Oxford eagle. (Oxford, Lafayette Co., Miss.) 1876-current, 1897-10-28
GEN NILES REPORT.
Tho Numerical Force of tho Army
is Inadequate.
ID /. nigh state or tnieien~y-wsrs .a
thr Coast Defenses satisfactory s'.r-
dition Of the Iadisn. w.rk for the
Arny ia Alaska.

wAimNsroN. oct .a-tirn. Mnsa
ssajor-srncral commanding the army.
has made his report to the secretary "
war. la Il hc makes reference - re-
ports OF The general aud other oHsccrs
suboriinate @" hiv, ia rank Gen.
Miles says in part.
'Thc army, although Inadequate In
point ~ numbvrs. wa, never Ia
higher state 81 efficiency. both a. -
the character aud qualifications Of its
oiiiccrs AMI iatcliigcncc aud loyalty
of it, soldiers. Toe progrcNs
that has been made ON the
Pacific coast in tho establishment
Of mo lcrn bliterics of artillery
have made it necessary td occupy new
ground aud 10 adopt new systems -
defense. The very commanding posi-.
tion known formerly a, Lime Point.
and now as Fnrt Baker. has received
portion of - armament. and will sona
become "a most formidable part OF the
.lcfensc OF thc harbpr Of san Fraa-
cisco.
1t will b. noticed b. Gsn. Skaters
report that very active aud earnest
work j. being dose Ia putting the i'm
Pprtant iort ia condition - proper de-
icnse- The same worS l. in prpgcess
all along ths Pacific coast especially
at san Dicgo. Cal. and will in time bc
completed at the mpath 81 the toium
hia rivcr, anl also the entrance 90
Puget ~ouni
Attention is also invited T. the re-
port uf GrH. Merriam. commanding
the department - the Culniubia. 80
i'ccially Ia the Importance. ~ larger
garrison at the entrance - the Colum.
hia RIVER in oregon. and Ia hi, report
on the condition sud necessities 81 the
great territory of ALASKA.
As all the other t,rr tories have been
occupied ~ military po,t,. an appro-
puatious have been made fur military
roads and establishment of telegraph
lines. bril ying of rivers and. in fact.
aiding and booking olt the way fot
pccupatiun II the vast territory by cit.
ixeus. 1t 4, dcculyi but jus, anI advisa.
bic that the same liberal spirit should
b. mauifestcd toward that great and
important territory.
As far a practicable it would, a ms
opinion. bc advisable tu have is waters
thoroughly examined by such uf tho
naval iorres a. could he used for thai
purpose. anh a. military reconnoitcr.
ing ani exploring parties ia past ysars
have been sent into that country to
furnish know led sc II is character. re-
sources aud neee,sltics. this. ia an,
H#4. 4 D.. b..
larger aud ulafc literal scale. While
there Is now no conflict between the
Population. composed of some al.O1e
lad ans and the white explorer
aud settlers. - the former arc
supplied with modern arm, they may
become turbulent aud Troublesome.
such has 5cen the history Of nearly
all the tribes ia other territories
The condition Uf the Indians gcurr-
ally j. better to-d,, than il has been
for many year, AMI during the last
year thcre has been un ripus disturb
ance ot the peace. l. was a wisc pro-
vision of asoc,s t4aL authorised the
president To detail exp, ricnceI officers
OF the army 10 act a. ladian agents.
aud trGst tAl, system will bc con.
tinued.
During the last ten years much at
tention has been given by the govern
ment u the su"js jsct Of coast drfeuscs
and most beneficial results are now
becoming apparent. approximately
sd. 0Ou. O10 have been appropriated 10y
the government which - nearly one.
third of what is required 10 put the
country la a safe condition of defense.
Although thc general desire Of ouI
people - tp iu1inttin a coalition of
peace with ali nations. and the policy
Of the government j. Ono ot goot will
and peaceful relations with all Others.
yet nothing eonli he more injaiicions
than Ia remain in y cpudit tiel Of inse-
curity aud permit the hvc, Of mil
lions and the accumulated wealth OF
many generations u be- destroyed OF
endangered by any foreign power
with which we ars liable u come into
contact
lie re re,ommenls fortidcation appro-
/ priatiOns ia the southwest as follows.
Approaches u Mobile. Ala, si99. 900.
approaches to New Orleans, S3I0. OaO.
Galveston. Tex. S4l2,O1J; San Diego.
Cal, $50 o.; san Francisco. SI.336..
0Oo, Columbia river. Si35,O0J; Puget
sound. slIi1.OJJ.
lie recommends strongly an increase
in the army OF at least two additional
regiments Of artillery. saying that 10y
the Jist of December IA number of posi-.
tions will D. armed in part or fully
with modern appliances of war and
that in these important positions there
are no troops stationed aud none
available for assignment To those posi-
tIons without talsiag them from other
stations where they are ut present im-
peratiycly required.
He also urges the necessity of adding
tive infantry regiments to the army
| and recommends that congress fix IA
standard of strength on basis of to-
tai population. This standard he
thinks should be maximum of one
enlisted man To every 1000 population
and the minimum one soldier - ever,
2,oOO population.
PERJURY PROSECUTIONS.