The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-10-10
GENERAL BR0oKEs REPORT.
He Emhodies saaHertions Concerns
Ing FortifcntiOns ON the Coast.

He EmhOdies SuGHcstions Concerns
Ing FortiHcntiOns ON the Coast.
The annual report OF Maj Gen John
r. Brooke. commanding the Department OF
the East. was made public yesterday at
the War Department. General Brooke
calls particular attention to the report OF
the inspector of artillery and says:
ut is iHipraotieable at this time to
make any recommendations regarding tho
artillery posts where the number Of men
enters as a factor. as it is impossible to
calculate on any specific number; but I
think that. as minimum. the number
of men necessary to form one relief for
the guns established and proposed to bc
established should be taken as basis OF
computation. and on that basis it would
be possible for all departments Of the
army to make positive plans for carry
ing on construction work.
II have previously referred to this mat
ter in my report dated April Is, 1900. as
follows:
In all cases these deicnees Vulnerable in
case OF attack from the This. it is probable.
will be looked ont for by army in the field. but
the matter should he considered and the vicinity
with view Of determining the lines of defence
before the necessity for their use arises
1.-The Importance of having all artillery
in charge Of coast Notifications stationed
in the immediate vicinity Of the guns be-
comes more apparent to me each day.
While in numerous cases this means the
isolation of officers and men for the time
such service is required, it is the only
rational method of preparing for war and
becoming accustomed to the conditions as
they exist.
1T is also imperative in many cases that
more land should be acquired than that
which has hitherto been bought for the
erection of Notifications. This have par
ticularly noted in my recent inspection
along the coast northeastward from here,
and now is the time to acquire this land
so that when the forts are turned over to
the line barracks. quarters. storehcuses.
ETC.. may be ready for occupancy. In some
places I have found that very small
plant for the accommodation of the garri-
son has been erected and I cannot see
that any provision has been made for its
extension. 1 speak particularly Of Plum
Island. where there is barrack for sixty
men only. The garrison necessary to man
the guns is 300 and the location of the
barracks is distant from the nearest bal
terry.
This is the case at many others CT III,
defences. and the need of making sucn
corrections as may be possible does uot
require any argument. There are places
along the coast where the defences ara
exposed to danger from the inroads of
the sea, which should-receive prompt at
tention and be remedied before they ara
injured either in themselves, their 'ao-
breaches. or surroundings. I believe tat
all this is known to the officers OF engi-
neers in charge. and / speak CT it here
as coming under my observation
I'm my inspection of nearly all thu
posts and garrisons of this department, +
have found that the enlisted men are ex-
ceptionally fine. physically, and also that
the officers and enlisted men were en-
thusiastic in the mattars relating to their
profession. but at almost every pest mil
itary duties are imperfectly performed
and the instruction Of the men handi-
capped by the lack of officers. Too many
batteries and companies have only one
officer present for duty. and at many
posts where detachments are Stationed
there is no officer in command.
1.-THE matter of the army reorganiza-
ton has attracted a great deal of atten-
ton recently. For many years past the
general officers of the army have shown
the necessity for an increase which will
place the army on an efficient basis and
enable 1t to perform its duties with credit
to itself and to the satisfaction of the
nation. The events since the commence
ment of the Spanish war have demon
strated beyond doubt the necessity fer
reorganization which will enable this ma
ton to maintain the position in which 1t
now finds itself placed so that. in case
of war, the army may form the bllwarls
behind which the volunteer army may
be created as has always been dcne in
our country. by organizing the people.