Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1897-11-25
INCREASE OF ARMY.
Secretary Alger Asks for Two More
Artillery Regiments.
OTHER RECOMMENDATIONS MADE.
mo Secretary Of War Wants the Number
Of Students ut West Point Increased
Estimates for the Next Fls-
cal Year.

WASHINGTON, NOV. @.-ln MS nrSt
annual report Secretary Alger makes
many recommendations for the better
ment OF the administration of the war
department, based upon the cOnclu-
sions of his subordinate officers lie
asks favorable consideration for the
proposition TO add two regiments to
the artillery branch, pointing to the
valuable Notifications now being
erected, which, he says, should not be
manned by a corporaps guard. He
Gays Of Alaska that as many as 100000
people will be gathered there next
year and a military force should be
sent to the territory and large emer.
gency powers should be granted to the
president to repress lawlessness Prob
ably the creation Of additional mill
tary reservations, like that Of st.
Michaels, may be the best means to
meet the problem. A boat for the pa
troll OF the Yukon Is also asked for, as
well as increased pay for the enlisted
men serving in Alaska.
Secretary Alger recommends the re-
vival Of the grade Of lieutenant gen
eral, saying that all the nations give
their officers much higher rank than
does the United States. lie indorses
the recommendation Of the superin.
tendent Of the military academy, that
the number Of students at West Point
be increased by allowing each senator
to nominate a cadet. As an alterna-
tive, he suggests that the president be
authorized to appoint ten cadets-at-
large each year. Favorable comment
10 made upon the work OF the military
colleges Of the country, but 1t is sug-
gested that the law be amended 80 as
to authorize details Of army officers
only to such colleges Us have at least
100 pupils actually present.
Attention Is called to the need Of
proper system Of criminal Jurisdiction
over military reservations, and a hall
OF records for the storage Of official
papers, The estimate for army trans
portation is increased by 100000 to
provide means for moving heavy ord
nance. 10 provide for the new posts
needed on the sea coast an estimate Of
$4,000, 900 is submitted.
Until recently the hospital at Hot
Springs was open only 70 soldiers Of
the regular army, but Secretary Alger
has just amended the regulations SO as
to authorize the admission of suitable
cases among the veterans Of the late
war.
In the opinion Of the secretary an
increase in the engineer corps in Off
GERS and enlisted men is indispensable.
He points to the immediate value and
extent Of the work now in the hands
Of this corps and contends that 1t
could be better supervised and i'm.
proved in quantity and quality by the
assignment of more officers, which is
now impossible.
Secretary Alger especially commends
for patriotism, generosity and zeal Col,
Burlington and Capt Crozler, the in
ventors Of the disappearing gun car
rage, who generously donated the in
vention to the government The re-
port closes with the renewal of the
Recommendation that provision be
made for the erection in Washington
OF q statue to Gen. Grant
The estimates for the next fiscal
year aggregate 800, 1858, 445, as against
$8s,sSs, All, the amount Of the appro-
priations for the current year. The
principal items Of increase are in rivers
and harbors, where the estimate Is
e48,72S, 100, as against the appropria-
ton Of 1923, 27S,02s; Notifications and
sea coast defenses Sl3,37s,57l, as
against s9,5l7l4l, and military posts,
parks and cemeteries S3,55S, $50,
. .~ut,,-% coon uar