The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1900-12-07
NATIONAL DEFENsEs.
Strength of the Army-Millions for Forts
and Guns.

The present strength of the army is
100, 900 men-65, 900 regulars and $4,000
volunteers. Under the act of March
2, 1899, on the Goth of June next the
present volunteer force will be dis
charged and the regular army will be
reduced to 2,447 officers and 29,025 en-
listed men.
In 1883 board Of officers convened by
President Cleveland adopted compre-
hensive scheme of coast defense forth
factions, which involved the outlay of
something over $100,000,000. This plan
received the approval of the congress,
and since then regular appropriations
have been made and the work of forti-
fication has steadily progressed. More
than $50, 900, 900 have been invested in
a great number of forts and guns, with
all the complicated and scientific ma
chinery and electrical appliances neces-
sary for their use. The proper care
of this defensive machinery requires
men trained in it's use. The number of
men necessary to perform this duty
alone is ascertained by the war depart
ment at a minimum allowance to be
1920. There are fifty-eight or more
military posts in the United States 9TH
er than the coast defense Notifications
The number of these posts is being
constantly increased by the congress.
More than $22, 600, 900 have been expend-
ed in building and equipment, and
they can only be cared for by the regu-
lar. army. The posts now in existence
commodations for, and if fully gar
risoned, require $4,000 troops. Many
of these posts are along our frontier
or at important strategic points, the
occupation Of which is necessary.
We have in Cuba between 5000 and g.
GOO troops. For the present our troops
a. that island cannot be withdrawn or
materially diminished, and certainly
not until the conclusion of the labors
of the constitutional convention now
in session and a government provided
by the new constitution shall have been
established and its stability assured
In Porto Rico we have reduced the
garrisons to 1886, which include S96 ma
tive troops. There is no reason for
further reduction here We will be re-
ouired to keep a considerable force in
the Philippine islands for some time
to come. From the best information
obtainable we shall need there for the
immediate future from $4,000 to $4,000
men. am sure the number may be re-
duced as the insurgents shall come to
acknowledge the authority of the Unit
ed States, of which there are assuring
indications.
1t must be apparent that we will re-
quire an army of about 10000 and that
during present conditions in Cuba and
have authority to increase the force to
the present number of 100000. In
GUIDED in this number authority should
be given to raise native troops in the
Philippines up to $1,000, which the Taft
commission believe will be more eff
fective in detecting and suppressing
guerrillas, assasinations and ladrones
than our own soldiers. The full dis
cussion of this subject by the secretary
OF war In his annual report is called
to your earnest attention.
l renew the recommendation made in
my last annual message that the con-
gress provide special medal of honor
for the volunteers, regulars, sailors and
marines on duty in the Philippines who
voluntarily remained in the service aft
er their terms Of enlistment had ex-
pired.
I favor the recommendation of the
secretary of war for the detail of off,
GERS from the line of the army when
vacancies occur in the adjutant gener-
ais department, inspector generals de-
partfent, quartermaSter generals de-
partment, subsistence department, pay
department., ordnance department and
signal corps The army cannot be too
highly commended for its faithful and
effective service in active military OPP
erations in the field and the difficult
work of civil administration.
GROWTH OF POSTAL SERVICE.
Extension of Rural Free De1ivery-In-
crease of the Navy.
The continued and rapid growth Of
postal service is sure index of the
great and increasing business activity
of the country. It's most striking new
development is the extension of rural
free delivery. This has come almost
wholly within the last year At the
beginning of the fiscal wear lS99-1sO0 the
number of routes in operation was only
S91, and most of these had been run
ming less thar twelve months. On the
18th of November 1900. the number had