The times., 1899-10-11

Col. Royal t. Frank, commanding the
the War Department the annual reports of
Capt. ]. NJ. K. Davis, acting inspector gen.
erai of the department.; Major Edward E.
bravo. chief commissary, and Capt John
T. Martin, acting Judge advocate and sig
nal officer. These officers make several
recommendations regarding the conditions
of the military service.
Captain Davis recommends that steps
be taken to secure an appropriation from
Congress sufficiently large to authorize a
much more liberal allowance Of ammuni-
tion for target practice, and remarks that
this is essential to a full knowledge of the
capabilities of the guns and mortars. He
suggests that there be an increase in the
number of electrician sergeants He also
recommends that Congress pass law al
lowing officers going on foreign service to
allot TO his family or other persons what
ever portion of his pay he may see fit. In
concluding his report MAYOR bravo says:
THE military operations of the past
year have, to my mind at least, demon
strated that the responsibility for the
proper feeding Of our Army is too greatly
divided. For instance the Subsistence De-
the Quartermaster' Department the ovens
and pans to cook it; the Ordnance Depart
ment the meat cans and the knives and
forks with which to eat it. Again the Sub
sistence Department supplies the coffee
and the roasteTs to properly brown it; the
Quartermaster' Department the coffee
mills to grind it and the pots in which to
make il; the Ordnance Department the tin
cups and spoons to enable the men to drink
it. 1t is the same with all the components
Of the ration. 1t is hard to get complete
unison between three distinct departments
and given place at given time in prop
er quantity. 1t would seem much sim
pier problem if the Army had to look to
but one department for everything con-
nected with its food supply, and it certain
ly would lessen the danger of a misconnec-
tion between the food, the means of pre-
pairing it, and the means of consuming it.
Captain Martin complains that of the
posts pertaining TO the Department OF the
Gulf, at the close of the fiscal year just
ended, Fort Barrancas is the only one at
which regular. systematic instruction and
practice in signaling was had. The facili-
ties for long-range practice are reported
very good at Fort Mcpherson, good at
Fort Barrancas and at Sullivan's Island;
fairly good at Key West Barracks. very
poor at st. Francis Barracks, and none
at Jackson Barracks, Fort Morgan, and
Fort Scriven. He says:
During the past year telephonic COM
munication by cable has been established
between Sullivans Island and Charleston,
S. c. This office has also received informa-
ton that telephonic connection viii soon
be made between Fort Taylor and Key
West. Estimates and recommendations
have heretofore been made to connect Fort
Barrancas. Fort Pensacola, and Fort Nc
Rae by cable and Telephone; also to con-
meet Fort Morgan, Fort Gaines, and the
mainland by cable and telegraph; but final
action has apparently not yet been taken
thereon These connections should be made
as soon as practicable. 1t is not thought
telephones will be suitable means of COM
munieation between position finders and the
batteries in time OF action, and hence ii
should not be contemplated in time of
peace. While suitable for target practice,
the noise of actual conditions of attack
would render them useless"