The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-11-15
IS BRIEF AND CONCISE
General Miles Wastes No Words
in His Annual Report.
PRAISES THE SOLDIERS
Under the Most Severe Conditions Both
officers and Men Have Performed
Duty With Faithfulness
and Loyalty.

Washington, Nov 14-The annual re-
port of Major General Nelson A. Miles,
commanding the army, was made pub
lie at the war department to-day. 1t
bears date of Oct. II, 1899. and is ex-
tremely brief and formal in character
1t announces the transmission to the
secretary of war of the reports of the
department and staff commanders and
makes brief statement of the strength
and distribution Of the army, including
the muster out of the regiments, most
of which details have already been
published in the reports of the adjutant
general.
The report concludes with the fol-
lowing general statement:
THE demand for troops for foreign
service has been unusual and has been
somewhat severe upon them, especially
those of the regular army. Within the
last is months several regiments have
been required to leave their stations in
the extreme North, move to the islands
of the West Indies, there engage in
campaign in summer, return to north
ern stations in the autumn and VIM
ter, and move again to tropical islands
in the Pacific and engage in campaigns
under the most difficult circumstances.
Rarely in a service have troops expert
enced such unusual changes in climate
as those above indicated, yet under all
circumstances and at all time the ut
most loyalty, fortitude and faithful per-
Torrance of duty have been manifested
on the part of the troops. In nearly
all engagements where the troops have
! been brought in contact with the enemy
they have invariably acted on the Of
fensive and in not single instance
| have they suffered defeat. The intelli-
I gence, discipline and fidelity of both Of
\ ficers and men have been most COM
mendable.
lowing to the additional and extra
| ordinary expense placed upon officers
while serving in the Philippine islands,
| Cuba, Porto Rico and the Hawaiian
| islands it Is recommended that they be
| allowed the same percentage Of the in
| crease of pay that is now provided by
| law for enlisted men.
! st is also recommended that officers
| of the army with a creditable record,
/ who served during the civil war. shall
/ be granted the same consideration con-
|. corning rank and pay as has been ac-
! corded officers of the navy by section 2,
/ act approved March g. 1899.
LAS far as organization is concerned,
! the army is in a state of transition. 1t
! is believed the force will be ample for
the service required of it up to the
time authorized viz: July l, 1901. 1t
| is gratifying to note that the govern
ment has authorized military force
which seems commensurate with its re-
quirements and magnitude. / have for
years recommended the adoption of a
standard in proportion to the popula-
ton, viz: Not to exceed one soldier to
every 1000 of the population-and be-
lieve that the establishment of such a
standard would be safe and judicious in
every respect
During the past few years rapid
progress has been made in the equip.
ment Of the Atlantic. Pacific and gull
coasts with modern defeuses and IL the
general plan Is carried out it Is hoped
that in short time our coasts will be
in a proper condition of defense.
Some very important discoveries
have been made in relation to ordnance
projectiles and high explosives, and
after careful, thorough and exhaustive
tests appliances have been adopted
which will greatly increase the eff
cheney of our armament"