The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1896-11-27
THE WAR OFFICE REPORT.
OPERATIONS OF TIE ARMY DUR
ING THE LAST FIschL YEAR.

sesutiuE in the Mountsins or Arirsns aus
Ia Mexican Territory-Trsnsrsrs OF ReEi-
rsents-D ecrsase or Desertions-Reson-
n~endsaons for the BETTER ArninE
and Equipment OF the State Troops.
WARRINGTON. Nov. 2e.-secretary Lannon'S
report of the operations Of the War Department
for 1890 shows total expenditures aRGroRatinR
nearly S52. 900. 900 and an unexpended balance
Of nearly s 2 1000. 900 turned back into the Treas
ury at the end OF the fiscal year. For tho three
years Of Col. Jnmont's administration the sur
plus has amounted to moro than $4,000, 900.
lrrho only active operations devolvod upon the
army during the year consisted of scouting in
the mountains OF Arizona aud In the Mexican
territory adjacent to the Arizona line, with the
object of the capture of renegade Apaches, who,
in December. 1895. and March, 1909, raided
into Arizona from their resorts south of the
boundary line and committed three murders
within our own territory. Detachments Of
troops wore Immediately sent in pursuit; two of
the Indians uero killed and one captured.
The remainder Of the band OF reneRados
were pursued 100 miles south of the Mexican
line, whore the trail could be no longer fol-
lowed. The pursuit was continued into MeIi-
can territory under an international agreement
between tho United States and Mexico. which
provided for the reciprocal crossing of the
frontiers by tho armed detachments Of either
country whom in actual pursuit of hostile In
dams. The service performed was very ar
duous, and involved over Al 1000 miles' march OF
various organized detachments.
Under the call of the United States Marshal
made in August last, troopa wore called out In
the Department of Arizona to protect the Amer
loan portion Of the town of Nogalcs against .
raid Of hlibusters and Mexican indiana Thore
were no Casualties among the troops. but six
Mexicans and eight Indians were killed in the
Mexican portion of the town before the arrival
Of the troops. Tho object of the raid was the
capture and plumber of the Custom House. Tho
timely appearance Of the troops probably pre-
vented q serious disturbance and the loss OF life
and property Of American citizens.
To promote the efficiency of the troops several
transfers of regiments and exchanges of sta
lions have been made during the year. Tho
Twenty fourth Infantry. which has had over
thirty years continuous service in Texas and
tho southwestern Territories. was transferred
to Fort Douglas, near Salt Lake City. The FIJI
tenth Infantry. after ave years service 5eRr
Chicago. has taken the place of the Twenty
fourth, and tho Fourth Infantry, which has
been in Idaho and Washington for ten years,
has succeeded the Fifteenth. The Fifth Artil-
lery was brought to posts in New York harbor
after six years service on the Pacific coast.
Nine regiments in all were changed.
The equivalent of 8 regiments are now sta
toned in the Pacific States. Is are east of the
Missouri River and the meridian of Kansas City.
and 20 regiment are still located in the plains
and mountain country extending westward from
the Missouri River to the eastern boundary of
the Pacific States. OF tho cavalry arm, / reEi-
mont is on the Pacific, III regiments are east of
the meridian of Kansas City. and the rest M
regiments, are serving in the prairie and noun
tain region. where are the homes of nearly all
the Indians who are still capable OF making
the Pacific coast. / on the Gulf, and 8 on tho
Atlantic. or 10 batteries of field artillery. 2 are
IN nai Sa ! in RSod ! II Island hSafsi i i IN n S Han york. l and M lin In
the District of Columbia:
The number Of enlisted men in the service on
authorised b. lay. DedGct, M t the sic 4. those hose
taehed service, tho effective field strength Of
the army on that day vas 1882 of all arms;
and $40 arc on detached duty. The number Of
and on the Goth Of June. 1893. It was 40.
The Secretary says that in no previous year of
troops been SO satisfactory as during the Last
fiscal year. Each soldier was sick ia days. as
a sssrn. T : rsS numS be- t Of soldiers hal nss 50 p disaSied as sI to
per thousand, as compared with as.77 annually
compared with 7.S5 for the preceding decade.
apparently less susceptible to most diseases
than the whites. The reports show that each
ness, whilo the men of tho colored regiments
The Paymaster-G eneral reports that during
the year tho army was paid monthly, the frst
year In which this result has been attained. 1t
has been accomplished with q less number OF
amount disbursed was upward Of $4,000. 900.
or q little more than one-fourth OF tho entire
annrnnFiattnn fnr tho military RATAhliAh NnRnt
Rules to govern the payment OF troops by check
and by currency sent by express. as authorized
Army Regulations, and went Into effect in No
u undes the %, a aes' c {IssdF' had sath'9 BEEN p @sds to
= limited extent for some years. About
monthly pay in the form OF checks sent by mail
or in cash sent BY express. and long and expen-
aive journeys of pRymasters are not now re-
quired. The Institution of this system OF pay
ment results In y considerable economy. and
Sisp i an .hs ei ths p Pfe eaeh P po5menTi Tho 81 e sTeEy sSis
80 far gained also indicates that habits Of
economy on ot the part 81 tns SsI psttta men deria are en- en-,
year were moro than 100000 greater than
during the year previous. Tho saving = 70 army
appropriations will pc moro than $4,000
The total number of men enlisted last year
was s,4os. of whom nearly one-half were
secured at garrisoned posts without expense.
Tine remainder. 1896 in number. were enlisted
in tho cities, and almost 5000 of these pro-
0eeded directly from places OF enlistment 10 the
regiments to which they had been assigned.
while the rest were assembled in rendezvous be-
fore they were sent TO their regiments. There
were no guards or escorts for either class, and
therefore no expense attended their journeys
save tho regular railroad fare. Shortly before
the recruiting depots were discontinued
IN October, 1894, there were upward OF
1900 men detained at those establish
ments. All recruits now reach their companies
q few days after enlistment, and become trained
soldiers much sooner than under the old system.
The new practice receives tho hearty common
dalton OF all who nave observed its practical
working. Besides tho advantage TO the service
through higher efficiency. the economies In d.
rect Expenditures reach u largo sum, while the
indirect and consequential economies are also
Important, one Of which was tho addition to the
available barrack accommodation for regular
Ra-rlsons of three well-buiit posts that were
very favorably situated for military purposes.
When tho policy was inauRurated of very
greatly reducing the reward authorized to be
paid for the apprehension of deserters from tho
army. and of disseminating tho military prison
which for twenty years had been maintained
exclusively for tho confinement OF violators OF
the rules Of army NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
we're expressed by some lost there should ensue
n great increase in the number of army de-