The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-11-06
NILES REPORT.
It Is Filed With the Department
Asks for Better Quarters.

Washington. Nov e-The annual re
port of Lieut. Gen. Miles. commanding
the army. is a brief review OF the re-
ports that have been submitted to MIN
by other officers. He endorses the rec
concentration Of Gen. Brooke for a re-
adjustment of the geOgrap hical limits of
the different departments with view
of eQualiZing conditions. Cen Miles
calls attention to the necessity of quar-
tiers for troops. saying that while hun
dreds Of thousands of dollars are being
spent for quarters for cavalry, very lit
tie is being used to afford shelter for ar
tillery which is exposed to severe cit
mates along the coasts. These troops"
says Gen. Miles. ARE required to be To-
Gated adjacent to the fOrtifcatiOnS not
Withstanding the exposed position OF
many of them. and see no reason why
buildings should not be properly con-
stucted in time to be occupied. when it
Is known for years exactly where ana
when they will be required. also call
attention to the incomplete condition OF
the Notifications, especially on the Pa
cific coast. where millions have been ex-
pended in engineering and ordnance
work. and yet the commands have not
been properly supplied with ammunition,
electrical plants and other appliances
essential to the effective use Of these
Qualifications in actual warfare"
Gen. Miles says: During the past
year there have been no serious engage
ments except that of the troops under
Gen. Frank D. Baldwin in MindanaO,
p. l., with the MOrOS. For the number
of men engaged this was a very spirited
and desperate engagement Our forces
were commanded by one of the most
experienced and efficient officers of the
army. whose record has always been of
the highest order, and his achievements.
together with that of the troops in this
engagement, made another chapter of
fortftude, tenacity and heroic sacrifice
in The history of American arms.
The condition of the Indians is quite
afsfr7 hoe
turbance OF Importance among them
during the last y months. This is ac-
counted for principally by three rea-
sons:
First, Just and humane treatment OF
the indians and the judicious manage
ment of tFeir affairs; second. their grad
ual Transition from a condition of bar
Darism to that Of semi-civiliZed peo-
pie; and third the close proximity of the
military garrisons which are always
available in case of threatened disturb
ance-
THE experience during the great civil
war and years OF campaigning along our
western frontier afforded the best schools
of practice fer our army in former wears
The attention given to calisthenics and
gymuastic and military exercises made our
sInau army a corps Of athletes while the
ed men. the post libraries the post Ivee-
ums and officers schools. the various
schools of instruction and practice for Of
flcers as well as the military academy pro-
duced an army of such excellence that
state:
d" The personnel of the army was never
In better condition
This was proven to be true by the for
titude. skill and heroism displayed in ".
cry serious campaign on every field of
mortal combat wherever the army has
been engaged in any part of the world
during the last four years During that
time many changes nave occurred AMI
the army has been very largely Increased
The long and varied service of the senior
officers. their experience in orga nizing. dis
ciplining. iustructing and leading tnefr
commands. rs well as the excellent disci-
pine instruction md exemplary conduct
of the soldiers 4 the army of 1898 have
been the leaven Of the army of the pres
ent time. Evils may creep into any sys-