The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1902-11-07
BEST SOLDIERS
ABOVE GROUND
General Miles Submits His An.
nuaI Report Upon the Army.
PLEA FOR BETTER BARRACKS
ARTILLERY IN PARTICULAR IS
VERY BADLY TREATED.

WASHINGTON, Nov S.-The annual
w report of Lieutenant General
Miles, commanding the army, is
a brief review of the reports that have
been submitted to him by other off,
GERS He endorses the reeommenda-
ton Of General Brooke for a readjust-
ment of the geographical limits of the
different departments with a view of
equalizing conditions. General Miles
calls attention to the necessity Of
quarters for troops, saying that while
hundreds of thousands OF dollars are
being spent for quarters for cavalry.
very little is being used to afford shell
ter for artillery, which is exposed to
| severe climates along the coasts.
These troops" says General Miles.
are required TO be located adjacent TO
the Notifications, Notwithstanding the
exposed position of many of them. and
I see no reason why buildings should
not be properly constructed in time to
be occupied, when it is known for
] years exactly where and when they
will be required. I also call attention
to the incomplete condition Of the for
] tifications, especially on the Pacific
( cost. where millions have been ex-
and yet the commands have not been
properly supplied with ammunition,
electrical plants and other appliances
essential to the effective use of these
/ fortihcations in actual warfare"
Baldwin Commended.
General Miles says: During the
past year there have been no serious
/ engagements, except that Of the troops
under General Frank D. Baldwin in
! MindanaO, P. L, with the Moros- For
the number of men engaged this was
a very spirited and desperate engage
ment. Our forces were commanded by
one of the most experienced and ef-
| hcient officers Of the army, whose rec
ord has always been OF the highest
order, and his achievement, together
with that Of the troops, in this en-
gagement, made another chapter of
( fortitude, tenacity and heroic sacri-
fee in the history of American arms
1.-The condition Of the Indians is quite
/ satisfactory and there have been no
! disturbances Of Importance among
I them during the last twelve months.
This is accounted for principally by
three reasons:
! First, Just and humane treatment
/ of the Indians and the judiciOus man
/ agenent or their affairs; second, their
/ gradual transition from a condition OF
! barbarism to that of a mi-civihzed
/ people, and third, the close proximity
/ of the military garrisons. which are
! always available in case Of threatened
1 disturbance
Schools of Practice.
THE experience during the great
| civil war and years of campaigning
along our western frontier, afforded the
| best schools Of practice for our army
! in former years. The attention given
/ to calisthenticS and gymnastic and
( military exercises made our small
I army a corps of athletes, while the
! elementary schools established for en-
/ listen men, the post libraries, the post
! lyceums and officers schools, the Vari-
/ Gus schools of instruction and practice
I for officers, as well as the military
| academy, produced an army of such
| excellence that I was able in my an
| nuaI report for 1896 to state-
. The personnel of the army was
! never in better condition
This was proven to be true by the
/ the fOrtitude, skill and heroism dis
/ played in every serious campaign on
/ every field of mortal combat wherever
/ the army has been engaged in any part
of the world, during the last Tour
years.
.eDilring that time many changes
| have. occurred and the army has been
| very largely increased. The long and
| varied service Of the senior officers,
/ their experience in organizing, dlscl-
| mining. instructing and leading their
commands, as well as the excellent
discipline, instruction and exemplary
| conduct of the soldiers Of the army
| of '9S, have been the leaVen OF the
| army of the present time Evils may
creep into any system Of great Or
ganization- Such as have affected our
| army have been or viii be eraal-
Gated"