The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1896-12-02

Final Recommendation.
WASHINGTON, Nov. 2G.-In his an
nual report, which was made public
to day, Secretary Lamont renews his
previous recommendations thst the
infantry be reorganized on the gener-
al idea of three light and mobile bat,
talions of four companies each to the
, regiment, instead OF the cumbersome
ten company formation adopted CEN
tury ago, and abandoned by other ma
tions since the development of mod
ern magazine rifles, and he quotes
Generals Sherman. Sheridan and
Lieutenant General Schofield in sup
port of the necessity of this reorgani'
Zation of the infantry.
The completion already of some
coast defences and the approaching
completion of other modern batteries
render necessary larger force OF ar
tillerists, but no otner increase of the
army is asked for. The plan OF sea,
coast defense involves 100 distinct
batteries in over 90 haT bors.
The number of line officers serving
with their commands is larger than at
rany time since the last war and the
Secretary expresses the belief that still
further changes can be made to advan-
tage in this direction.
The report shows that according to
the statements of department COM
manders, the discipline of the troops
was never better than now. The num-
ber 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 $14, 100000 was distributed. The
saving to the government by the sys-
tenn is about $25, 900 annually and it
appears to encourage economy among
the men, as soldiers deposits this year
are over 800, 900 more than last year.
Under the new recruiting system
a,SSS 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 1858 numbered 3,576, in
1898 only 1852, and last year 1865.
The post exshange, the general CO.
operative store, maintained without
expense to the government at nearly
all military stations, by the enlisted
men, in which are kept for sale most
of the commodities that are in demand
at military posts, is now generally
approved. The receipts last year
from all som ces were more than one
and half million dollars, with net
profit of about $780, 900.
The thirty.fve army officers assign
ed to duty with the national guard of
the States report steady improvement
in the militia.
Investigation this year has shown
serious Deficiencies in the arms and
equipment of this branch of the serv-
ice when the States furnish the 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
equipment-as the supply on hand is
totally inadequate for serious and
prolonged field operations.
The Secretary recommends that the
Springfield Rife calibre As be issued
to State troops, that the States be al
lowed to return to the War Depart
ment obsolete arms and equipments
to be sold and the proceeds credited to
the States and that the States be allow
ed to purchase from the department
supplies at regulation prices.
Fifteen regiments of regulars are
on duty East of the Missouri and the
meridian of Kansas City, twenty are
located in the plains and mountains
betweeen the Missouri and the Eastern
boundary of the Pacific States and
five are on the Pacific coat. There
are seventy seven military post. The
army consists of 25,426 officers and
men, or 2S4 below the legal maximum.
The effective field strength on October
81 was %, ,SS2.
The report shows that whereas, on
the first of July, 1892, at our modern
defenses but one high power gun was
mounted, by the first of July next we
will have in position seventy high
power breechloading guns and nine
ty-fve brechloading mortars of mod
ern design, and by the following July
on completion of work already under
way or provided for 1913 guns and 153
mertars. A battery of two or three
of these guns takes the place of the
former pretensious fort AMI is vastly
more effective.
The defenses now under considera-
ton are distributed among the ports of
Portland, Me-, Portsmouth, N. H.,
Boston, Narragansett Bay, to New
York, Philadelphia. Baltimore, Wash
ington, Hampton Roads, Whining.
ton, Charleston, Savannah, Kew
West, Pensacola, Mobile, New Or
leans, Galveston, San Diego, San
Francisco, the mouth of the Columbia
River and Puget Sound. All of the
emplacements have been located with
view to carrying out the project of
thei Endicott board on Notifications Or
ganized under the Act of Congress of
March 3, 1895, as revised by the per-
manent board of engineers. The
Secretary says that the department in
making these allotments was guided
Bye desire to protect as many of the
sea ports as practicable against ma
rauding attacks of isolated cruisers as
well as to provide more efficient de-
Tense for the important places, and