The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1899-12-01
ARMY AND NAVY
General Miles Annual
Report.
Naval Board viii RsComner q
the Buiicing Of Six Cruisers
and Twelve Gurboats.


WASHINGTON. Nov l9.-The an
nual report of Major General Nelson
A. Miles, commanding the army, was
made public at the War Department
today. 1t bears date October IT, 1899.
and is extremely brief and formal in
character. 1t announces the transmits
sion to the Secretary of War of the
reports of the department and staff
commanders and makes a brief state
ment of the strength and distribution
OF the army, including the muster out
of the volunteer regiments, most of the
details of which have been already
published in the reports of the adju-
tant 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. especial
ly those of the regular army Within
the last eighteen months several regi-
mentS 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 Northern stations in the
autumn and winter, and move again to
tropical islands and engage in cam
paign under the most difficult circum-
stances Rarely in a service have
troops experienced such unusual
changes in climate as those above in
Dictated, yet, under all circumstances
and at all times, the utmost loyalty,
fOrtitude and faithful performance Of
duty have been manifested on the part
of bn --4nn In, oil
mentS where the troops have been
brought into contact with the enemy,
they have invariably acted on the of
fensive, and in not a single instance
have they suffered defeat The intelli-
gence, discipline and fidelity of both
officers and men have been most com
mendable.
Owing 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
increase of pay that is now provided
by law fOrsthe enlisted men.
During the past few years rapid
progress has been made in the equip
ment Of the Atlantic, Pacific and Gulf
coasts with modern defenses, and, if
the general plan is carried out, it is
hoped that in a short time our coasts
will be in a proper condition of de-
Tense.
Some very important discoveries
have been made in relation to ord
nance, prOjectiles and high explosives
and, after careful, thorough and eX-
haustive tests, appliances have been
adopted which will greatly increase
the efficiency Of our armament.
1t 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
II, act approved March 8, 1899.
AS far as organization is concerned,
the army is in a transition state. 1t
is believed that the force will be ample
for the service required of it up to the
time authorized, viz, July /, 1901. 1t
is gratifying to note that the Govern
ment has authorized a military force
which seems commensurate with its
requirements, magnitude and institu-
tons. | have for years recommended
the adoption Of a standard in proper
ton 10 the population, viz, not to ex-
coed one soldier TO every 1000 of the
populatiOn-and | believe the estab-
| lishment of such a standard would be
safe and judiciOus in every respect