Evening journal., 1896-11-27

tort Of the secretary of war, Daniel S. La
nont, has lust been made public. 1t shows
That the expenditures of the war depart
mont for tho fiscal year ending juno 30
last were sol, SOB, 1901 62; the appropria-
tions for the year ending June 30, 1897,
were S5i. i.O44.2O and the estimates for the
vear ending June 30, 1885, SOP, SS3 3S3 90
The aggregate of appropriations for this
Gepartncut unexpended and turned into /
the general fund of the treasury at the end |
of tie last fiscal year was 1873, 033 o. |
For tho year 1895 it was 81, ,764, 467 90, |
and for 1894 it was 81, ,aST, ,922.2l.
The number of enlisted mon in the serv-
ice ON Oct. 81 was 25,l26, or 2S4 less than
the number authorized by law. Deducting !
the sick, those absent on furlough, recruits
not joined the mon employed in the staff
departments and on detached service the
effective field strength Of the army on that
day was %, 3s2 of all arms. The number
of officers of the line is 1,6l9. OF these
/ 300 are serving with their regiments ana
$40 are on detached duty.
In no previous year of the history of the
army has the health of the troops been sot
sa+isfactorv as during the last fiscal year
Each soldier was sick ~. days, as against
q record of 10 for the preceding ten years.
The number of soldiers so disabled as to
require their discharge from service was
Il lsU
nually for the preceding ten years. The
mortality rate was SIG per 900 of mean
strength. as compared with 1856 for the
preceding decade.
The total number of men enlisted last
year was 8, 49S, of whom nearly onehalf
were secured at garrisoned posts without
4 expense. The remainder, 4,636 in num-
her, were enlisted in the cities, and almost
5000 of these proceeded directly from
places OF enlistment to the regiments to
which they had been assigned, while the
rest werc assembled in rendezvous before
they were sent 10 their regiments
The National Guard.
Referring to the national guard, the re-
port says:
There are now 80 army officers regular
ly assigned to state headquarters, and in
addition to these 81 officers have been de-
tailed on temporary duty during the past
year at state encnmpments All concur in
reporting a steady improvement in tho
training and efficiency of the militia.
Camps OF instruction wero held in 81
states, and in several instances regular
troops were encamped with the militia,
serving not only to furnish an object les
son in matters of detail, but also to pro-
mote cordial relations between the regular
and state forces.
again submitted for action by congress
which, il approved will materially teneft
the militia without increase of expense
The first is that the states be allowed to
return such unserviceable wornOut or
obsolete stores and weapons as have been
advanced to them by the war department
in past years, that they be sold for what
they will bring and the proceeds credited
to the allotmcnts to the respective states
and territories for arming and equipping
their militia. The second is that the secre-
tary Of war be authorized to issue spring
field rides Of caliber .45 to each state and
territory in exchange for other rifles now
held. The third is that any state or terri
tory may, in addition to the stores and
supplies issued under the act for equipping
tho militia, purchase at regulation prices
such army stores and supplies as the sec
J-tlry Of war may approve"
The total number of officers and men
CO. prising the organized militia Of the
o utcs and territories is shown to be
Iil.S37 The artillery arm comprising
ITO officers and men, is maintained in "a
fcites, and the cavalry, comprising 1896
cic,rs and men, is maintained in 26
states. The general government last year
'.No'tcd $500, 600 toward the maintenance
.d equipment of the national guard, and
90 .fc atc appropriations Of $4,000, 600
svore made therefor by the states and ter
l.slrios.
The Coast Defenses.
Tho matters of Notifications and arma-
ucnt are treated in detail and at consider
able length. The secretary asks for an ap-
preparation of $4,000, 600 in addition to
the S12 100000 appropriated by the last
congrds for the construction of needed
coast Coeenses, the equipment of new sta
aff Of tl,, f,,f.
branch and other improvement in the gen
oral service.
In the past year the department has
made great progress in the purchase of ma
terial for the manufacture of great guns
and other parts of coast defense equipment
Il ard will ask congress that large additional
appropriations be made with which 10 con-
tinue work. Contracts have already been
awarded for the purchase of 81 sets Of 10
inch and one set Of 16 inch steel gun forg-
ings, costing nearly s., GOO, 900, and sec
ond contract Will shortly be made for as
sembling s. 10 and 10 inch guns costing
nearly s4OO, 600, besides 66 mortars, costing
about $500. 600. When the total number OF
emplacements upon which work is now
progressing are completed, l2S guns OF
large caliber viii be required for installa-
tion and 1873 mortars costing the govern
81 ment an even IS, 600, 600. OF the 4sl guns
to lie emplaced it is now proposed to mount
but 4S on nondisappearing carriages. The
intensity Of the fire delivered from the
main and secondary batteries of a battle
ship is such, the authorities claim rs e
make adequate cover for the gunners il
shore batteries an absolute necessity. Th'
experiments, twill be shown by Secrotar!
81 Lamont in his report, with disappearing
gun carriages, have developed fine type
about whose efficiency there is no longer
question.
The full scope that the coast defenses o
the country Will take is set forth elaborate
ly in the report and embraces. Colonel La
mont says, about 21 cities so far, witt
chances that seven more will be added g
the list requiring the attention OF the ma
tional government OF this number, en-
placements will be ordered and work pur
sued in the next six months in the con
q struction of emplacements at Portland
Il Mo Dortrrnouth Y II . D., ~.