Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1899-11-15
GEN. NILES ON ARMY
Annual Report of the Commanding
General on Condition of the
Army Made.
Special Honors Recommended For
Men Who Have Served in
the War.
High Tribute to the Quality and
Valor of the American
Troops.

Washington, Nov. 15--The annual re-
port Of Maj. Gen. Nelson A. Miles,
commanding the army, has been made
public. 1t bears date Oct. II, 1899, and
is extremely brief and formal in char
acter. 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 volun-
teer regiments, most of the details of
which have been already published in
the reports of the adjutant general. The
report concludes with the following
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 eighteen months several regiments
4 have been required TO leave their sta
tons in the extreme north. move to the
4 islands of the West Indies, there en-
( gage in campaigns in summer, return
to northern stations in the autumn and
/ winter, and move again to tropical is
1 Glands in the Pacific and engage in cam
4 paigns under the most difficult circum-
4 stances Rarely in a service have
4 troops experienced such unusual
4 changes in climate as those above indi-
kcated, yet under all circumstances and
y, al times the utmost loyalty, forti-
I tude and faithful performance OF duty
have been manifested on the part of the
4 troops In nearly all engagements
/ where the troops have been brought in
to contact with the enemy they have in
! variably acted on the Offensive. and in
4 rot a single instnace have they suffered
defeat.
The Intelligence, discipline and fdel-
lily of both officers and men have been
most commendable.
loving to the additional and extraor-
binary EXPENSE placed upon officers
While serving in the Philippine Islands,
Cuba Porto Rico and the Hawaiian is
Hands, il is recommended that they be
allowed the same percentage of the In
4 crease of pay that is now provided by
I law for tho enlisted men.
1T is also recommended that officers
Of the war with a creditable record who
4 served during the civil war shall be
t.GNdflted- the same coHSiueTHlioH CON
4 corning rank and pay as has been ac-
corded officers of the navy.
las far as organization is concerned
1 the army is in q transition state. 1t is
d believed that the force viii be ample
for the service required of it UP to the
time authorized, viz: July !, 1901. 1t Is
gratifying TO note that the government
has authorized a military force Which
seems commensurate with its require
nents, magnitude and institutions
During the past few Years rapie
progress has been made in the equip
nent Of the Atlantie, Pacific ard Gull
coasts With modern defeases. and il
the general plan is carried out it j:
hoped that in a short time our coasts
VIII be in a proper condition of defense
Some Very important discoverie:
| have been made in relation to ordnance
pro5ectiles and high explosives. and af,
ter careful, thorough and exhaustive
: tests. appliances have been adopteg
which will greatly increase the efticien
} ~ of our armament"