The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1899-10-23
FOR THE STANDING ARMY
Mr.. Rect Said to Favor at Least
100, 900 Men.
Recommendations to he Made in the
War Secretary's Forthcoming he
port-A Revival of the Grades
of General and Lieutenant Gem
eral-Experiments With Ordnance.

In his first annual report 10 the fresi-
dent, which has been completed and sent
TO the printer Secretary Root, it is SAID,
makes more than usual important recon-
mendation in regard 10 the new army. but
il is understood he defers detailed recon-
mendations for material changes and re-
forms in organization until Congress
meets. when he will communicate his views
in letters to TIE chairmen OF the two mill
tary committees.
There is little doubt that a large stand
ing army will be urgently reeomnlen i'F1,
and Congress viii be asked TO raise the
regular military establishment TO * least
100, 600 men. II this is done, the regiments
now enlisted could be transferred TO the
permanent establishment, and the army
would at once be a welI-equipped and we'll
drilled, solid organization, where, IL Is
pointed out. if an increase is postponed
until after 1901 the new army would have
TO be raised by enlistments.
There is rumor in the War Depart
ment that the Secretary has adopted the
recommendation made by General Miles
last session favoring the revival oil The
grade of general and the creation OF Two
places each of the grade of Lieutenant gen
eral. An important feature OF the report.
and one which has permanent value, Is
the statiscal portion. This is embraced IN
seven tabular statements relating 10 the
strength of the army at dlherent Times
during the year together with much infor-
nation on the casualties OF the army dur
ing the war.
The probability of the grade of lieuten-
ant general being revived is stronger than
last year, when the proposition was OPP
posed by the Administration, which was
then most unfriendly TO General Miles.
Since Secretary Ayers resignation, new
ever the authority and position or the
general have been in some measure re-
stored, il is said, and his advice and in
fiuence are now considered. General ill eS
would naturally be the lieutenant general,
should the bill pass. and in the event that
the grade Of general is revived would sac
coed 10 that rank
The Army Ordnance. Bureau is much crit
icised on account of the policy OF General
| Burlington in refusing army officers and
Others an insight into the experiments I'M
der its direction. General Burlington con-
tends that it is no business Of anyone what
the experiments consist of, or what their
value may be. until they have been adopted
| for the service. He does not propose 10
| let any persons, even those interested in
| the inventions. have any knowledge OF
what is being done 10 develop certain lines
OF ordnance work. The result, IL is said,
! has been TO make the bureau unpopular
and to provoke dissatisfaction on the part
OF those wishing 10 have inventions tested.
Recently an order Was issued prohibiting
| persons outside of the Government service
| from witnessing experiments and tests con-
Quoted at Sandy Hook and other ordnance
stations, but so greatly were the inventors
aroused that this order has been revoked
/ by direction OF Secretary Root. The i'm
! portant work of powder investigation is
being actively pursued, but what results
have been obtained no one seems to know
outside of General Burlington and the offi-
GERS under his direction. II is alleged, how
ever that the army is far behind the navy
in this particular branch. and has wasted
years in experimental work with apparent
ly very little profit TO the service.
General Burlington has recently returnef
from an important tour OF inspection Of
ordnance factories in the East, to learn
their capacities for supplying ammunition,
especially of the small arm variety. He
found the plants we're capable of supplying
the Government with ammunition in guam
titles far in excess OF the demand In dis
cussing the marvellous growth of these fac
tories as a result practically Of the de-
mands made on them by the war with
Spain, General Burlington said that all the
factories were now in the finest possible
condition. and all the inspecting officers ef-
ficient and hard working.
A new factory, he said, had been opened
al Frankfort. where the small cartridges
are manufactured now at the rate of &c.
900 a day. but the factories, he said. were
capable Of turning out $50. 600 day. The
gun factory at Wateryliet was now COM
pleted and in fine working order. Al Wa
tertown he found an extensive plant for
the manufacture Of seacoast gun carriages.
and at all other places visited he learned
that the facilities for supplying the army
with every variety OF ordnance were in
creasing every month.