The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1896-11-21
IN PEACE
GENERAL MERRITT REPORTS UPON
TIE PAST YEAR

Hasn't Bsen Anything Much for an Army
to Do, But tho Men Have Become Very
supple and Expert in Military
Gymnastics, whence He Recommends
More Riding and Drill Halls - Other
Department Commanders - Elsewhere
Rsport-Gcneral Merritt Will Entertain
Chicago Society at Hall.
Washington, Nov. 2o.-The report or
Major General Merritt, commander or
the department of the Missouri, head
quarters at Chicago, says that the year
has been singulariy free from military
operations, and the frontiers have en-
joyed peace and quiet. In the meantime
the troops have been engaged in per-
fecting themselves in drill tactics and
gymnastics, and in all these particulars
during the last year they have made i'm
portant progress. General Merritt adds:
81 earnestly recommend that at each post
where cavalry is likely to be stationed
riding hall shall be constructed on the
general plan of those at Fort Riley and
Leavenworth. They are not expensive
and the benefit which results from their
use in winter and at other times to men
and officers morally, physically and pro-
fessionally is so great that the cost of con
struction should not be considered.
I'm this connection l especially call at
tention to the necessity for drill halls
at all permanent drill posts. At many
posts during the winter season, nota bly,
Forts Brady and Wayne, Michigan, the
winters are long and inclement and out
door drills are impossible. At such posts
drill halls are imperative necessities, and
they should be built at once, being fof
the good of the service"
The report commends Captain Scott, in
charge Of the Apache Indian prisoners,
and says of them:
II take it that these Indians during
the next year will be turned over to the
charge of the Indian department. If
such is the case ample notice should be
given that everything may be prepared
for the change"
ADDITIONAL REPORTS.
Washington, Nov. 20-General John
r. Brooke, commanding the department
of the DakOtas; General Frank Wheaton,
commanding the department of the Col
orado; General E. L. Wells, commanding
the department of the Columbia; General
James w. Forsyth, commanding the de-
partment OF California, and General 2.
X. Bliss, commanding the department
of Texas, have made their annual re-
ports to the secretary of war. The re-
ports review in detail the work OF the
troops under their respective commands,
and the condition Of the stations and
contain recommendations for the future.
General Wheaton in his report devote.
considerable space TO the suppression Of
me Yaqui Indians, or Santa Teresa IA
naticS, who attacked Mexican Nogales
in August last, and to the raids of the
renegade Apaches. The labor performed
in the effort to rid Arizona of these pes
tiferous renegades, he says, can be APP
preciated when he states that in a single
year his troops in Arizona and New Mex
leo marched 42,457 miles on this duty.
General Wheaton reports that Fort STAN
ton, n. NJ, has been abandoned. He
recommends some needed minor improve
ments at Fort Bayard, n. NJ, and Fort
Douglass, Utah, and the rebuilding of
the posts at Fort Grant, and Whipple
Barracks, Arizona. He also urges that
the attention of congress be called TO the
disparity between the pay of adjutant
generals clerks, compared with the pay
OF clerks in the supply department.
General Otis calls attention to the in
crease of assertions IN his department,
which he attributes to mine discoveries
in the territory under his command rath-
er than any spirit of decentralization.
Speaking of the new magazine rife, he
says 1t has displayed great strength and
durability and appears to need only
strengthening in some of its minor parts
magazine cutoff and cooking applian-
ces) TO complete its effectiveness. He
recommends the concentration of Fort
Sherman and Spokane at Spokane, the
establishment Of an artillery port on
Puget Sound and the retention and en-
largement of boise barracks. He reports
that the work Of Kidding the reservation
OF squaters Is progressing satisfactorily
With regard to the suggestion of the
tropS for the Yukon in Alaska where
the Dominion OF Canada now maintains
mounted police clothed with certain we'll
defined criminal jurisdiction, he says our
troops could not exercise this latter, but
does not understand or believe that arm
ed force is not essential for the safety
and prosperity Of the Inhabitants
General J. r. Brooke urgently recon-
mends the immediate necessity of riding
halls at Fort Assinaboine and Fort Vel
fOWStOne, anu also urges tnac at Forts
Missoula, Harrison, Assinaboine Yellow
stone and Smelling suitable buildings be
erected for gymnastic and athletic ex-
ercises.
The report OF Major General Ruger.
commander Of the department of the
east, with headquarters at Governors
Island, n. Y, states the condition of the
troops and offers some general sugges-
lions. He says:
1T is especially desirable that oppor.
tun!ty should be afforded state artillery
organiz2tio for practical instruction
with the seacoast defensive armament.
But few OF the states, for evident rea-
son. have organizations of heavy artil-
lery. 1t would. L think. be well that ac-
ton be had to induce in each state in
which there are sacoast defensive works,
the designation of a regiment, or of GER
tain companies, of the state troops as
heavy artillery. without abandonment
necessarily of their instructions in gen.
eral tactics"
General Ruger urges an increase Of the
artillery arm Of the service as follows:
1T seems almost superhous 10 ailude
inthis report 10 the necessity of an IN
crease in artillery force. so fully has the
case been presented in reports heretofore
submitted by the war department The
present force is inadequate as reiia BILE
basis for the event OF war with a mari
time power. The most pressing need,
think, in respect to the personnel Of the