Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1897-11-30
UNCLE SAM 5 DEFENDERS.
Secretary Alger, in His Annual Re-
port, Tells of Affairs in the
War Department.
GEN. MILES WANTS A LARGER ARMY.

isfy Him-Our Seacoast Derensex-
Protection for Alaska IL Needed
Some Valuable Suggestions - The
Estimates for the Next Fiscal ear.
Washington, Nov. c2.-1n his first annual
report, Secretary Alger makes many rec
concentrations for the betterment of the
administration Of the war department.,
based upon the conclusions of his subordi-
nate officers. He asks favorable considera-
ton for the proposition to add two regi-
ments to the artillery branch, pointing to
the valuable Notifications now being erect
ed. which. he says, should not be manned
by corporal guard
Wants Larger Army.
An army of $4,000 men will satisfy Gen.
Nelson A. Miles, but a standing force of
10000 will not more than tsfy 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 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 it would be wise and jul
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 1t Is proper that it should grow as
the nation grows, commensurate with the
0f "a ut
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 popula ton, and the
minimum of one soldier to every 2,0UO 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 recur-
| ring subject of discussion in the report
of the secretary and the communications 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 $15,3lS.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 M. Wilson, chief of en-
gineers, goes into details on the subject
| OF coast defenses. Since August 10, 1890,
congress has appropriated So. 7e2, 1893 for the
batteries for coast defense. Up to the
present time there have been contracted
! for "a Pinch guns, 81 ten-inch, 80 eight-inch
and l6 rapid-f1re guns and 232 Pinch NOR
tars. The numbers Of each type now
mounted and ready for service are. respect
lively, 10. 18. 5. 0. 70. These numbers it is
| expected to increase by the end Of the
calendar year to 10. co. 81. 9 and l6S. respect
ively
Protection for Alaska.
He says of Alaska that as many as 1oo,-
600 people will 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 we'll as
increased pay for the enlisted men serving
| in Alaska.
Some mmendations.
Secretary Alger recommends the revival
OF the grade Of lieutenant general, saying
| that all the great nations give their Of
| fcers much higher ranks than does tho
! United States.
He 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 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 1t is suggested that the law be
amended so as to authorize details of army
officers s. only to such colleges as have at
| least ISL pupils actually present
Attention is called to the need of a nroner
| system of criminal jurisdiction over mill
| tary reservations and of hall of records
for the storage of official papers. The es-
| innate for army transporta ton is increa sed
by 100000 to provide means for moving
! heavy ordnance To provide for the new
posts needed on the seacoast an estimate of
| $2.0O0.000 is submitted
! Until recently the hospital at Hot Springs
army. but Secretary Alger has Just amend
| cd the regulations so to authorize the adj
| mission of suitable cases among the VET
| Grams of the late war.
! In the opinion of the secretary an in
crease In the engineer corps in officers
and enlisted men is Indispensable. He
! points to the immense value and extent
| Of the work now in the hands Of this corps.
vised and improved in quantity and quail
ity by the assignment of more officers.
| which is now impossible.
| Estimates.
| The estimates for the next fiscal year
| aggregate $96,25S,445, as against s62 S3S 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 $4S728,16O, as against the
| appropriation Of $23;27S,02S; fortificatio
! and sea coast defenses. $13, ST.. as against
$8,517,141: the military parks. posts and
cemeteries. s.. 55s.6s9. against $Ss9. 1867.
The report closes with the renewal Of the
| recommendation that provision be made for
the erection In Washington Of statue to
Gen. Grant.
Wages Raised.
Youngstown, O., Nov. 23.-The Car
bon Limestone company and other