The Evening statesman. [volume] (Walla Walla, Wash.) 1903-1910, 1908-12-10


tai estimates of the war department
for the next fiscal year. as shown by
the annual report of the secretary of
war. amount to $1S9, ,755 ,039, an in
crease of about $52000,000 over the
anpropriations for the present fiscal
year This increase is largely for river
and harbor work, and other public
works of a civil character, for which
7.,grpose about $24,000,0 600 is asked. OF
the balance. about $10,500000 is an
additional estimate for the support of
the army. military academy. and the
militia. For military public works,
such as Notifications, arsenais, mill
1arv posts, etc, the estimates call for
an increase of $17,SO0,000.
Secretary Wright especially recon-
raands an addition of 6f2 officers to the
army. and also approves a policy for
the elimination from the service of all
officers who fail to maintain the re-
quisite standard of efficiency. Both Of
these propositions were before con-
gress at its last session and will be-
strongly urged this year.
The necessity for more officers, the
report states, is due to the unavoidable
detachment of officers from their reg
ular service with troops. Their detach-
ment for recruiting duty. for duty as
instructors in the army and at state
institutions, as well as with the militia
of the several states and territories,
occupied the time of a large number of
officers. At present there are on de-
tached duty 691 officers, and 157 ad-
ditiOnal absent on leave or on account
of sickness. Besides this, eXamina-
tions. court-martial service and nu-
merous other kinds of special duty,
though temporary in character, make
a considerable increase in the number
of officers that are constantly una
valuable for regular service with their
commands. He adds that it would be
measure of wise economy to provide
an extra number of highly equipped
officers for these added duties that
have been thrown upon the army, as
the result would be highly beneficial
in case of war.
To provide for the 612 additional Of
fcers the secretary states there will be
added an annual cost of between ST.
100000 and $3,O0O,O00.
Another method for increasing the
efficiency of the army, he states is to
eliminate officers who have not the
highest qualifications. The present
law on the subject does not apply
above the grade of captain, and, it is
said, has utterly failed to accomplish
It's purpose except in cases of ply
steal disability
The report shows that the army is
now only 9231 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 of the army of
1888. making the present strength,
4ll6 officers and 6S.512 enlisted men. a
total of 72,62S. OF this number $500
are serving in the United States, 12,1O1
IN the Philippines, 1905 in Cuba, 1,1O2
IN Alaska, Gil in Porto Rico, 256 in
Hawaii, with 551 troops en- route and
oifcers at other foreign stations
The total number of enlistments in
Inc army during the fiscal year ended
June 80, 1908, exclusive of the hospital
corps and Philippine scouts, was A.
Fo5 OF this number 11,743 were re-
ehHStments and 29,720 were original
uistments. The percentage of native
oorn (white and colored) among the
"ISlhal enlistments was IS; of the
"laI number of enlistments. 35,435
were native born, 1859 were of foreign
o"th u were Indians, 2S were born in
We Phllipine Islands (enlisted or re-
eH'Sted for band musicians) and 129
were born in Porto Rico. Of the to-
'dI number S9,953 were white; 1341
We're colored
Inc number of desertions from the
army fell off to 4.6 per cent of the
"lole number of enlisted men in the
0Nee during the fiscal year 1908, as
"Mpared with Sc per cent during
10 preceding fiscal year. The secre-
'E speaks with qualification upon
We marked decrease in the number of
'SeFuons, not only during the past
al out during the past two years.
,1e number of desertions was less in
,oo lhan during any fiscal year since
WI He accounts for this improve
+"' oE the fact that long-term mill
cohVlcts are now confined in the
p@FE prison at Fort Leavenworth.
1NSaS' instead of at military posts;
,e strenuous efforts are made to ap-
s"eha and punish deserters, and
"elhod of making enlistments has
Oeen changed.
Hy satisfactory results he states
SHOWN in the target practice of the.
artillery. In 1906 about sixteen
,anS as many hits were made as in
n under the same conditions. and
results for the years 1907 and 1908
-" Nv marked Improvement over 1906
ne me secretary submits an estimate
= SoVooOO to enable, the signal corps
Ne up military aeronautics in a
ro enective way than it has done in
f,sress is asked for a considerable
In the appropriations for in
s,ob IN permanent military plants,
@S sun and mortar batteries, fire
a san. OF fortifcations, electrical in
s'I!ons at sea coast Notifications,
otI"hghs OH for harbor defenses. and
accessories of coast defensa nre-