The copper country evening news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 18??-1907, 1896-11-13
REPORT OF GEN. NILES
Regulars Had Little Active Service
During the Year.
INDIANS ARE TREATED BETTER.


the Absence Of Outbreaks -Appropria-
ton Recommended for Replacing Decay
Ing and Anticipated Army Posts-Coast
Defenses-Increase OF the Army Recon-
mended-Use of the Bicycle.
Washington. Nov. l3.-In his annual
report to the secretary OF war Major
General Miles. commanding the army,
says that fortunately during the year
the army has been called upon only
TO a limited extent TO act either against
hostile Indians OF against bodies OF men /
engaged In violating the laws OF the
United States or international treaty
obligations. General Miles recommends
liberal appropriation for replacing
the present decaying and autiquated
post buildings occupied by the army.
and especially those on what was for
erly the Indian frontier. with new and
sanitary structures
General Miles believes that the free
dom Of the country of late from Indian
outbreaks Is to be ascribed TO the iact
that the Indians now receive better
treatment from the government; that
they are more impressed with the pow
er of the army to punish them. and
that their affairs are in many cases
managed by competent army officers
Therefore. he recommends that this
same policy as to the Indians be con-
tinued. >
Coast Def-nses.
General Miles again devotes a large
portion OF his report to the considers
ton OF questions OF coast defense. and
he renews forcibly all the recommen-
dations on that subject made In his
former reports. The report states that
the change in warlike appliances makes
| 1t necessary TO place high power guns
at much greater distances than for
merly from the centers Of wealth. and
| II is recommended that liberal appro-
priations be made by the coming ses-
sion of congress for the manufacture
| Of guns their emplacements. quarters.
| and barracks. The estimate that Cen
| eral Miles says are imperatively re-
/ auired 10 be allotted for the next year
| for the work of the ordnance. engin'
eers aud qualtermasters' departments
| at different coast points include the
| following: Mobile, Ala, sl5o,O0o: New
| Orleans, La, s4S9. 400: Galveston. Tex.
| Si57 1926: San Diego. Cal. S600,925 Sar
Francisco. Cal. 1902 $50: mouth OF Col
umbia river s566.325 Puget sound
t764 .05O
Unwise Argument.
General Miles says: AN unwise ar
gument has been made against th'
construction of modern appliances o.
war on the theory that IL Is q dange'
and menace to the laboring classes. IL
some instances marked protests hav'
been made against such national pol
lev The arguments seem scarcei!
worthy OF consideration: yet IL
deemed proper to call attention 70 TN
fact that these national safeguards ar
In no sense a menace to any class o
our citizens, not even to the humbles
Individual: but on the other hand the
are a protection TO life. property an
| welfare of all classes from the highes
TO the lowest. They protect not oni
the commercial centers. with their &C
cumuiation OF public buildings and pr
| yate dwellings, commerce and snip
wards. but the factory. the foundry, IN
| workshop. and also the savings bank
and the Cottages III iaSe' thS ~~SN~>
ton of our great commercial ana man
ufacturing cities would be a nations
disaster far more serious ana appal
ing 20 the great masses OF the laborin
population than IL would be to any otf
er class OF our people. 81
Increase Of the Army.
General Miles renews his former re'
concentrations for an increase OF II
army on the ground that II has M
kent pace with the Increased weai'
OF public and private interests. ana
suggests that the enlisted strength
the army be fixed at one soldier to e.
ery 1000 Of population as minimum
the maximum strength not to excee
one soldier for every 1000 popuiatio
the strength to be determined Win
} these limits by the president. accordir
% the necessities and requirements
the nation.
He points out the importance or ma
ing at least two stations east OF u
Rocky mountains and one west. sui
ah,e for the accommodation OF one res
ment OF cavalry, and renews the re
concentrations made last year concer
ing the use Of bicycles and motor wa
ons and promotion of competent
listed men to the grade OF second lie