The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1900-11-24
OUR ARMY.
Interesting Extracts from the Annual
Report of Lieut.. Gen. Miles
The Coast Defenxes.

Washington Nov. 1.-THE feature Of the
annual report of Lieut.. Gen. Miles, COM
handing the army, is a chapter dealing
with the need for general reorganization
of the military service. In regard TO this
question, he says: 1.-THE events of the
past two years and half have resulted in
condition that the nation must prepare
to meet. The need for an efficient and we'll
organized land force for an indefinite period
IN the future is most obvious, and the or
ganization of such force cannot be wise
~ avoided. There are weighty reasons why
such a service as Is now demanded OF the
army cannot be performed by temporary
organization"
Gen. Miles renews his recommendation
that the permanent force of the army
should be one man for each thousand Of
population of the United States. He SUBJ
mits a draft of a bill embodying his views
and recommendations on army reorgani-
cation.
The report shows that the urgent de-
mands for troops for remote stations has
reduced the number in the United States
to a much smaller force than has been
maintained at any time during the past
80 years. In fact. says Gen. Miles, the
force has been so much reduced that at
the present time there are not one-fourth
enough troops properly to care for and
man the Notifications which have been
erected on the sea coast at an expenditure
VI lcdIly LII dOulllO1l W lAC al :.
tillery deficiency, the present home force
is not sufficient to occupy the interior garri-
sons properly, or to protect life and prop
erty on the western frontier, and what
is still more serious, the government is left
without troops to relieve those who have
had too much tropical service. The ac-
tual number Of troops remaining in the
United States after the dispatch of SOL
diers to Cuba, Porto Rico. Alaska and the
Philippines is said to be 99S officers and 49,
sos enlisted men
Gen. Miles says that during the past two
years the army has been engaged in two
hemspheres, under all conditions and
hardships, and has on all occasions eXhib-
tied courage. stability, excellent marks
manship, and devotion to duty.
Touching upon the Chinese campaign,
Gen. Miles compares the American con-
tingent in the Picking expedition with
those of other nationalities, and says: at
would be difficult TO name any occasion
on which troops engaged in action We're
better commanded, We're more steady under
fire, or where they made the soldiers sac
ritice with more unselfish patriotism, or
rendered a higher tribute to the honor Of
their country.
Gen. Miles calls attention to the fact
that under the law the volunteers in the
Philippines must be withdrawn and dis
charged before July / next wherefore, he
says, it will be necessary to begin their re-
turn home almost Immediately.
On the extension of the coast defense
system, Gen. Miles says that in this great
work s55. 900, 900 have been expended already.
and at least $45, 100000 will be required to
carry out the present project. For the
next fiscal year the sum of Sill ,827, 600 is'es-
timated as necessary to defray the cost of
Notifications, barracks, and sites on the
coasts. The largest figure is $2,724, ass for
New York; next comes California, with
$1,417,796; Maine. $l,2S5. 1925; Oregon and
Washington 81, COZ, and Virginia, $685.. 45O
Porto Rico is assigned 32,40O while the