Democratic Sentinel, Volume 5, Number 44, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 9 December 1881 — WAR DEPARTMENT. [ARTICLE]

WAR DEPARTMENT.

Annual Hcport of Secretary Lincoln. The annual report of the Secretary of War is chiefly devoted to the consideration of the important recommendations oontained in the annual report of the anny chiefs. Gen. Sherman's recommendation that the army be increased to 30,000 men receives Secretary Lincoln's earnest indorsement. The attention of Congress is called to the need of legislation to prevent an intrusion upon Indian lauds, especially frqm Kansas into (he Indian Territory. Secretary Lincoln invites special attention to tha part of the report of Geu. Wright, Chief of En, giueers, which refers to our seacoast defenses and on this subject says: The Chief of Engineers shows that defense by fortifications and torpedoes is the only one which is at all practicable for a coast as extended as ours, comprising so many rich maritime cities, extensive navy yards, and depots of supply that any attempt at any other mode of defense would be enormously expensive, both for first cost and maintenance, aud it is the only mode adopted by maritimo nations. Experience shows modern wars come on suddenly ; that serious international disputes occur between nations the relations of which are apparently mast unlikely to be otherwise than friendly, aud a condition of readiness for defense and an attitude of belligerency are sometimes the best preventives of actual war. We know that tho necessary new works and the proper modifications of the old works will require many years for their completion, and it seems simply a matter of common prudence that we commence without delay, and, under liberal appropriations, put our coasts in an effective condition of defense.

Referring to tho subject of the standard of acquirements necessary for ad mission to the Military Academy at West Point, tlio Secretary says: “I concur in the views of my predecessor, that it wonld not be well to raise the standard of admission. The result of tho last examination, in which forty-nine out of 118 candidates were rejected, shows the standard is so high as to prevent the admission of many who would Undoubtedly, if they had been so situated as to receive tho proper preliminary training, prove valuable officers. It has recently been recommended to me by tho Academic Board to permit the discontinuance of certain prescribed studies in the course for the purpose of giving time for others, the importance of which was apparent. A consideration of the subject suggested by this recommendation leads me to believe it would be best t® extend the course so as (o cover five years. It is believed that by so doing not only would the benefits of the academy bo more widely extended, but that tho graduates would bo prepared to render better service to the .country. The actual expenditures under tho War Department for tho fiscal year ending June 30, 1881, were $42,122,201. The appropriations for 1882 were $44,889,725, and the estimates for 1883 call for $44,541,276. The estimates presented to the Secretary for revision included, for the armament of fortifications, $220,000; fortifications aud other works of defense, $4,186,500; improving rivers and harbors, $29,101,300; improving the Mississippi river by the commission, $4,323,000 ; public buildings and grounds in and near Washington, $749,000 ; surveys taken, $2,000 ; total, $39,099,80®. “This amount has been ledueed on my revision to an aggregate of $lO,089,000, which sum, if judiciously allotted by Congress, wilt be, in my judgment, a reasonable allowance for this class of expense during the next fiscal year.’j