Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1897-10-28
GEN. NILES REPORT.
The Numerical Force of the Army
is Inadequate.
In . High State of Emcleney-Work on
the Coast DeFenses-Satisfactory Con-
ditIon OF the Tndians-Work for the
Army in Alaska.


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 other officers
subordinate to him in rank. Gen.
Miles says in part:
THE army, although inadequate in
point of numbers, was never in a
higher state of efficiency, both as to
the character and qualifications of its
officers and intelligence and loyalty
of its soldiers. 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 new systems OF
defense. The very commanding posi-
ton known formerly as Lime Point,
and now as Fort Baker, has received a
portion of its armament, and will soon
become most formidable part of the
defense of the harbor of San Fran
cisco.
lit will be noticed by Gen. Skaters
report that very active and earnest
work is being done in putting the inn
pOrtant fort in condition of proper de-
tense. The same work is in progress
all along the Pacific coast especially
at San Diego, Cal. and will in time be
completed at the mouth of the Column
bia river, and also the entrance to
Puget Sound.
Attention is also invited to the re-
port of Gen. Merriam, commanding
the department of the Colum bia. es-
pecially to the Importance of a larger
garrison at the entrance of the Column
bia river in Oregon, and to his report
on the condition and necessities of the
great territory of Alaska.
las all the other territories have been
occupied by military posts, and appro-
priations have been made for military
roads and establishment of telegraph
lines, bridging of rivers, and, in fact,
aiding and blocking out the way for
occupation of the vast territory by cit
liens, it is deemed but just and advisa-
BILE that the same liberal spirit should
be manifested toward that great and
important territory.
las far as practicable it would, in my
opinion, be advisable to have its waters
thoroughly examined by such of the
naval forces as could be used for that
purpose, and as military reconnoiter-
ing and exploring parties in past years
have been sent into that country to
furnish knowledge of it's character. re-
sources and necessities, this, in my
Judgment, should be continued on a
larger and more liberal scale. While
there is now no conflict between the
population, composed of some 10000
mr. nd hn III 70 @IfNV@x
and settlers, as the former are
supplied with modern arms they may
become turbulent and troublesome.
Such has been the history of nearly
all the tribes in other territories.
THE condition of the Indians gener.
ally is better to-day than it has been
for many years, and during the last
year there has been no serious disturb
ance of the peace. 1t was wise pro-
vision of congress that authorized the
president to detail experienced officers
of the army to act as Indian agents,
and trust this system will be con.
tinued.
During the last ten years much at
tention has been given by the govern
ment to the subject of coast defenses,
and most beneficial results are now
becoming apparent. Approximately
$50, 600, 600 have been appropriated by
the government 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 of
peace with all nations, and the policy
of the government is one of good will
and peaceful relations with all others,
yet nothing could be more injudicious
than to remain in a condition of inse-
curity and permit the lives of mil
lions and the accumulated wealth of
many generations to be destroyed or
endangered by any foreign power
with which we are liable to come into
contact"
He recommends fortifcation appro-
priations in the southwest as follows:
Approaches to Mobile, Ala, S397. O0O
approaches to New Orleans, 1919, 900.
Galveston. Tex, s4l2,OOO; San Diego,
Cal, S525, 600; San Francisco. 81, 1885,
COO; Columbia river, 1905, 600; Puget
sound, 81, 140, 900.
He recommends strongly an increase
in the army of at least two additional
regiments of artillery, saying that by
the 31st of December a number of posi-
tions will be armed in part or fully
with modern appliances of war and
that in these important positions there
are no troops stationed and none
available for assignment to those posi-
tions without taking them from other
stations where they are at present i'm
peratively required.
He also urges the necessity of adding
Eve infantry regiments to the army
and recommends that congress fix q
standard of strength on a basis of to-
tai population. This standard. he
thinks should be a maximum of one
enlisted man to every 1000 population
and the minimum one soldier to every
1900 population.