The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1896-12-03
THE ANNUAL War REPORT.
SECRETARY LAMONT GAVE HIS
REPORT OUT FOR PUBLICA-
TION YESTERDAY.
Reorganization OF THE Infantry
To Make 1t Easier to Handle-Recom-
mendations for Better Equipment of
State Militia,-Big Strides in
Coast Defense Work.

Washington, Nov. 26.-In his annual
report, which was made public today,
Secretary Lamont renews his previous
recommendation that the infantry be re-
organized on the general idea Of three
light and mobile battalions Of four com
panies each to the regiment instead OF
the cumbersome ten company formation
adopted century ago and abandoned by
other nations since the Development of
modern magazine rifles, and he quoted
Gems. Sherman, Sheridan and Lieut.
Gen Schofeld in support of the necessity
of this reorganization of the infantry.
The completion already of some coast
defenses and the approaches approach
| ing completion of other modern batteries
renders necessary larger force Of artil-
leryists, but no other increase of the
army is asked for The plan Of the sea
coast defense involves 100 distinct bat
teries in over twenty harbors.
The number of officers serving with
their command is larger than any time
since the war, and the secretary express
ses the belief that further changes can
be made to advantage in this direction.
The report shows that according to the
statements of department commanders
| the discipline of the troops was never
better than now. The number Of trials
by court-martial was about Is per cent
less during the past year than the year
before. In no previous year of the his
tory of the army has the health OF the
/ hAan ttufa
new system established by Secretary
Lamont the army has for the first time
been paid monthly. Over $14,O00,OOO
was dsbursed. The SAVING to the govern
ment by the system is about $4,000 an
nually and 3 appears to encourage
| economy among the men, as soldiers de-
posits this year are over $lOO,OOO more
than last year. DesertiOns In the army.
are decreasing. Deserters IN 1888 num-
bered 357S; in 1893 only 1857 and last
year 1865.
The post exchange, the general coop
Grafton store, maintained without ex-
pense to the government at nearly all
military stations by the enlisted men, In
which are kept for sale most Of the COM
modities that are in demand at military
posts is now generally approved.
The receipts last year from all sources
were more than one and half million
GOO. Ga va
The thirty-fiye army officers assigned
to duty with the national guard Of the
states report steady improvement in the
militia. Investigation this year has
shown serious deficiency in the arms and
equipment of this branch of the service.
When the states furnish tine armories
and defray all expense Incidental 10
keeping their forces in training, Secre.
tary Lamont suggests that the United
States should provide them with imple-
mcnts which they will need in active
seryice-arms and field equipments-as
the supply is too snail and Inadequate
for prolonged field operations. ~
The secretary recommends that tne
Springfield rifle, calibre As, be issued to
state troops that the stntcs be allowed
lete arms to be sold, the proceeds credit
cd to the states, and that the states be
allowed to purchase from the department
supplies ut regulation prices.
THE army consists of 25,426 officers
and men. or 2S4 below the legal maxi
mum. The effective field strength on
October u was 23,3S2. Inc report
shows that whereas on the hrst OF July,
1 1899. of our modern defense, but one
high mower gun was mounted; by the
first of July next We will have IN posi-.
! tion seventy high power breech- loading
guns and ninety-five breech-loading NOR
tors Of modern description, and by the
following July, by completion. OF WORK
already under way or provided for, 10
guns and 1853 mortars. A battery OF twS
or three of the big guns take the pace Of
the former pretentious Iort anu ~ Vastly
more effective. r
The defense under consideration are
distributed among the ports OF Portland,
Nc Portsmouth. N. H., Boston Nara
qanset Bay, eastern entrance 10 long IL
land sound: eastern and southern en-
frances to New York, Philadelphia, Bal
timore Washington, Hampton Roads,
Wilmington, Charleston, Sayannah, hey
West, Pensacola, Mobile, New Orleans
Galveston, Sandiego. San frane,sco.
mouth of the Columbia river ana fuget
sound. All of the emplacements nave
been located with a view to carrying
ont the project of the Endcott board
an Notifications, organized under the act
If congress on March 3. 1885, as re-
yised by the permanent board OF engi-
nccrs.
The secretary says the department,
in making these allotments, was glided
4 by desire to protect us many OF Inc
scaports as practicable against maraud.
ing attacks of isolated cruisers, as well
as TO provide more efficient defense
to important places, and also to utilize
TO the best advantage the guns for which
carriages could be most speedily fnr-
nished.
| The total number of emplacements pro.
| yided for to date is 14S guns ana lob
m0rtars. lrhsf.
Before the end of the present year we
shall have seven 12-inch, forty-two ~
inch, eight S-inch, six rapid-hring guns
and 112 mortar emplacements. ny July
| oh ha .anmnlptQ6
Pinch, forty-six 10-inch, ten s,inch and
| five rapid-fring guns and 112 mortar
emplacements. BY the close OF the com
ing year this will be increased to twenty
one 12-inch, sixty-six lO-incs, awe 1,'y.
and 15fi mortar emplacements. A very
| large proportion of emplacements are in
tended to receive guns mounted on ans
appearing carriages.
i The armament Of troops with me new
magazine arms wes completea 10 way