The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1897-11-27
SHOULD HAVE MORE MEN.
Gen. Miles Urges an Enlargement
Of tho Army.
His Recommendation 90 Secretary
Aiger-Latter's Annual Report
seaconst Defenses-Miiitary
Protection for Alaska.

II
seaconst Defenses-Military
Protection for Alaska.
Washington. Nov 22-In his first annual
report Secretary Alger makes many rec
! administration OF the war department,
based upon the conclusions OF his subordi-
make officers. lie asks favorable consldera-
ton for the proposition to add two regi-
ments 20 the artillery branch. pointing TO
the valuable fortincations now being erect
ed. which. he says, should not be manned
| by a corporal guard.
wants "A Larger Army.
An army OF $1,000 men will satisfy Gen.
Nelson A. Miles. but standing force OF
| 10000 will not more than satisfy him. That
is the burden OF one or the most strenu-
Gus OF the recommendations OF the mai or
/ general commanding transmitted 10 the
president In the report OF Secretary Alger.
To Gen. Miles general recommendation
that the army enlistment be increased Sec
rotary Alger adds no word OF approval
but TO the specific appeal for two additional
regiments OF artillery he gives an emphatic
second Gen. Miles general recommended
ton touching the number OF enlisted men
Is as follows:
I'm my opinion Il would be wise and ju-
dicious for congress to establish stand
ard limiting the recruiting or the army
for all future time. unless the conditions OF
the country should be other than what
can now be anticipated The nation Is de-
veloping In most unusual and extraordinary
proportions In wealth and population, and
I as the army Is one OF the pillars OF the re-
public IL Is proper that Il should grow as
the nation grows, commensurate with the
needs and requirements OF the latter, and
i therefore recommend that a standard be
fixed and authorized by which the Gtrength
OF the army should be regulated in time
OF peace In proportion 10 the population
and wealth OF the nation, and that the
maximum OF enlisted men be limited TO one
soldier 10 every 1000 population. and the
minimum OF one soldier 10 every 1900 popu-
lation. the number actually In service with
In this limit TO be determined by the presi-
dent according 10 the necessities and re-
quirements OF the government"
For Senconst Dcfenses.
Seacoast defenses Is a constantly recur-
ring subject OF discussion In the report
Of the secretary and the communications or
heads OF departments. Gen. Miles urges
that the general plan OF defense adopted
by the government be pursued steadily and
the secretary OF war sounds the same note
more than once. The former recommends
the appropriation OF $l5,3lS500 for the sea-
coast work OF the year under the engineer.
ordnance and quartermaster departments,
and his superior sanctions the recommends
ton.
Brig. Gen. John NJ. Wilson, chief OF en-
glneers, goes into details on the subject
OF coast defenses. Since August rs. $780,
congress has appropriated 1910. SS3 FOR the
construction OF modern gun and mortar
batteries for coast defense. Up TO the
present time there have been contracted
for "a l2-lnch guns 50 ten-inch, 80 eight-inch
and 10 rapid-iire guns and 232 l2-lnch NOR
tars. The numbers Of each type now
mounted and ready for service are. respect
lively, 10. Is. 6. ., 20. These numbers II Is
expected 10 Increase by the end OF tho
calendar year to 10. %, 81, and 1GS, respect
lively.
Protection for Alaska.
He says OF Alaska that as many as lOo.-
600 people wfll be gathered there next year,
and a military force should be sent TO the
territory and large emergency powers
should be granted TO the president TO re-
press lawlessness. Probably the creation
OF additional military reservations, like
that OF St Michaels may be the best means
TO meet the problem. A boat for the patrol
Of the Yukon Is also asked for. as well as
increased pay for the enlisted men serving
In Alaska.
some Recommendation.
Secretary Alger recommends the revival
or the grade OF Lieutenant general, saying
that all the great nations give their Of
ficers much higher ranks than does tho
United States.
lie indorses the recommendation OF the
superintendent OF the military academy
that the number OF students at West Point
be increased by allowing each senator to
nominate a cadet. As an alternative, he
suggests that the president be authorized
TO appoint ten cadets at large each year.
Favorable comment Is made upon the
work Of the military colleges Of the coun-
try. but II Is suggested that the law be
amended so as 20 authorize details or army
officers only TO such colleges as have at
least $50 pupils actually present.
Attention is called to the need OF a proper
system OF criminal jurisdiction over mill
tary reservations and Of a hall OF records
for the storage OF official papers. The es-
innate for army transportation Is increased
by 100000 TO provide means FOR moving
heavy ordnance. To provide for the new
posts needed on the seacoast an estimate OF
g2.00O000 Is submitted.
Estimates.
The estimates for the next fiscal year
aggregate S9G.25S,f45. as against 49,, S32, az.
the amount OF the appropriations for the
current year The principal items OF in
crease are In rivers and harbors, whore
the estimate Is $iS72S,lG0 as against the
appropriation OF So. 27S OPS. Qualifications
and sea coast defcnses sl3.37S.57l. as against
$S.5iLlu; the military parks. posts and
cemeteries. S2.55SG39, against SSS9.S6I
Secretary Algor transmits without re-
ductlon the estimate OF the chief OF engi-
nCcrs FOR the next fiscal year, amounting
to Sis72S. 100. more than double the appro-
priations for the current year. lie says
these are largely in excess or what they
should be at a time when the demands
upon the treasury are as great now.
therefore he recommends a large reduction.
In justice 10 the chief OF engineers. Secre-
tary Alger says that these estimates were
made by his own direction. that the facts
might be placed before congress. showing
what the expenditures would be were all
the requirements OF the river and harbor
laws complied with, ana he cites the fact
that the outstanding continuous contracts
for river and harbor work viii require an
expenditure OF over sl7,o00,000 for the next
fiscal year. The secretary Endorses the
project for the construction Of the ship
canal connecting Lakes Union and Wash
ington with Puget Sound. but states that
active operations cannot be commenced
for some time. as the right OF way has not
yet been acquired
Secretary AlEcr especially commcnds for
patriotism generosity and zeal Col. Buff
fington and capt. Crozier. the inventors OF
the disappearing gun carriage. who gem