The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1901-10-12
Advancement of Science Has
Created a Necessity
For a New Branch of the Mill
tary Service.
GEN. BROOKE'S REPORT
Recommends a Department of
Mines and Mining.
Members of Such Arm to Be Ex-
pert Electricians.


commanding the department of the east,
in his annual report for the last fiscal
year records the fact that since his last
previous report he has visited and in
spected with a few exceptions, all the
posts in that department. He was much
gratified at the progress made at all
the artillery posts where modern arma-
ment has been installed The barracks
at the infantry and cavalry posts he
found inadequate in size and he rec
ommendS an enlargement General
Brooke lays great stress upon deslr-
ability of having the lonely and remote
southern posts made as comfortable ana
attractive possible for their garrisons.
The present quarters at these posts, ne
says, are cramped, stuffy and generally
uninhabitable, and few soldiers desire
to re-enlist at these points, once they
have had a taste of the inconvenience
He emphasizes and renewS his former
recommendation in regard to the posi-
bility in case of war, of an attack of
sea coast defences from the land side,
or the rear, and urges that the ap-
proacheS from the directions named re-
ceive the attention which their I'M
portance demands. In an appended re-
port, acting signal officer of the depart
ment. Captain L. s. Lyon, recommends
that experiments in wireless telegraphy
be conducted with a view to its use in
such harborS as Boston and New York
The most important feature of the
report Is an appendix by Lieutenant
Colonel J. P. Story, artillery corps, deal
ing with the ordnance and artillery He
says the most important problem now
pressing upon the artillery is how to
provide a sufficient number of officers
and men qualified to operate the mining
defenses of our harbors. 1t is admitted
that the present established strength of
the coast artillery will not furnish one
relief for the modern armament, al
ready provided and that in the event OF
war, the deficiency must be supplied by
raw recruits, or by volunteer artillery.
a
naval power an immediate dash, no
doubt would be made upon one or more
of our most important posts To oppose
such an attack, we should have an in
structed force of sufficient strength to
execute in less than one week after the
declaration of war, the approved project
for the planting of mines in all our
harbors.
To operate the mines in the harbors
of the United States and its distant
possessions will require about seventy
officers and 200 soldiers At the time
of the immediate planting an addition
of 5000 men as labOrers and boat crews
will be temporarily needed. All officers
employed on this work ought to be ex-
pert in electricity
With respect to the officers now being
appointed to the artillery from the
army, their expectation for appointment
does not include even elementary knowl-
edge of electricity
In our late war with Spain the de-
ficiency in officers of engineers for min
ing work was supplied by civilian ex-
perts in electricity. Civilians cannot be
held to service or to punishment for
analfeasance and some scheme should
be devised by which all our mining de-
fences may be efficiently operated in
time of hostihties by military organiza-
tions.
If a sufficient permanent establish
ment cannot be supplied for this pur-
pose, then a volunteer service must be
organized and Differed by electrical en-
gineers, graduates of technical science
-a-f
bic of securing enough officers for this
special service sufficiently qualified fo-
the work The ACCESSIBILITY of creating
volunteer organizations for mining SER
vice should receive early consideration.
The first step that should be taken with
the least practicable delay is the estab
lishment of an artillery school of mines
for theoretical and practical instruc-
ton. To this school Col. Storey, says
ought to be attached the school for
electrician sergeants, now at Fort Mon
roe, Va
Mining material is now, in general
cared for by civilians paid from the ap-
propria lions of the engineer depart
ment- 1t would be much more ecOnOmi-
cal and probably more efficient if these
civilians were replaced by electrician SER
geants and it is said that one addition
al electrician sergeant be authorized by
law for each harbor Of the United
States equipped with mining material.
In an appended report. Lieut.. Col
James A. Buchanan, commanding the
district of Porto Rico. says as to the
canteen:
1.-The sale of beer at the post ex-
changes, recently prohibited by act of
congress, will not 1 fear result to the
best interests of good discipline in Por-
to Rico; the low price of native drinks,
their injurious effects and the degrad-
ing influences which surround the sale
here all tend to the undoins rather than
the uplifting of the enlisted man. The
number of places where these drinks
are sold is greater than in the United
States, thus affording more opportuni-
ty for drunkenness; again, the cost of
beer and other bevera ges outside of the
post exchange is so great as to compel
the soldier to purchase the cheaper and
more injurious native drinks