River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1900-11-22
OUR ARMY.
Interesting Extracts from the ANIMAL
Report of Lieut.. Gen. Miles
The Const Defenses.

Washington, Nov 1.-THE feature Of the
annual report of Lieut.. Gen. Miles. COM
manding the army, is chapter dealing
with the need for general reorganization
of the military service. In regard 10 this
question he says: .'The events OF the
past two years and a half have resultedin
a 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 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 or
population of the United States. He sub
mits a draft of 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 net one-fourth
enough troops properly to care for and
man the Notifications which have been
erected on the sea coast at an expenditure
of nearly SIS 900 900. In addition to the ar
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
d4ers 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
hemispheres, 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: 1T
would be difficult to name any occasion
on which troops engaged in action were
better commanded, were more steady under
fire. or where they made the soldiers sac
rifice with more unselhsh patriotism, or
rendered 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 l next, wherefore, re
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 SIS 600, 900 have been expended already,
and at least $45, 00O, 900 will be required TO
carry out the present project. For the
next fiscal year the sum of $l1, S27. 900 is es-
timated as necessary to defray the cost of
Notifications, barracks, and sites on the
coasts. The largest figure is 81, 4S5 for
New York; next comes California, with
81. Ar. 796: Maine, 81, 2S5 925; Oregon and
Washington. 81, log, 602 and Virginia, 1895. $50.
Porto Rico is assigned $685., 400 while the
national capital is set down for $4,000.