, $50.
General Miles says: AN unwise ar
gument has been made against the con-
struction of modern appliances of war,
on the theory that it is a danger and a
menace to the laboring classes. In some
instances marked protests have been
made against such national policy.
The arguments seem scarcely worthy of
consideration; yet it is deemed proper
to call attention to the fact that these
national safeguards are in no sense a
menace to any class of our citizens. not
even to the humblest individual, but on
the other hand they are a protection TO
the life and property of all classes from
the highest to the lowest. They protect
not only the commercial ports with their
accumulations of public buildings and
private dwellings. commerce and ship
yards, but the factory. the foundry, the
workshop and also the savings banks
and the cottages. In fact the destruction
of our great commercial and manufac-
turing cities would be national disaster
far more serious and appalling to the
great masses of the laboring population
than it would be to any other class of
our people,
General Miles renews his former rec
concentrations for an increase of the ar
my on the ground that it has not kept
pace with the increased wealth of pub
lie and private interests, and he sus-
gests that the enlisted strength of the
army be fixed at one soldier to every
1000 people, as minimum. the maximum
strength not to exceed one soldier for
every 1000 population, the strength to be
determined within these limits by the
president, according to the necessities
and requirements of the nation.
He points out the Importance of hav-
ing at least two stations east of the
Rocky mountains, and one west suit
able for the accommodation of one regi-
ment of cavalry, and renews the rec
concentrations made last year con-
corning the use of bicycles and motor
wagons. and the promotion of competent
enlisted men to the grade of second
lieutenants after five years service.
WANTS PROTECTION.
TALLAHASSEE, Fla, Nov 11.-Gov-
ernor Mitchell has addressed the fol-
lowing letter to the governors Of
northern and western states:
In view of the dangers which threaten
defenseless gulf and South Atlantic sea
ports of the United States, we have
deemed it proper to issue a call for con
vention in the interest of the gulf and
South Atlantic harbors and their de
lenses The object of this convention
which will assemble at Tampa, Florida,
on the goth day of January. 1897 is to dis
cuss the methods of proper defense of
southern harbors. In the interest of this
important subject we respectfully re-
quest your eXcellency TO honor this coz
vention with your presence, and also to
appoint delegates from your common
wealth to attend the same.