The Cairo bulletin., 1908-12-10
TO STIMULATE
STATE MILITIA
SECRETARY OF WAR WANTS
$4,000 AVAILABLE IN CASE
OF TROUBLE.
MONEY FOR BALLOONS
Also Asked and Southern Ports Ought
to Be Fortifed-Men Shoot Bet.
establishments IN
creased

Washington, Dec. 9--The total @
Inmates Of the War Department fC
I the next fiscal year, as shown by th
annual report O fthe Secretary of Wa
amount to $lS9,755,039. an increas
of about $4,000 900 over the apprt
priations for the present fiscal year
Iharbor work, and other public work
OF a civil character, for which purpos,
! about S24.000,000 is asked. OF III,
| balance, about $10,500,000 is an add
tional estimate for the support of III,
army, Military Academy, and the mil
tia For military public works, such
as Notifications, arsenaIs, military
posts, etc. the estimates call for an
increase of $17,S00.000,
EnIietments.
The report shows that the army is
now only 1921 enlisted men short of
the authorized strength. due to great
improvement in recruiting, During the
past year there has been an increase
in the actual strength o fthe army u
l916S, making the present strength
4,l1G officers and GS,5l2 enlisted men.
a total Of 72,62S Of this number 49,.
102 are serving in the United States,
12,101 in the Philippines, 1905, In
Cuba, l,102 in Alaska, Gil in Porto
Rico, 2jG in Hawaii, with 55l troops
en- route and officers at other foreign
stations.
Can Shoot Better.
Very satisfactory results he states
are shown in the target practice OF
the coast artillery. In 1906 about six
Teen times as many hits We're made as
in 1900 under the same conditions,
md the results 70 rthc years 1907 and
1908 show marked Improvement over
1906.
Money For Balloons.
The secretary submits an estimate
If 100000 to enable the Signal Corps
o take UP military aeronautics in a
more effective way than 1t has done IT.
he past He reviews the progress
# aerial navigation during The past
ear and gives it great importance as
military auxiliary.
Coast Defenses.
Congress is asked for a consider |
BILE increase in the appropriations |
or Investment in permanent military |
Iants. such as gun and mortar bat
cries, fire control at Notifications |
installations al seacoas |
searchlights for harbor /
cfenses and other accessories OF |
cast defense, preservation and repair |
efense, preservation and repair OF
repair and protection Of
efenses at ePnsacola, Fla, and New
rleans, La. defenses of Galveston.
eX.. armament for Notifications, for
fcations in insular possessions, an
ldtional land for military posts
hese various items In connection
it'll permanent military plants call
)rincreased appropriations OF SIS
iS,927, OF which amount about 81
Pr cent Is asked for coast defense
orks. for which about $9,50o,o00 isl
,quired for the United states and
,.io00o0 for the insular possessions.
In Case Of War.
The secretary states that the result
careful study In the war depart
eut shows that in the event Of war
inn nay first class power We would
.ed at least 100000 men for a first
ne OF defense. aud that as the reg
ar army is limited to 100000 men
would be necessary 10 draw 2jo.
10 men from the organized militia. {
e. suggests that 10 might be- well for
e general government 10 stimulate
lis result By increasing the annual |
for the equipment 81
~ militia and for general maneuver
the militia with the regular army