The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1900-11-18

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litary service,
General Miles points out that the
practical Limitation of service OF the
volunteers to one year In the Phillip
pines makes this u most expensive
practice, necessltating double transfer
OF troops and adding enormous Y to the
cost of the organization, He also points
out the need OF reserve force FOR the
relief Of the soldiers who serve In the
tropics. declaring that the regiments
that have so far served more than two
years at unhealthy stations should be
relieved.
| General Miles renews his recommen'
dation that the permanent force Of the
army should be one man for each 1000
population OF the United states In sup
plying any incease OF the army he
urges that appointments OF officers b.
made with a due ren,rd Tor the prin-
ciple of seniority and that each case
be passed upon by beard " the
highest officers OF the army as was done
IN the reorganization following the civil
war. He submits u draft OF bill em-
bodying his Views and recommendations
on army REORGANIZATION.
The rvport shows that the urgent
demand for troops for remote stations
has reduced the number In the United
States TO much smaller force than
has been maintained at any time dur
ing the past thirty years. In fact, says
General Miles. the force has been so
much reduced that at the present time
there are not One-tourth enough troops
properly to care for and man the forth
ficatlons which have been erected on
the sea coast at an expenditure OF near.
ly sS5.OOOOOO.
In addition to the artillery deficiency
the present home force Is not sutii-
Client to occupy the interior garrIsons
properly or to protect life and prom
erty on the western frontier and, what
Is stin more serious. the government Is
left without troops 10 relieve those who
have had too much tropical service.
The actual number Of troops remaining
in the United States after the despatch
Of soldiers TO Cuba. Porto kico, Alaska
and the Philippines Is said TO be 99S
officers and lS,SsS enlisted men, Cen
eral Miles SAYS that during tho past
two years the army has been Engaged in
two hemlspheres under all conditions
and hardships, and has on all oo,as.
Ions exhibited courage. stability. excel
lent craftsmanship and devotion to
duty.
Touching upon the Chinese question
General Miles compares the American
contingent in the Pekln expedition IA
vorably with those OF other national
tiles. General Miles mentions the gai-
lantry OF Colonel E. s. Liscum and
Captain Reilly, killed in China. and Of
Major Jesse NJ. Lee.
General Miles calls attention to the
fact tina; under the law the volunteers
in the Philippines must be withdHwn
and discharged before July l next.
wherefore, he says. It will be necessary
to begin their return home almost I'm
mediately.
The report shows what has been ac-
compllshed in the officers training
schools and toward the extension OF
the coast defense system. on this last
great work General Miles says $55.OOo,-
OOp has been expended already and at
ieast s45, 100000 win be required to car
rs out the present project. For the
next fiscal year alone the sum OF Sll,-
s2i, 900 is estimated as necessary TO de-
fray the cost OF fortihcatlons, barracks
and sites on the coasts. The largest
figure is &2,724.4S5 for New York; next
comes California with $1.4l7. 1876; Maine,
81 .2S5. .925: Oregon and Washington, ST.
1O6,6O2. and Virginia, S935,45O To Por-
to Rice is assigned 1882, 400. while the
national capital ig set down for $4,000,
General Miles claims that the forti-
fications board has developed q high
explosive superior in effectiveness to
all known safe military explosives. l!
can be used in any service projectile;
can be thrown any distance within the
cspecity Of any high power gun
through steel arTnor plate and exploded
with most destructive effect.
Important action has also been taken
by the same board in the development
Of artillery and It is predicted that