Rensselaer Republican, Volume 19, Number 15, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 16 December 1886 — THE WAR DEPARTMENT. [ARTICLE]

THE WAR DEPARTMENT.

Annual Report of the Hon. William C Endicott, Secretary of War, The annual report of the Secretary of Wai Bbowa that the expenditures of the department for tho fiscal year ended Juno M, Ifißß, were $36,990,903, divided as follows : Salaries and cohtingent expenses, $1,99-2,469; military establishment, including transportation, $24,279,500; public works, $6,294,305; miscellaneous, $4,406,627. Aeurplus of 21,208,016 remained, unexpended, rho appropriations for the year efiding June 30, 1867, are $46,027,559, and the estimates for the year ending June 30, 1888, are $48.268.81>. The army at the date of tlie last consolidatad return consisted of 2,103 officers and -23,946 enlisted men. There are ten regiments es cavalry, five of artillery, and twenty-five of infantry. Of Indian scouts there ate 595, and 2,003 enlisted men are on detached service with recruiting parties, etc. The report gives in detail the changes and operations of tbo different divisions. 'The Indians are generally quiet, although tbo presence of troops is necessary to preserve pence and to prevent, especially in the Oklahoma country, the seizure of the land by settlers and its invasion and occupancy by herders ot cattle. The Secretary says : "There seems but little hope of improving this condition of things, in view of the avidity with which this fertile country is coveted by the settlers end the cattlemen, and the duty resting upon the Government to keep its agreements with the Indians, for whose benefit it has been set apart. Congress alone can give the needed remedy, and in tho interest Of good government it is earnestly hoped bv all who have executive duties to perform in'this Territory that speedy action will ba taken.” The Sacretary recommends that tha retired list bo increased so as to include all officers permanently incapacitated for active service. He also concurs in tho opinion of the Lieutenant General that the army be increased 5,000 men. It is suggested that Congress enact a law providing for examinations for promotions similar to those held in the navy. At the West Point Military Academy there are 3>9 cadets nna fifty>eight officers. The Superintendent favors the competitive system in tho selection of candidates for the academy. In discussing the report of the Engineer Bureau Secretary Endicott again calls attention to the utterly defenseless condition of our seacoast and lake frontier. He urges that appropriations should bo made and work begun at once to fortify the principal seaboard cities against attacks by water. The report says: “We have a single problem to solve in defending our cities ; how best to resist and silence the armored ships and the steel guns and mortars of -modern construction. It can only be accomplished by guns of equal’ force to those which any enemy can bring against us, and, by torpedoes or submarine mines laid in the navigable channels, both so guarded and protected that they can do efficient service when required. We have no gun now which can stop the progress of or do any material injury to a well-armored ship. The manufacture of a gun is a work of time, and of a long time, and cannot be extemporized when wanted. Torpedoes may be more quickly created, but still time and Money are needei for their construction. It has been said by a well-informed writer on the subject that it is a matter of doubt it we jrave on hand enough cables and cases to control with torpedoes tbo channels past Sandy Hook alone.” During the year the Springfield Armory manufactured 39,5’7 rifles, carbines, and shot-guns, besides repairing arms and manufacturing swords and miscellaneous articles. The Secretary expresses a hope that Congress, during its i resent session, will place the army on an equal footing with the navy in tho matter of the manufacture ot guns, and urges that the bill, which has already passed the Senate, to establish a gun foundry at the Frankfort Arsenal. be taken up and passed by the House. Ih conclusion, the re-port recommends the appointment of an Assistant Secretary of War, and that the salaries of the principal officers in the Secretary’s qffice be increased.