New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-11-22
A SUITABLE MILITARY FORCE.

| eminent.
SUITABLE MILITARY FORCE.
II such policy IL adopted, 1t would IN my Juos
nent. put our Government on safe basis and
| while we would neither maintain great stahoihs
army that would be a burden or a menace 10 our
noople and institutions neither should we become
Nation of non-combatants and neglect 10 TAKE inc
proper precautions that due regard 10 saie'y ana
self-preservaton demand Sy a1op ee iSSiunctons
Of the first Comma nder-in-Chief ana ith,
miarW force 10 SUPPORT the civil Government, and
protect the Republic on, nat If nroperly admin
istered, could in time be commenced 10 ING peop'e
of other countries. .,u,o,a,,,ors have mad.
CONCERNING granting Of an oc 1s
charge 70 mertor9us mon sSni successfully pass
and inst recognition of their merit and services
Commenting upon this report Secretary Anger
Gays:
II Is earnestly urged that his recommending
concerning additional regiments OF sea-
fayorabiy as he says without men to man
them These S0sy by works sesn force
md preserve them, and TO become famnsr NH
rs ex5ereneed services be ready at all
times TO operate them visit to any OF thesS pa "a
teTes must f6r immeGat any acton this
battery costing from $lOOWv 10 soeV'"o oue"' NV
TO be manned by corporais guaru $500,
IL aIsn recommends that measures be adopted
Nv which an adequate military force may be sent
to Alaska, II necessary
The Board OF Or dnance and Foruncauoh rep
that four types Of mounts for rapid-fre guns arc
under construction; that considerable advance mas
heen made in the selection of suitable smoAee''
powder so that II necessary. powder for all guns
could be ordered that the Halpine automoo"e ."
pedo is nearly finished and that experiments WIN
high explosives have shown that Ehghsh suh-o0'
ton is slightly better than that made IN hhe'i."'
Smokeless powder has been fouho 100 se"si''0 "
use in large shells. .
The Adtutant-Ci General reports that the recruiting
service has been conducted with uhusualy soo
results. and that the character ana en'cie''e' "a
the enlisted men in the ranks were never hishei
In regard 10 the Military Academy ~ "e''
Point, Secretary Ager says:
THE WEST POINT CADETS
II can accommodate more students. and II pro-
vision Is made for two additional regiments or
artillery as recommended. the Army can ABSORB
more Of its graduates The superintendent recon-
mends legislation to authorize the appointment OK
two cadets al large from each state, 10 DC hoihi-
mated by Senator's This would give ninety cadets
more than at present. 1t is desirable that there
sso s Ge that the President be authorized
70 appoint ten cadets at large each 6vs yes sh nuns
Der aghoTzed Under sec non i Ss OF oowe ne
that cadets at large at the Military Academy
shall not hereafter exceed ten In all
Among other recommendations OF the Secretary
are the following:
An increase in the appropriation for Army trans
portation is necessary to move heavy ordnance.
guns and gun carriages. including mortars ne
estimate is 100000, increase OF 10000 over the
current appropriation. .
An increase Is also necessary In the appropriation
for military posts to provide barracks and quarters
enlarge others. The present appropriation " Azu-
90 and the estimate submitted Is for S.coO,oN. an
increase OF sl.5S0oc0
While the amounts asked for are large. the great
est TO conine the expenditures TO the minimum
will be observed. The chief signal officer. In con-
tinuance OF experimental work WITH military pal
pose. This is object which needs investigation.
and. as the amount asked for T. not large. ! com
TENS for the harbors OF New-fork. Boston and San
Francisco.
The report from the Signal Service Bureau notes
the efficient maintenance OF the military telegraph
lines which have been OF great service; the i'm
provement OF the flying telegraph trains. and the
advance in field telegraph work. electrically and
telephonically.
After a full statement OF the important work
which has been accomplished by the Corps OF En-
gineers. Secretary Alger says;
The time seems TO have arrived when an increase
in the number OF officers and enlisted men OF that
corps is indispensable. The immense work intrust-
ed TO few men Is overtaxng. and II is believed
thorough work by contractors In fulnment OF their
contracts would be effected by detailing young
officer remain on each work under construction or
improvement to that day by day all material
purchased, both In quality and quantity. and accord
Ing TO specifications Is furnished IL Is absolutely
impossible for one man. having a large number OF
wise the construction OF improvements In his charge.
This is one special reason why IL Is believed that
| fetal more than formerly can be assigned 10 the
| Engineer Corps and probably employed. while the
| experience thus gained will be OF great benent to
them In future In the line OF their profession
|