Democratic Sentinel, Volume 1, Number 43, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 7 December 1877 — THE WAR DEPARTMENT. [ARTICLE]

THE WAR DEPARTMENT.

Report of Secretary McCrary, Hon. George W. MoCrary, the Secretary of War, in bis annual report, after alluding to the injurious effects of the constant interfering with the army by legislation, threatening re. auctions, urges an elastic system of organise. gge vwfwv v? *wwV yO

40,000 men. He considers that the necessities of the country demand a military force not less than that now authorized by statute, whioh should be capable, by increasing the numerical strength of the companies, of being raised to the standard necessary to meet any ordinary contingency, The report, in speaking of the Indian service, favors the placing of the feeding of all the Indian nations now provided with rations by the Government in charge of the

service, the Secretary urges legislation which will remove the present limitation as to the number of officers who may be on the retired list at the same as at present. This number is 360. By a removal of the limitation the number will not be materially increased, as a careful inquiry shows that with the proposed changes there would be only about forty officers to add to the list. The Secretary does not favor any change in the portion of the statute which

officers of the army that It should be obligatory upon the President to retire officers at the age of 62. In regard to the recent order directing the temporary suspension of the publication of the record of the battles in the Anny Begister, the Secretary of War says it was absolutely necessary, as the list, as furnished to Hie department, was in such confusion that it was impossible for the officials at the Wax Office te remedy ißiufwwg w ranusf tut ws* $> fist

of the battles in wjiich their several regiments had been engaged. Some sent in answers giving a list of unimportant engagements; others sent in skirmishes; and others again a list of battles where their regiments were present, but did not parthnp&to; while a few oonfined their statements to such important engagements as might properly be designated as battles, and in which their commands were actually engaged. The general disposition seemed to be So daijn more than was go that in epfer tis esweet ts» records theft’ pabliesrttiS*

was temporarily suspended. These records will probably again appear in the Army Register of neat year. Gebmant is the greatest potato-grow-ing country in Europe. Her annual crop is more than double that of France or the United Kingdom; but it is not exported, unless the prioe to be obtained rises above the rate whjtoh the *o* vtm made infcd qpfe&fe