Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1896-11-27


Artilerists will be Needed to Man
the New Coast Defense Batteries.
The Dicipline, Health and Morals
of the Army are Good-Fewer
Court Martial Trials Estimates.
Washington, November 26.-In his
annual report which was made public
to-day Secretary Lamont renews his
previous recommendation that the in
fantry be reOrganized on the general
idea of three light and mobile bat
t.iiOns Of four companies each to the
regiment instead OF the cumbersome
ten company formation adopted cen
tury ago, and abandoned by other ma
tious since the development of modern
magazines rifles, and he quotes Generals
sherman, Sheridan and Lieut. General
SchOiield in support OF the necessity
of this reorganization Of the infantry.
The completion already of some
coast defenses and the approaching
completion OF other modern batteries
render necessary a larger force OF ar
tillcrists, but no other increase OF the
army is asked for. The plan Of sea
coast defense involves 100 distinct bat
teries in over twenty harb0rs.
fne number Ut Inc Oncers serving
with their commands is larger than at
any time since the war, and the secre-
tary expresses the belief that still fur
til r changes can be made TO advantage
in this direction.
The report shows that according to
the statements of department COM
mauds the discipline Of the troops was
never better than now. The number
of trials by general cOurt-martial was
about Is per cent less during the past
year than the year before.
In no previous year of the history
Of the army has the health OF the
troops been so satisfactory.
Under the new system established by
Secretary Lamont. the army has for
the first time been paid monthly.
Over $i40O0,000 was disbursed.
The saving to the government by
this system is about $4,000 annually,
and it appears TO encourage economy
among the men. as soldiers deposits
this year are over 100000 more than
last year.
Under the new recruiting system
S49S men were enlisted last year, of
whom nearly one-half were secured at
garrisOned posts without expense.
Desertion in the army is decreasing.
Deserters in 1888 numbered 3,otS, IN
1893 Onlv $50, and last year l,3b5.
The post exchange. the general CO.
operative store. maintained without
eyDensc TO the government, at nearly
ali military stations. by the enlisted
men. i'm which are kept for sale most
of the commodities that are in demand
at military posts, is now generally ap-
proved.
The receipts last year from all sour
ccs were more than one and halI
million dollars, with net profits OF
about $25O,0OO.
The 80 army officers assigned to duty
with the national guard OF the States
report a steady Improvement in the
militia.
Investigation this year has shown
serious deficiencies in the arms and
eauipment of this branch of the SER
vice. When the States furnish tne ar
mories and defray all expenses incl
dental to keeping their forces in train
ing. Secretary Lamont suggests that
the United States should provide them
with the implements which they Will
need in active service-arms and field
eduiDments-as the supply on hand is
totally inadequate for serious and pro-
long field operations.
The secretary recommends that the
Springfield rifle. caliDer 40. be issued
TO State troops. that the States be al
TO VIrq
obsolete arms ard equipments to be
sold. and the proceeds credited to the
States. and that the States be allowed
to purchase from the department sup
plies at regulation prices.
Fifteen regiments of regulars are on
duty east of the Missouri and the mer-
idian of Kansas City twenty are locat-
ed i'm the plains and mountains between
the Missouri and the eastern boundary
of the Pacific States and five are on
the Pacific coast. There are II military
posts.
The army consists Of 25,i26 officers
and men. or 2S4 below the legal max
imum. The effective field strength on
October 81 was 1852.
The estimates of the department for
the next fiscal year aggregate SlO,4S2,-
26S.
With this appropriate provision VIII
have been made for:
One hundred and siXty-three high
power gun emplacements.
One hundred and twenty-nine rapid
fire gun emplacements.
Three hundred Pinch mortar en-
placements.
Three hundred and fifty eight high
power steel guns.
Ninety-seven rapid fire guns.
Two hundred and ninety Pinch
mortars.
One hundred and eighty. S, 10 and T.
inch gun carriages.
Two hundred and ninety l2-lnch NOR
tar carriages.
The armament of troops with the
now maeaZien arms was completed IN
Nav and the armory is turning ont 10
rifles or carbines per day under the ap-
nropriation made last year All the
ammunition for small arms now made
is supplied with smOkeless powder OF
American manufacture and of salts
factory quality.
The report shows total expenditures
for the war department for Ioso' az
gregating $51 ,SG3.29S. -
Among them is an item Of 81. l36, I95
for salaries and contingencies In the
war Office at Washington.
This. the secretary says. shows a
sovine of $50. .750 from the eXpendi-
ture under the same head for the year
1892.
FINE CHICKERING PIANO FOR
SALE.
We have a beautiful Chickering up