Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-12-08


service. the revenue cutter service. the
steamboat inspection service. the. light
house service, the Bureau of Navigation.
and other branches OF public work at
tached to the Treasury Department. to-
gether with various recommendations
concerning their support and improve
ment. are fully stated in the report OF
the Secretary OF the Treasury. TO which
| the attention of the Congress is especial
| ~ invited.
The report OF the Secretary OF War
exhibits satisfactory conditions in the
severa; branches Of the public service in
trusted to his charge.
THE ARMY.
The limit of our military force. as
fixed by law. is constantly and readily
maintained. The present discipline and
morale OF our army are excellent, and
marked progress and efficiency are appa-
rent throughout its entire organization.
with the exception OF delicate duties
In the suppression Of slight indian dis
turbances along our southwestern
boundary, In which the Mexican troops
co-operated. and the compulsory, but
peaceful return, with the consent of
Great Britain. OF a band of Cree Indians
from Montana 10 the British possessions
no active operations have been required
of the army during the year past
Changes in methods OF administration,
the Abandonment OF unnecessary posts
and consequent concentration OF troops.
and the exercise OF care and vigilance
by the various officers charged with the
responsibility In the expenditure Of the
appropriations. have resulted In reducing
to a minimum the cost OF maintenance OF
our military establishment.
During the past year the work OF con-
structing permanent infantry and cavalry
posts has been continued at the places
heretofore designated. The Secretary OF
War repeats his recommendation that
appropriations for barracks and quarters
should more strictly conform TO the
| needs of the service as judged by the
department, rather than respond to the
wishes and opportunities of localities.
1t is imperative that much Of the money
provided for such construction should
now be allotted TO the erection OF neces-
sary quarters for the garrlsons as
signed TO the coast defences, where many
men will be needed to properly care TOT
and operate modern guns. 1t IS essen
tial too. that provision be made early n
supply the necessary force Of artillery
to meet the demands Of this service.
The entire army has now been equipped
with the new magazine arms, ana wise
policv demands that all available, public,
and nrivate resources should be so en-
Moved as to provide within reasonable
time a sufficient number TO supply the
State militia with these modern weapons
and provide an ample reserve for any
| emergency.
STATE MILITIA.
The organized militia numbers liZ'S|
men. The appropriations for its support
by the several States approximate Sz'Sp'-
05O annually. and $4,000 Is contributed
| (saxr.rnnllnt lnNNGtl.rH-
ton shows these troops 10 be usuany
well drilled. and inspired with much
military interest. but in many instances
they are so deficient in proper arms
and equipments that sudden can 10
active duty would find them inadequate
Iv prepared for field-seTvce. /, therefore,
recommend that prompt measures DC
taken to remedy this condition, ana
that every announcement be gwen 10
this deserving body of unpaid ana Volun-
tary citizen soldiers, upon whose assist
ance we must largely rely in time OF
trouble.
COAST DEFENCE.
During the past year rapid progress
has been made toward the completion OIL
the scheme adopted for the erection ana
armament of fortifications along our sea-
coast. while equal progress mas been maze
I'm providing the material for submarine
defence in connection with these works
II is peculiarly gratifying at this time
to note the great advance that has been
made in this important undertaking since
the date Of my annual message 10 the
Fifty-third Congress, at the opening OF
its second session, in December 1898.
At that time 7 informed the Congress
OF the approaching completion of nine
12-inch twenty 10-inch, and thirty-iour
s-inch. high-power steel guns, and seven
tv-fve Pinch rihed-mortars.
This total then seemed Insignificant,
when compared with the great work re-
naming TO be done. Yet it was, none
the less, a source OF satisfaction to every
citizen, when he reflected that 1t repre-
scented the first instalment OF the new
ordnance Of American design and Ameri-
can manufacture. and demonstrated our
ability TO supply from our own resources
guns Of unexcelled power and accuracy
At that date however, there were prac-
ticaIly no carriages upon which TO
mount these guns, and only thirty-one
emplacements for guns. and sXtyfour
for mortars. Nor were all these en-
placements in condition to receive their
armament. Only one high-power gun
was at that time in position for the de-
fence OF the entire coast.
Since that time the number Of guns
actually completed has been increased
to a total of twenty-one 12-inch. ffty-six
1O-inch, sixty-one S-inch high-power
breech-loading steel guns; ten rapid-fire
guns. and eighty Pinch rihed-mortars
In addition. there are in process of con-
struction one 16-inch type gun. fifty u
inch, fifty-sx 1O-inch, twenty-seven s.
inch high-power guns. and sixty-six p
inch rihed-mortars. In all, 42S guns and
| mortars.
During the same year. Immediately pre-
ceding the message referred to, the first
modern gun-carriage had been completed,
and eleven more were in process Of con-
struction. All but one were Of the non
disappearing type. These, however. were
not such as 70 secure necessary cover Tor
the artillery gunners against the intense
fire Of modern-machine. rapid-fire. and
high-power guns.
The inventive genius of ordnance and
civilian experts has been taxed i'm design
! ing a carriage that would obviate this
fault resulting, ii is believed, in the sou-
ton OF this difficult problem. Since 1893
the number of gun-carriages constructed
| or building has been raised TO total OF
1919, Of which ninety are on the disappear
ing principle, and the number of mortar
| carriages TO 152, while the o5 emplace-
ments which were provided for prior 10
| tndt time nave Deen Increased 10 81,
| built and building.
This improved situation is largely due
to the recent generous response OF Con-
gress TO the recommendations of the war
| Department.
Thus We shall soon have complete about
one fifth of the comprehensive system.
| the first step in which was noted in my
message TO the Congress OF December 4,
| 1894
When II is understood that a masonry
ernplacement not only furnishes a plat
form for the heavy modern high-power
| gun, but also in every particular serves
the purpose and takes the place Of the