The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1897-11-25
SHO ULD HA \ b NJ & IRE MEN.
Gen. Miles Urges an Enlargement
Of the Army. /

>L>A4 OI8 90 XII E4.1AAe11 801A0
Of the Army.
Ills Recommendation to Secretary.
AlRer-Latter'a Annual Report
ScacOast Defenses-Military
Protection for Alaska.
Washington. Nov. 22.-In 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 hts 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 q larger Army.
An army Of 5000 men will satisfy Gen.
Nelson A. Miles. but standing force Of
10000 will not more than satisfy him. That
Is the burden Of one Of the most strenu-
Gus or the recommendations Of the major
general commanding transmitted to the
president IN the report Of Secretary Alger.
10 Gen. Miles general recommendatio ton
that the army enlistment be increased Sec
rotary Alger adds no word of approval.
but to the specific appeal for two additional
second. Gen. Miles general recommended
ton touching he>number Of enlisted men
Is as follows:
I'm my opinion 1t would be wise and jul
d1c1ous for congress to establish a stand
ard limiting the recruiting Of the army
Tor ali future time, unless the conditions of
the country should be other than what
can now be anticipated. The nation is de-
Veloplns IN most unusual and extraordinary
proportions in wealth and population, and
as the army Is one of the pillars Of the re-
public it Is proper that it should grow as
the nation grows, commensurate with the
needs and requirements of the latter; and
! therefore recommend that a standard be
nxed ana 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-
Qulrements OF the government"
For SeacOast Defenxes.
Seacoast defenses is 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 $751; 500 for the sea-
coast work OF the year under the engineer,
ordnance and quartermas ter departments.
and his superior sanctions the recommended
ton.
Brig. Gen. John M. Wilson, chief Of en-
gineers, goes into details on the subjec:
OF coast defenses. Since August 49, 1890,
congress has appropriated $9162 1888 for the
mr.
batteries for coast defense. Up to the
present time there have been contracted
for "a l2-lnch guns, 81 ten-inch, 80 eight-inch
and 10 rapid-tire guns and 232 Pinch NOR
tars. Inc numbers of each type now
mounted ana ready for service are, respect
lively, H. IL, 5, v, 70. These numbers it is
expected to increase by the end of the
calendar year to H. TO. 81, and l6S. respect
lively.
Protection for Alaska.
He says of Alaska that as many as 1o0,-
0o0 people will be gathered there next year,
and 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
10 meet the problem. boat for the pa troll
increased pay for the enlisted men serving
in Alaska.
Some RecOmme nllatiOns,
Secretary Alger recommends the revival
or the grade OF lieutenant general saving
that all the great nations give their Of
hcers much higher ranks than does the
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 a 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 co,in-
try, but it is suggested that the law be
amended: so as to authorize details of army
officers only to such colleges as have at
least $50 pupils actually present
Attention is called to the need of a proper
system Of criminal jurisdiction over mill
tary reservations and of hall of records
for the storage of official papers. The es-
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
$2.OVO,O0O Is submitted.
Estimates.
The estimates for the next fiscal wear
| aggregate $96,25S,445. as against $62. 1892 Az
the amount Of the appropriate for the
current year. The principal items of in
| crease are in rivers and harbors, where
the estimate Is $4S,728 l6O, as against the
appropriation of $23,27S,O2S; Notifications
and sea coast defenses, ST., 37S,5 ST., as against
$S517,1A; the military parks, posts and
cemeteries. S2,55S,63s, against $780,
Secretary Alger transmits without re-
duction the estimate Of the chief Of engi-
neers for the next fiscal year, amounting
to $4S, 1884, 100. more than double the appro-
priations for the current year. He SAYS
these are largely in excess of what they
should be at time when the dema nds
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 we're
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 compiled WITH and he cites the fact
that the outstanding continuous contracts
for river and harbor work will require an
expenditure of over 81, 600 900 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
fngton and Capt. Irozier, 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
G the erection in WASHINGTON OF statue to
ALL WERE KILLED.