Year: 1879

WASHINGTON Oct. %. 1879.
REPORT OF GENERAL BENLr, CHIEF OF ORD


NANcE--A MILITIA SYSTEM ADvocATED-coN-


DITIoN OF OUR ARMS AND ARMAMENT.


General s. v. Benet, Chief of Ordnance United
States Army, has completed his report the
Secretary of War, showing in detail the operations
of that branch OF service during the past fiscal year
and making several important recommendations for
the future. 1t appears that the total of
pendi,ures during the year was s1.443.99s.


General Benet devotes large portion of his report
to the subject of the militia. and recommends that
provision be made by law for organizing. arming
and disciplining militia force OF 200 900 men. dis
tributed among the States in the proportion of
about seven hundred men to each Congressional
district and Territory and the District of Columbia


General Benet makes novel recommendation as
follows for the creation of National Reserve:'-
The proper organization for armed force in
time of peace il its organization for war; simple
expansion be readily made on the eve OF a con-
hict. but novel organization ut such an epoch Is
iraught with disaster. Our experience as q nation
clearly shows that not on the militls put on our
volunteers has the country depended III years OF
trial. Would i. not be wise in any legislation FOR
the establishment of this force to which reference
is made to break loose from the theories OF the past
and empower the President in time OF peace to or
ganze national reserve under the constitutional
power ''to raise and support armies" on the plan
Indicated above? Should not State rights and preju
dices yield to the necessities that our wars have
proved to be imperative?


During the last fiscal year there were manufac-
tured at the National Armory 10000 Springfield
rifles and 200 of the experimental Hotchkiss rifles.
The former were produced at much less cost than
previously. and 1t is confidently expected that the
cost will be yet further reduced. There in store
the arnory and all the arsenas July l. of this
year. only %. 2.073 rifles and 5406 carbincs, number
which is wretchedy small. considering the wants OF
the present and the calls that may be made in the
future.


The Hotchkiss arms now in the hands of the
regular army for trial in actual SERVICE and upon the
reports to be made bi-monthly will depend any rec
concentrations for tho supply to be hereafter manu-
factured but whether this magazine gun is to be the
army of the future or not, General Benet is of
opinion that it will not be safe TO delay providing
an ample supply of the Springfield rifles. and for
| this purpose he asks appropriation Of $900,0 ,000
which amount he argues. should be given in the
both of and Of the national defence
| In the course of his argument he says:-
The rifle issued to the army and the militia COM
pares favoraby with the best breechloader. either
| here or abroad. 1t is that may not be
| perseded for many years to come. and il it be
obliged to yield to one OF superior merit the effect
will not be to render it obsolete but make it
ondary to one using the same cartridge but having
greater rapidity OF fire. that the present single
breech-loader will always be u powerful weapon.
| even when compared with the possible magazine
| gun of the future.


With reference to what has been said in official re-
ports and in the public prints respecting the quality
| of arms used by Indian tribes and their great
| superiority to the in the hands Of troops
in accuracy and range General Benet transmits a
| report made at the National Armory q number Of
Indian guns sent to HIM from the field. and says


lam willing to rest the reputation of the Spring
field rifle and carbine the facts developed
in the trial and recorded in this report. Not
even such an admirable weapon the Springfield
rifle be expected to give satisfaction to every
officer and soldier but 1t Is my nrm Dellef that IL
comes very near it.


An appropriation of 100000 to provide ammu-
milton for target practice in the army is recon-
mended las the smallest amount Adequately. with the
remark that Ito make our soldiers good marksmen
an ample supply Of ammunition must be provided,
and this cannot be done unless sufficient money is
annually appropriated"


| In submitting estimate of S95O.0O0 the
amount that should be appropriated tor expendi-
ture during the next fiscal for thu OF
our fortihcations the Chief OF Ordnance earnestly
recommends Congressional provision for con.
tinuance large scale of the work of converting
the 1O-inch smooth bore cannon into s-inch rifles
and adds after quoting from his former reports OF
this subject


Nv convictions as to tho soundness of the policy
of extending governmental support to and thereby
actually keeping in existence the only establish
ments in the country organized and fitted tc
fabricate heavy ordnance deepened by
a fuller consciousness Of how inadequately
we are provided in this respect for even com
| mon emergencies. This, taken in connection
with the fact that our present seacoast armaments
| principally composed of smooth bores) are almost
useless for coping with the heavy artillery OF the
present leads me again to urgently recommend that
Congress be asked to consider the granting of liberal
appropriations national deiences q matter
| Of the first Importance.