Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1899-12-02

says these movements were executed
with energy, rapidly and success, not
outstanding deluges Of rain.
A chapter tells OF what has been done
In Cuba by the army during tive past
year Order has been maintained. So
cial distress has been alleylated. sanl-
f~tatlon has been Instituted and in ali
RESPECTS satisfactory progress has been
made, and the part played By our
troops now Is but the restraining Inau-
ence or their presence AS order has
been restored, the force OF troops has
been removed. and orders have recently
been given for the withdrawal OF
eight companies OF infantry and eight
troops OF cavalry.
IN Porto Rico the year has been de-
voted to administering and improving
the clVll government Of the island. and
lhstfucung the people in the rudlments
OF selt-goVernment at every step i'm
conference with leading citizens.
compliment Is paid to Gen. Luding-
TONS administration OF the quartermas-
ters department and II is said that ow-
ing 10 the experience acquired, the en-
ure movement involved In the trans
portaton OF a large army TO the Philip
pines has been accomplished practi-
caily without loss Of life, disease or in
jury TO health.
me clothing Of the army too. was
satisfactory, and the food OF good dual.
lV ana furnished promptly. The
htalth OF the army has been remark
aDly good and the report shows that
the death rate among the soldiers i'm
me Philippines from disease is only
lt2O, considerably less than I'm Wash
lngton, Boston, San Francisco, New
YORK and Baltimore The soldiers killed
IN battle and dying of wounds num-
bered ~, and the entire mortality was
SiS for the past ten months.
A strong Recommendation Is made
FOR the laying Of a Pacific cable as a
matter Of great military and political
Importance, The cost Of such a cable
Is placed at not exceeding s.. 500 600
running by way OF Hawaii Wake
Island and Guam from San Francisco
TO Manila.
The secretary deals IN forcefl
manner with the subject Of post ex-
changes. He expresses his agreement
with the construction Of the statute
on this point laid down by the attor-
ney general. and produces statistics
from the United States forces at posts
and elsewhere to show that the over
whelming testimony Of the army Is
TO the effect that the present regulation
has promoted the temperance dlsci- !
pllne, Morals and health Of the enlisted !
men, and that in the interest Of moral |
ity and effective service Il should be |
retained. The secretary says:
The principal question TO be con-
glnnTaH : "
drink or not drink, but whether they |
should be permitted TO drink beer in |
camp, surrounded by restraining lnflu-
ences Of discipline and good associa-
tlon, or whether they should be driven
to drink bad whisky in the vile resorts
which cluster around the limits Of
every military post and camp. and es-
pecially around those In which pro-
llbltlon Is maintained. have no
loubt mat the present regulation fur
1lshes the wise answer to this ques-
ion"
Under the head OF river and harbor
improvements the secretary, while
'haracterizing the estimates as gem
rally merltorlous. states that he has
eft II necessary In view OF extraordi-
lary appropriations for military pur-
tfeNSf " lNluAt lilt tSllUlAlfS OF the |
hief Of engineers from s2l, 9OG,S2l TO
1895. IA.
Other recommendations are that Cen
'hafter should be retired with the rank
4 major general and that statue OF
Zen. Grant be erected IN the national
apltal
one Of the most important chapters
4 the report deals with the subject OF
rmy reorganization, and on this point
he secretary makes some most rad
cal recommendations pointing out the !
OF the present system and
OF the force, Starting with
he promise that the real object Of hav-
ne an army is TO provide for war. and
hat the regular army would never be
y Itself the whole machine with which
'ar would be fought the secretary
roceeds TO outline a scheme Of reform
Imported az each stage by succlnct ar
ument TO demonstrate It's necessity.
The report draws TO a conclusion with
splendid tribute TO the army as
hown during It's operations during the
asst two years, and also gives credit to
he officers Of the volunteer force for a
lrge share In this achievement.