The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1896-12-08

vigilance by the various officers charged
with the responsibility. in the expendit-
ure OF the appropriations. have resulted
in reducing TO a minimum the cost OF
maintenance of our military establish
meDt.
POST CONSTRUCTION.
During the past year the work OF con-
struction of permanent infantry and cav
airy posts has been continued at the
places heretofore designated. The secre-
tary of war repeats his recommendation.
that appropriations for barracks and
quarters should more strictly conform TO
the needs of service, as judged by the de-
psrtment, rather than respond TO the
wishes and opportunities OF localities.
II is imperative that much OF the money
provided for such construction should
now be allotted TO the erection of neces-
sary quarters for the garrisons assigned
10 the coast defenses. where many men
will be needed to properly care for and
operate modern guns. 1t Is essential.
too. that early provision be made 10 sup
ply the necessary force of artillery 20
meet the demands of this service The
entire army has now been equipped with
new magazine arms and a wise policy
demands that all available public and
private resources should be so employed
as TO provide within a reasonable time
sufficient number 10 supply the state
militia with these modern weapons and
to provide an ample reserve for any
emergency.
ORGANIZED MILITIA.
The organized militia numbers 1i2s79
men, The appropriation for its support
by the several states approximate 81,
500. 600 annually and s4e0. 900 is contribute
ed by the general government. Invesfi-
CATION shows these troops 10 be usually
well drilled and inspired with much mill
itary interest. but in many instances
they are so deficient in proper arms and
equipment that sudden call 20 active
duty would find them inadequately pre-;
pared for field service. /. therefore,
recommend that prompt measures be
taken to remedy this condition and that
every encouragement be given 10 this de-
serving body Of unpaid and voluntary
citizen soldiers. upon whose assistance
We must largely rely in time OF trouble
COAST DEFENSES.
During the past year rapid progress
has been made toward the completion
of the scheme adopted for the erection
and armament of Notifications along our
sescoast, while equal progress has been
made in providing the material for sab
marine defenses in connection with these
works 1; is PECULIARLY gratifying at this
time to note the great advance that has
been made IN this important undertsk-
ing since the date Of my annual message
to the Fifty-.hird congress at the open
ing OF the second session IN December,
1888 At that time / informed the con-
greSs Of the approaching completion OF
nine l2-ineh, twenty 1o-inch and thirty
four s-inch high-power steel guns, and
seventy-fve 12-inch rified nortars
COAST ORDNANCE.
This total then seemed insignificant
when compared with the great work re-
rnainrg to De done. Yet Il was none me
les A source % satisfaction 20 every clti-
gen when ne reflected that II represented
the first ins.aIlrrent n the rex or1nanc.
OF American design and American man
ufac.ara. which demonstrated our sblli-
~ u Supply from cur own resources
guns Of unexcelle1 power and sccuracy.
Al that date. however. there were prae-
ticalIy no carriages upon which 70 mount
the guns. ard only fhirty-ons snplace-
rnsnts fDr guns and sixty-iour FOR NOR
;ars Nor Eere all these eruplzcsfnsris
fl condition % receive thslr ar-n4nett
Oriy one h.za-poSsr gun Ess az ria;
tine IN position FOR the defsnse q t5s aa- !
tire c5zsL
since ina. tire re number q guns sc- !
i'fsl y completed has been Increased 20 /
:osal % fwsnfy-one l3-1nca. hfty-ssx 10 j
I-cs. sixty-oae s-incn 5sgn-pcFsr oreech- /
loading steel guns. ter rsgi9-hre s1as
ard eighty iz-ineh rt5ed F-19-tars.
II addition there are a process - >2n-l
strscglon one Is-snch fyps gun. hffy = {
forh. hfcy-zix I6-sncn. tEe1fy-s~re1 = /
facn hign-pJEsr giIrs and slKry-sx u
.aen riHe5 rnorfzrs. - az 49, Ea7s sni
ua0TtsrE During Ire sa5fe year sfnsne-
diassly preced.7g TIE HsesssEs ssf~-r~s
20 he srs; modern gun c1rTiass BAD
been completed and s'@Ts1 rsSTs were n /
process % co1Ssr1>s8on-
Al buf one zsre - tae 17u-e - Vpszr-
zres type Tn@se. hFEefsT- Ufre Do: /
s1-r a. - ssc-Jrs sseestzFy c5ssz fs- to /
zrrl7lery runners axssasf re in;s-fsr- /
encs u usg5s-n machinery Ere azd hsxa-
zoHs- xSns tn ingenflFs xs-iaE - ~ 4
tusre At civ3.as expsrfs has bee1 tAx-
"a IN deelzufrc rssrlzzEs fnat xaez1 i
oss.-fs.s tass ss1ff. resulting j. = ssesisv-
- h % sJi1tssn - - dfsftrglf prgs-
lem. Ssacs I@sz the frr15@g = srsa car
r.zxs- son.rT1cls4 o. bu.iis1E ass bsss1
rsF-.zss - 2 tsgzs = Isl. Il Ehlrn r-x5fg-
Esne ssc o. ~ a.s&pg,< srsn< psisseis sse.
ar - rs-rnhe- - ssar-Ar cssTa<st -
* sasts tn nfnrsT-SY@ essirssefrse,sss
.rfssa were p-1gsse1 srT prior - ma
sssue a&r sega .z1seas<s - - s-s-.s AID
h.iiez
raas .~sslsoa = i4sSs.s de 70 -