River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1897-11-25
SHOULD HAVE MORE MEN.
Gen Miles Urges an Enlargement
of the Army.
His Recon- N dations 20 Secretary
Aiger--Lntter's Annual Report
seacoast Defenses-Military
Protection for Alaska.

Washington. Nov 22-In his first annual
report, Secretary Aiger makes many rec
concentrations for the betIerment OF the
administration Of the war department,
based upon the conclusions 81 his subordi-
nate officers. He asks favorable considera-
ton for the proposition 10 add two regi-
ments to the artillery branch. pointi.g TO
the valuable Notifications now being erect
ed, which. he says, should not be manned
by corporal guard.
Wants n Larger Army
An army of $1,000 men will satisfy Gen.
Nelson A. Miles. but a standing force OF
10000 will not more than satisfy him. That
Is the burden OF one of the most strenu-
Gus Of the Recommendations OF the major
general commanding transmitted to 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 10 the specific appeal for two additional
regiments of artillery he gives an emphatic
second. Gen. Miles general recommended
ion touching the number Of enlisted men
is as follows:
I'm my opinion II would be wise and ju-
dicious for congress to establish a stand
ard limiting the recruiting Of 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
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 ard requirements OF the latter, and
/ therefore recommend that a standard be
fixed and authorized by which the strength
OF the army should be regulated In time
OF peace In proportion to the population
and wealth of the nation, and that the
maximum of enlisted men be limited to one
soldier to every 1000 population. and the
minimum OF one soldier to every 1000 popu-
lation. the number actually In service with
In this limit to be determined by the presi-
dent according to the necessities and re-
quirements OF the government"
For seacoast Defenses.
Seacoast defenses is a constantly r. cur
ring subject of discussion in the report
OF the secretary and the communication of
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 sl5,3lS.500 for the sea-
coast work OF the year under the engineer,
ordnance and quartermaster departments
and his superior sanctions the recommended
ton.
Brig. Gen. John NJ. Wilson. chief OF en-
gineers. goes into details on the subject
Of coast defenses. Since August Is, 1890,
congress has appropriated s.. 1872 1888 for the
construction OF modern gun and mortar
batteries for coast defense. Up TO the
present time there have been contracted
for "A Pinch guns. 50 ten-inch, 33 eght-inch
and 10 rapid-fire guns and 232 l2-inch NOR
tars. The numbers OF each type now
mounted and ready for service are. respect
lively. 10, Is. 8, U, 70. These numbers it Is
expected to increase by the end Of the
calendar year TO 10. 60, 81, 3 and los. respect
lively.
Protection for Alaska.
He says Of Alaska that as many as 100,-
900 people will be gathered there next year,
and military force should be sent 10 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 we'll as
increased pay for the enlisted men serving
In Alaska.
some RecOmme N lions.
Secretary Alger recommends the revival
OF 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 a West Point
be increased by allowing each senator to
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 10 authorize details OF army
officers only 10 such colleges as have at
least loo pupils actually present
Attention is called to the need of a proper
system Of criminal Jurisdiction over milf
tary reservations and of hall of records
FFar ha r4Na FN4.N.
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
S2,uUO.OOU Is submitted.
Estimates.
The estimates for the next fiscal wear
aggregate g5.25S,445. as against ss2 S32 az
the amount OF the appropriations for the
current year. The principal items OF in
crease are In rivers and harbors. where
the estimate is S4S.72S, leo. against the
appropriation of $23,27s,O 2S; fortifications
and sea coast defenses. SIS. 37S, ST., as against
ss,5l7.l4l; the military parks. posts and
cemeteries. s.. 55S.659, against $3.50, SCI.
Secretary Alger transmits without re-
duction the estimate Of the chief OF engi-
neers for the next fiscal year. amounting
TO s4S.12S. 100. more than double the appro-
priations for the current year. He says
these are largely In excess of what they
should be at a time when the demands
upon the treasury are as great as now,
therefore he recommends large reduction.
In justice to 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, and he cites the fact
that the outstanding continuous contracts
for river and harbor work Will require an
expenditure of over Sl7.0 200 for the next
fiscal year. The secretary indorses 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 Alger especially commends for
patriotism. generosity and zeal Col Buff
fington and Capt. CrOZier. the inventors of
the disappearing gun carriage, who gem
erously donated the invention to the gov
eminent
The report closes with the renewal Of the
recommendation that provision be made for
the erection In Washington of a statue to
Gen. Grant.
NEDE KIIlEn