The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1897-11-22
SECRETARY ALGER'SREP0RT
TH0ROUGHLY REVIEWS THE CON-
DITION AND NEEDS OF THE ARMY.


Lieutenant-General Gun Cot
ton Slightly Better Than American
More Cadets at West Point-Health of
White and Colored Troops.
Washington, Nov. H.-The annual
report of Secretary of War Alger de-
parted from the custom of his prede-
,cessors, who reviewed the reports of
the commanding generals and the
heads of bureaus. AS only the last
quarter of the fiscal year ending June
80 fell within the present secretarys
term he presents synopsis of the re-
ports prepared by the officer immedi-
ately responsible, together with their
recommendations for legislation tend
ing to the better administration of their
departments. General Miles considered
the army, although inadequate in point
of numbers, never in higher state Of
efficiency He recommended that artil-
lery gunners and gunnery specialists
receive proper compensation. He point
ed out the necessity of gymnasiums
and drill halls along the line of north
ASSACAh
of modern Notifications and high pow
er guns approximately $26,000,000 had
been expended, nearly one-third Of
what was required to put the country
in safe condition of defense. Gener-
al Miles recommended the addition Of
two regiments of artillery that the
mortar batteries and high power guns
already in position might be properly
manned in time Of hostility. The gen.
eral plan for defence adopted by the
government should be steadily pursued
until the nation is in a condition of Sc
curity. He recommended that in the
appropriations for the coming fiscal
year the following sums be appropriate
ed:
For the mouth of the Penobscot riv-
er, $175,O00; mouth of the Kennebec riv-
er, Maine, s19S, 500; Portland, Me, $1,173,-
900; Portsmouth, N. H., $377, 900; Boston
harbor, $1,347, 900; Portsmouth, N. H.,
$377, 900; Boston harbor $1,347,000; New
Bedford, Mass, 1904, 900; Narragansett
bay, 1888, 900; defences or Long Island
sound, 100000 eastern entrance New
York, $4S9,000; southern entrance New
York, $1,419,000; approaches of Phila-
delphia, SAL 900; approaches to Balti-
more, $499,000; approaches to Washing
ton, D. c., $604000; Hampton Roads,
$463,000; approaches to Wilmington, N.
c., 1897 900; Charleston harbor, S. c.,
$150000; approaches to Savannah, Ca,
$415, 1000; Key West, Fla, $4,000; Pen
sacola harbor, $4,000; approaches to
Mobile, Ala, 1897 900; approaches to
New Orleans $4,000; Galveston, Tex,
$412,0O0; San Diego Cal, $725,000; San
Francisco, Cal, $1,33e, COO; Columbia
river, $685., 900; Puget sound, $1,140,000;
Lake Champlain, s4s,000.
The demand for five additional infan-
try regiments was imperative because
Of increased demands upon that SER
vice as for instance the occupation
with suitable garrison of the great ter
ritory of Alaska. The strength of the
army in time Of peace should be regu-
lated to the population and wealth OF
the nation. The maximum of enlisted
men shrould be limited to one soldier
to every thousand population and the
minimum one soldier to every two
thousand population. The secretary In
reviewing the commanding generals
report urges the favorable considera
ton of General Miles request for two
more artillery regiments. The secre-
tary believes that further military res.
ervations should be created in Alaska
On account of the terrible rigor of the
cold weather, and also the inducements
for desertion, the pay of the enlisted
men serving there should be increased
with the hope that extra compensation
will be an inducement for very high
grade Of men to enlist in that particu.
lar service
He recommends the revival of tn
grade of lieutenant general. In report
ing to the secretary the board of ord
nance found that English gun cotto1
was slightly better than that of Amer
lean manufacture. The secretary says
The military academy at West Poin
can accommodate more students, anC
If provision is made for two additiona
regiments Of artillery, as recommended
the army can absorb more of it's gradu
ates. The superintendent recommend
legislation to authorize the appointment
of two cadets at large from each state
to be nominated by senator's Thi
would give ninety cadets more than a
should be no surplus graduates, and
recommend as an alternative that tn
president be authorized to appoint tel
cadets at large each year. This woule
be an excess Of thirty cadets over tn,
number now authorized. Under section
1915 of the revised statutes the presi
dent had this power, but by the act o
June II, 1875 it was provided chat ca
diets at large at the military academ.
shall not hereafter exceed ten in ALL
The report of the adjutant genera
showed that of the 31,828 students pres
ent at colleges where militarw instruc
ton was offered 15,5OS received such in
struction. Secretary Alger thought tn
work would be more valuable if tn,
law were amended to authorize the de
tails now provided only at such colleges
and other institutions of learning a.
have not less than $50 pupils actual,
present for instruction. Adequate ap
preparations for the maintenance of tn,
national guard was the burden of thu
inspector generals recommendations
He thought funds should be appropri
ated for field manoeuvres, combined
when practicable with the nationa
guard. Secretary Alser dwelt upon thu
necessity for legislation to provide 6
proper system of ordinary criminal jur