Rensselaer Republican, Volume 17, Number 11, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 20 November 1884 — THE ARMY. [ARTICLE]

THE ARMY.

Sheridan’s. Recommendations Relative to State Troops, Rifle Practice, and Seaboard Defenses. The annual report of Lieut. Gen. Sheridan has been made, covering the period from his assignment to the command of the army, Nov, 1, 1883, to Nov. 1, 1884. He says that during this time the entire territory under the supervision of troops has been unusually free from collisions, resulting in loss either of life or property, but that the services of the military in the West cannot be safely dispensed with for many years to come. With liberal allowances of ammunition and better facilities for target practice than hitherto, much thought and attention has been given to rifle-tiring. The high scores>attained in the annual contests for army prizes the past season attest most gratifyingprogress in this vitally important branch of military instruction. The establishment of a higher grade of sharpshooters has developed many marksmen of wonderful skill in the use of the rifle for distances up to a thousand yards, and it would now be impossible for a close line of battle to stand up before a skirmish line composed of our qualified marksmen. The Lieutenant General expresses great interest in the National Guard of the States, and thinks Congress should designate the number qf men each State should have, and provide for them arms and camp and garrison equipage, under some wise method of accountability for this property, whenever State governments themselves appropriate substantial sums of money for the support of their respective military systems,in such manner that these sums cannot be affected by party legislation. Excepting for our ocean commerce and for our seaboard cities he does not think we should be much alarmed about the probability of war with foreign powers, since it would require more than a million and a half of men to make a campaign on land against ns. To transport from beyond the ocean that number of soldiers, with all their munitions of war, their cavalry, artillery, and infantry, even if not molested by us while in transit, would demand a large part of the shipping of all Europe. He earnestly invites immediate attention to the defenseless condition of seaboard cities, and urgently recommends the early beginning of a genial system of seacoast fortifications to be constructed in accordance with the requirements involved by the latest improvements in heavy artillery. “This nation,” he says, “isgrowing so rapidly that there are signs of other troubles which I hope will not occur, and which will probably not come upon us if both capital and labor will only be conservative. Still, it should be remembered destructive explosives are easily made, and that banks, United States sub-treasuries, public buildings and large mercantile houses can be readily demolished, andthe commerce of entire cities destroyed by an infuriated people with means carried with perfect safety to themselves in the pockets of their clothing.” Gen. Sheridan thinks Fort Riley, for all purposes of cavalry, should be made an establishment worthy of otr great country.