The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1896-11-12
GINIK.fL .HILIS' REPoHI.
The Importance of Coast Deie"ces 'o'"-
prise. the Greater Part.

WASHINGTON. Nov. lin transmit
ting to the Secretary of War the an
nual reports OF the department com
manders i'm connection with ms own re-
ports upon the military operations oi 'he
uast year, General Nelson A. M''es' 0o'"
handing the army. says
Fortunately during the year the army
was called on only TO limited extent
~ act either against hostile Indians or
against bodies OF men. who are engaged
i'm violating the United States law oil
international treaty obligations. Inc
troops OF the Mexican republic as wei
as orr own. have been engaged I'm sup
pressing such acts Of lawlessness as nave
i'm a small degree. interferrcd with the
peace OF the communities as on both sides
of the border. ana arrangements have
been made through tho Government OF
Mexico to secure cooperation OF the
forces Of that republic ard our own to
this end"
lie commends the discipline and per-
sonnet of the army. During the past year
the country has fortunately been free
from any serious outbreak of Indians.
The different tribes have shown them
selves well disposed. and are making
some progress towards civilization.
A view of the various changes in the
strength Of the army shows that
third of a century ago when the popula-
ton Of the country was only halt OF
what il is to-day and the value OF prop
erty much less. the army numbered
twice as many men as il does to-day. ana
las remained stagnant and chrystalilzed
for twenty years. General Miles recon-
mends that the enlisted strength of the
army be fixed at one soldier to every
? 100 of population as minimum. the
maximum not to exceed one soldier for
every 600 Of population. the strength
t. be determined by the President OF the
United States according to the necessi-
ties and requirements of the nation.
He renews his previous recommended
ton that at least two stations west OF
the Rocky Mountains and one east he
established for the accommodation OF one
regiment cavalry each. also that the re-
concentrations concerning the use of BIZ
cycles and motor wagons. and the pro-
motion of enlisted men. who shall be
found competent after thorough exami-
nation TO the grade Of second lieutenant.
after five wears Of service.
A consideration of the Importance OF
coast defences. comprise the greater
part of General Miles report and is the
subject of his most important sueges-
tions. He renews the recommendation
made in his report for last year. and
adds:
Liberal appropriations should be made
for the manufacture of hgh-power guns
and mortars, the constructions Of en-
placements. platforms. and fortifc1tions
for the same. and the construction Of
barracks and quarters for the accommo-
dalton Of the artillery garrisons that are
TO command them, and 1 urge that
4fff.f..f .s.tf
for tho work OF ordnance. engineer. and
qulrtermasters departments during the
coming year. as follows:
At Portland. Me. Sl13iS1O: Ports
mouth. y. H., $685. 2j; Boston. slO7S. 300:
Narrasansett Pier. X. l.. sGi2 S2j: Long
Island Sound, eastern entrance. 1896 ag5.
New York. eastern entrance 1913 zoe. New
York. southern entrance. 81. 2a9.C00: Phila-
delphia, s625.02j, Baltimore. S67l. 40: Wash
ington. SjN92j; Hampton Roads. Va.
stl9.325; Wilmington. y. c.. Sl25. 525.
Charleston. S. c.. s35Os25: Savannah.
Ga. $685.; Key West, Fla. So. 400: Pen
sacola, Fla. $l5O. 400, Mobile. Ala. $50. 400.
New Orleans, $3.50. 400; Galveston Texas.
Sl'A92'' San Diego. Cal, 5000 a25. San
francisco. 1902 $50; mouth of the Column
S76i0J0.
nr above sums" General Miles saws
are imperatively required for the pres
ent year The amounts for the consfruc-
tion OF barracks and quarters included
IN them Will be all that will be required
Tor these localities for many years. and
probably complete work needed for that
department.
An unwise argument" continues the
General has been made against the
construction Of modern hieh-nower guns.
mortars, and the modern appliances of
war that il Is a danger and a menace
10 the laborng classes. and in some in
stances marked protests have been made
against such a national policy. The ar
eument seems scarcely worthy of con-
sideration; yet il is deemed proper to
call attention TO the fact that those
national safeguards are in no sense
menace TO any class of citizens. not
even TO the humblest individual. but. on
the other hand, they are protection TO
the life, property. and welfare of all
classes, from the highest to the lowest.
They protect. not only the commercial
ports with their accumulation of public
buildings and private dwellings. the
commerce. the shiD-yard. the factory,
the foundry. the workshop. but also
the savings bank and the cottage
In fact, the destruction of our great
commercial and manufacturing cities
would be a national disaster far more
serious and appalling to the great MASSES
of the laboring population than it would
be to any other class Of our people.