The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1896-11-27
Secretary Lamont Does Not Ask
For It's Increase.
More Batteries Though Render
More Artillery Men Necessary.
NEW INFANTRY PLAN.
Light BatalIiOns of Four COmpa-
MES Each Recommended.
Lamont Suggests U. S. Provide
Militia With Rifles.

report which was made public today
Secretary Lamont renevs his previous
recommendation that the infantry be
reorganized on the general idea of
three light and mobile battallions of
four companies each to the regiment
instead of the cum bersome ten com
panies the formation adopted cen
fury ago and abandoned by other ma
tons since the development of modern
magazine rifles. and he quotes Gener-
ais Sherman, Sheridan and Lieutenant
General Scoheld in support of the ne
cesS1ty of the reorganization.
The completion already of some coast
defenses and the approaching compile
IlOn OF other modern batteries render
necessary a larger force of artillery,
but no increase of the army is asked
The plan of coast defenses includes a
hundred batteries in several harbors.
investigation this year has shown seri-
GUS deficiencies in the arms and equip
ment of the state militia. When the
states furnish the armOries and defray
all expenses incidental to keeping their
forces in training, Secretary Lamont
suggests that the United States should
provide them with the implements
which they viii need in actual service
arms and eQulment-aS the supply on
hand is inadequate for service and
prolonged field operations. He rec
ommends that the Springfield rifle, cal
-i'GA ~ ne issued 10 state troops, Lne1L
the states be allowed to return to the
war department obsolete arms and
equipments to be sold and the proceeds
credited to the states, and that the
states be allowed to purchase from the
department supplies at regulation
prices.
The report shows that. whereas, on
the 1st of July, 1893. of our modern
defense but one high power gun was
mounted, by the 1st of July next we
will have in position 20 high power
breech-IOading guns and IS breech-
loading mOrtars of modern design, and
by the following July, on completion of
work already under way or provided
for 128 guns and 1873 mOrtars- A bat
terry of two or three of these gunsstakes
the place of the former pretentiOus fort
and is vastly more effective. The num-
Der of gun carriages completed and
building, all Of which will be finished
within the next fiscal year is 20 Pinch.
10-inch and 1913 fire mOrtars. By
July. 1897, there should be ready 20 gun
carriages and 123 mortar carriages
The total number of guns completed
to date since the first appropriation is
81 8-inch guns and so mOrtars. With
the money already provided there will
be by June 80, 1897, 80 S-inch guns and
10 10-inch guns and so 12-inch mOrtars.
The estimates Of the department for
the next fiscal year aggregate $40, 1872
Z6S.
The armament OF troops with the
new magazine guns was completed in
May and the armory is turning out 125
rifles or carbines each day. under the
appropriation 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 secretary says the Mississippi
river commission has decided to dis
continue the plan to improve the river
by bank protection and to adopt the
plan of dredging channels in shoa1
places and maintaining by local coop
Grafton an effective system. With this
change Of policy the minority believe
the function of the commission is end
ed and the work should be turned over
to the secretary of war.
The 30 Apache prisoners of Gero-
nimo's band have, he says, led a quiet
life at Fort Sill and have reached a
self-supporting condition. He recon-
mends that in time the title to the 81
900 acres they occupy be acquired by
the government and that they then be
placed under control of the Indian bu-
reau.
The report shows total expenditures
of the war department for 1896 aggre-
eating 651 SO3 29S