The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1899-12-02
ANNUAL REPORT OF
SECRETARY0F WAR
Account Of 0Derations'n Philippines
Since Outbreak.
GOVERNMENT FOR THE ISLANDS
Memorial Bridge Over the Potomac.
Recommendations for Improve
ncnt In Efficiency of the
Army-Army College.

The annual report OF the Secretary OF
War for the year 1879 has been submitted
10 the President
After recountng the mastering out OF
the volunteer troops consequent. upon
The signing Of the peace protocol with
Spain and the subsequent increase oil inc
regular army TO the strength of eA#'
enlisted men and 2.2S officers ana lne
raising OF a new volunteer force OBJ 's'''
enlisted men and l.54 officers auihoil~c"
by the act OF March g 1893 the SecIe-
tary gives an interesting account OF OPP
erations in the Philippine Islands SINCE
the first outbreak of hosulues "s"."7'
our troops.
I'm cuba. says the report there have
been no strictly military operations
since the Spanish evacuauon ana 'ne
officers Of the army 100 cuba nave been
largely occupied IN conducting u"u',
direction OF the military governor ana
the department commanders, seheI"
civic administration.
The first and imperative duties OF t.e
army were tn maintenance oil order' ,ne
relief Of the starving reconcenlIau'S' '"'
sanitation of the towns and the promo
ton Of industry. I'm all these sauSl i'-
tory progress has been made. me use
sary for but a short period.
As order has been restored The NUMBER
OF troops in Cuba has been sradu"lE
decreased.
IN PORTO RICO.
The year i'm Porto Rico has peeh u'-
voted TO administering and improving me
civil government and instruciins lhe
people in the rudiments OF seu-SoNei"-
ment
,rbe reDort then refers 10 the destruc-
lion and distress wrought by the terrluc
hurricane which swept the ontira lenslh
az the island on the Sth Of August last.
The TRANSPORTATION of such large bodl'1
~ troous between Manila and the Jhiied
states has made necessary the creation
of large feet of ocean transports
There has been great improvement ih
this service.
Tho Secretary discusses the kind Of
government which should be adopted I'D
the islands \ form Of government
should be adopted for Porto RICO whlch
viii assure the kind Of administration
10 which we are accustomed. win JUST
as much participation on the part 'i
porto Ricans as Is possible without en-
abling their inexperience 10 make IL IN
effective
The report calls especial attention TO
the Importance Of direct cable cemmuni7
cation to the Philippines.
MEMORIAL BRIDGE.
I, 4 Greatly 10 be desired that progress
NJ made toward the erection OF the mo-
,,osed memorial bridge between the CITY
of Washington and the heights OF AIRING
ION The Value Of the sentiment inspired
in all the people Of our country VINO NlSl
The National cemetery upon these helBlhs
and are affected by its associations can
not be overestimated- The ccmeleI! N
now practically far removed from the clly
bv the long. crcuitous and disagreeaoie
approach. The proposed bridge would az
ford a dignifed and suitable approach
10 this historic place. make IL accessinle
10 all the people who inhabit or who visit
Washington. and the bridge. under proper
treatment. can be made itself an architec-
turai structure worthy 20 rank with inc
monument 10 Washington. the Capltol
and the Congressional Library, as an or
nament TO the capital city.
After the bridge should come the CON
struction Of a broad avenue connectins
Arlington with Mount Vernon. ana max
ing the access from the capital 20 The
home Of Washington worthy Of the reNet- |
ence in which all Americans hold MS
memory.
Satisfactory progress has been made 10 |
ward the development of the plans con-
tempIated i'm the establishment of The |
the great battlehelds of the civil war
which are under national control. care
full examination of the territory including
the hattlenelds of Fredericksburg Salem
church Chancellorsvile. the wilderness
and SpOtsylvania Courthouse. has been
made by officers of the Quartermasters
Department. All of these battles were
fought within a radius of eight miles.
ARMY WAR COLLEGE.
nN f.if
recommendation for The Improvement
Of the efficiency OF the army:
That an army war college should be |
established. which shall Doe composed of
the heads Of the stan departments prop
erly 50 called. and a number OF the
ablest ana most competent officers OF
high rank in the army Including. Of
course. tho MaiOr-General comm0ndlngJ
That every officer of the army below the
rank Of field officer and not already
"a graduate Of one Of the service schools
should be detailed for some fixed period
during his service 10 receive instruction
at this college.
That all STAFF appointments should
hereafter be made from TIE line of the
army for a fixed period Of. say. four or
five years the holder TO return TO the
line at the end of the period. and not
10 be eligible 10 rcappointement until
after at least one years service I'm tho
line.
That the present system of promotion
by seniority should be modified as TO all
officers now or hereafter below field
rank. by making a specific proportion
OF the promotions 90 each grade Tor semi
oriiy. and "A specific proportion on the
basis either Of efficiency records in the
war college, or heretofore in the service
schools.
That all selections Of candidates for
stan appointments and for stan promo
tions and for line promotions. other than
those made FOR seniority. should be made |
by boards Of officers appointed for that |
purpose. upon examination and estimate
OF the efficiency records exhibiting tho |
grounds for appointment or promotion
above stated.
lAICDIND ACDADIMCMI