The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1897-10-23
Report Of General Miles to Secre-
tary OF War.
HIGH STATE OF EFFICIENCY
ARMY OFFICERS GIVE GOOD RE
SUITS AS INDIAN AGENTS.
Recommends an Increase of Infantry
and Artillery--Alaska's Resources
Department Reports = Reports
That Mckinley viii Call a Special
Session of the Senate.

Washington. Oct. 22.-General Miles,
major general commanding the army,
has made his report to the secretary of
war. In it he makes reference to re-
ports of the general and of the other
officers subordinate TO him in rank
General Niles says, in part:
The army, although inadequate in
POINT OF numbers, was never in a higher
state of efficiency. The progress that
has been made on the Pacific coast in
the establishment OF modern batteries
OF artillery have made it necessary to
occupy new ground and to adopt "a new
system of defense. The very command
ing position known formerly as Lime
Point, and now as Fort Baker. has re-
ceived a portion of its armament and
will soon become a most formidable
part of the defense of the harbor of
San Francisco.
1t will be noticed by General Shat
ter's report that very active and earn
est work is being done in putting the
important fort in condition for proper
defense. The same work is in progress
all along the Pacific coast, and especi-
ally at San Diego. Cal. and will in
time be completed at the mouth of the
Columbia river, and also the entrance
to Puget Sound.
THE INDIANS.
THE condition of the Indians gener-
ally is better today than it has been
for May years. and during the last
year there has been no serious dis
turbance Of the peace. 1t was wise
provision of congress that authorized
the president to detail experienced Of
f1cers of the army to act as Indian
agents and l trust this system will be
continued.
During the last ten years much at
tention has been given by the govern
mert to the subject of coast defenses
and most beneficial results are becom-
ing apparent. Approximately S26,0OO.OO0
has been appropriated by the govern
ment, which is nearly one-third OF
what is required to put the country in
a safe condition of defense.
Although the general desire OF our
people is to maintain a condition or
peace with all nations and the policy
of the government is one Of good viii
and neaceful relations with all others.
yet nothing could be more inJudicious
than to remain in a condition of inse-
curity and permit the lives of millions
and the accumulated wealth of many
generations to be destroyed or endan-
gered by
ANY FOREIGN POWER
with which We are Liable to come in
contact.
He recommends fertilization appro-
priafions in the west as follows: Gal
weston. Tex. $4,000; san Diego, Cal,
SI25, eco; san Francisco. SI,33G, GOO; Co
lunlb!a river, $685.. 900; Puget sound, ST.
1000.
He recommends strongly an increase
in the army OF at least two additional
regiments of artillery, saying that by
the 3Ist Of December number OF po-
sitions will be armed in part OF fully
with modern appliances of war, and
that in these important positions there
are no troops stationed and none avail
able for assignment to those stations,
without taking them from stations
where they are at present imperatively
required.
lie also suggests the necessity of
adding five infantry regiments to the
army and recommends that congress
fix a standard of strength on a basis
of total population. This standard. he
thinks, should be a maximum Of one
enlisted man to every 1900 population,
and the minimum, one soldier 10 every
9 900 population.