The Savannah morning news., 1902-12-01
ARMY ANNUAL REPORT.

secretary Tells of Army Reduction,
Philippines and Cuba, and Advo-
Gates Re-estabIishment of Cam
teen.
Washington, Dec. 1.-The annual re-
port of the Secretary of War directs
attention TO the fact that since the
last annual report of the department
the regular army has been reduced by
10000 men, on account of the improved
conditions existing in the Philippines;
and an executive order has been is
sued which will have the effect of
speedily reducing the army to the
minimum basis under the law. The
army appropriations asked of Congress
are based upon this minimum number
of men. When the new executive or
der has been carried into effect only
about $4,000 troops will remain in the
Philippines and the only armed forces
which will remain TO be maintained
on account of the islands ceded by
Spain under the treaty of Paris will
be the Porto Rico Provisional Regi-
ment and the Philippine Scouts.
The health of the army has shown
a continued Improvement. The deaths
from all causes during the calendar
year 1901 amounted to 1894 per thou
sand of mean strength, as against 2274
per thousand of mean strength during
the calendar year 1900 This large re-
duction of death rate was in a great
measure due to improved conditions
in the Philippines, where the rate was
reduced to 1875 per thousand in the
year 1901, as against 2942 per thousand
in the year 1900. The death rate from
all causes during the year 1901 in the
United States was $50 per thousand;
in Porto Rico, 7.S1; in Cuba, 500, and
in the Pacific islands and China, 1886.
The Secretary reviews at length the
operations Of the American forces in
Cuba, comments on the friendly re-
lations existing between the Cuban
government and the United States with
an expression of the hope and belief
that they will continue, giving Gen.
Leonard Wood high praise for the
part he played in the reconstruction
of the island, and refers with salts
faction to the brilliant character of
the achievements" of the army sur
geons in investigating the cause of yell
low fever.
Considerable space is devoted to the
Philippines. The Secretary is pleased
with conditions there at present The
army's operations are defended. The
report says: There was at one time
in the public press and on the floor
duct of the army in the Philippines,
as being cruel and inhuman. All wars
are cruel. This conflict consisted chief
ly of guerrilla warfare. 1t lasted for
some three years and half, and ex-
tended over thousands of miles of ter
ritory. Over 10000 men were engaged
upon our side, and much greater num-
bers upon the other, and we were fight
ing against enemies who totally dis
regarded the laws of civilized warfare,
and who were guilty of the most afro
c1ous treachery and inhuman cruelty.
1t was impossible that some individu-
ais should not be found upon our side
who were unnecessarily and unjustifia-
bly, cruel. Such instances, however,
after five months of searching investi-
cation by a committee of the Senate,
who took some 5000 printed pages Of
testimony, appear to have been COM
Nparatively few, and they were in vio-
lations of strict orders, obedience to
which characterized the conduct of the
army as whole"
In concluding the consideration of
the Philippines. the Secretary says:
Now that the insurrection has been
disposed of we shall be able to turn
our attention. not merely to the slave
trade, but to the already existing siay-
cry among the Moros. We can not
Immediately free the slaves by a sin
gle act, fist, because it would require
war of determination in which
large part of the slaves would proba-
bly be found fighting against us; and
second, because a large part of them
would have nowhere to go and no way
to live if deprived of the protection
and support of their present masters
L believe, however, that we can main
tam process of gradual and steady
reduction, resulting ultimately in the
extinction of the practice of slavery"
With regard to the disposition of the
army in home territory, the Secretary
says it will be the policy of the depart
ment to get the army posts out Of the
cities and large towns, and establish
them upon larger tracts of cheaper
land in the neighborhood of the same
cities and towns, so that the men may
nave the benefit of country air instead
OF city air, and more room for train
ing and exercise.
The Ordnance Department has pro-
duced Il rife which 1t considers an i'm
provement upon the present service
rifle. 1t is clearly superior to the
present rife in some respects. It is a
bolt gun, caliber 80, having a clip
magazine under the chamber instead
or at the side and therefore bette.
balanced than the present gun. It
continues the 220-grain bullet, but in
creases the charge of powder from 1915
grains to 43.6 grains. 1t gives an ini-
tiai velocity of 1900 feet per second
as against 1000 of the present rifle a
striking energy at 1000 yards of 44T Q
foot-pounds as against 1862 for the
present rifle. 1t has fiatter trajectory
ana weighs about pound less.
The report advocates the creation of
general staff, presenting long ar
gument in it's favor, and also declares
IN favor of the re-establishing of the