Strength Of The Army

Frora the reporta of the secretary of war it appears that the strunfjth of the anny on Sept. 30, 18Ö4. was 2. 135 ofticers and 25,76o i-nlisted meo. Although this is apparently a very slight decrease compared with the previoiig year tlie actual effective forcé has been increaaed to üu equivalent of uearly two regiment through the reorjfani.atioji of the system of reorultlng and the consequent release Co regimenté of the large torca of men hitherto serving at the recruiting depots. The abolition of these depots, it is predir.ted. will furthennoi-e effect an aunual redui-tion approximating $260,QÜ0 in the direct xpenditnrea, besidea promoting kvu erally the health. moráis and discipline of the troopa. The execution of the polioy of conoentrating the rmy at important centers of population and transpoi-tiition, foi-shadowed in the last annual report of the secretary, has resulted in the abandonment of fifteen of the smaller posts, which was effected onder a plan which asseinblesoreanizationsof the saine Eeeiments erto widoly eparatud. This reuuers oiir sinall force more readily effective for auy Bervice which they may be oalled apon to perform, inrrease the extent of territory mider pfotdotiou without diiniuLshüig the BecOïity tuüvtufore afforded auy loiality, improves the disciuline, traiiniiK and esprit de corps of the arcny, oesides oonsiderahly decreaning the cost of maintaiuenee. ïhough the forcas of the depirtment of the east have been somewhnt innreased. more than threefourths of the arm y is still stationed west of the Mississippi. This oarefully raatnred policy. which secui'8 the bet and greatest service in the Interest of the general welfare from the small forcé cón)prjina: our regular arniy, (liould not be thoughtlessly embarrased by the creatiou of uew and unneoesary posts (trongliacteaf congres to gratify the ambiciona or ir.tere.stN "I 1,( alitien "iii(. che máximum legal strengC -jf the array Ís íjiu men the effeetive atrength, through variou; i ■ -mt over ZU.WO meo. The pnrpó ■.-ongrest) does not, therefore. seem to l'e fully attained by the existiiiK condition. Sfictiiini lfortificaUon. Wbile no considerable Incrsose in the army is in tny .nidgmerit demanded by recent eventa chepohcy of m-h eowit furtiflciition in the prosecutipn cf wliu li we have been gteadily engaged some years hassofar developéd as tö8ngtri"St Unit tlie cft'ective Ntreugth "f the armv be nowj made at least equul t-o tbe legal strength. Measnres taken by the department durinfr the year as indicated have already constderably uugmented the effectüve forre, inri the aecretary of war present! a .lan whic'h I recoimnend to the consideration ot (oiikpss tf. ut tuin thedesired end EconoinieK effected in thr dopartment in otherünes al itswoikwfll oftset to a great extent thp expénditure involved in the proposition sibmitted Amona otlier thiiigsthis contémplate theadop(H.n .f tim-e batiillion formatiou of regiüiciits, wbich for several years has lieen mdorsea by the Decretarles ot war and the generais cOmiMndlne the ariny. Compact in ItM-lf u provfdes a keleton oiganization. ready to be filk-i) out, 111 the event of war. which ís peonliarl) adapted toour strengtb ments: and the fact that every other nation ' with a single exception, has adopted this foim ! Htiou to meet the conditions of modern w;ir rare shonld alone secnre for tlie ' tion nu early consideration. It is hardlv nece' ary to recall the fact that in obedienc'e to the ( ommaiids of the cbnstittition and the laws ann ror tne purpose ot protecting tlie property oí the lintel statcs. aidtag tle procese of federal courts ano removing l&wless obstructions t.. the perfarmance by the Kovernment of lts ligitlmate f unctiona it became necessary in various lncalitH-silnriiift the year tü employ a considerable portion of the regular troops Theduty ws diseharged promptly. conrteoin ly and with marked cHscretton Ijy the oftlceri and men. and the most gratlfy&K proof was tona affonk'd that the arm y deserves tliat com plete eimfldenee in its efficiency and discipline which the conntry has at all times manisested Q he year has been free trom disturbanci l.v lndians and the chances of fnrther depredationsoti theii part ure constantly heeuming more remóte and im])i-obable The tutal epeii'litim-.sf r the war desartnient for tlie year ended -lune 80, 1804 amounted to .r)i),Ü3!l.'ii.;H. Of thi-snm v..im üi+ '. was tor salaries and contingent expenses; 28,685,166.18 tor the support ot ths military. ■ stublishmente; ,00 ,(Hü.8 for miscellaneous objects and 125,37 1,555. tW for public works. ïhis latter sum iuclndes il!i.4!i4.U!?.4H for river and harbor and $3M',IMM for fortifications, and other works of defenso. Tlie appropriations for the current year agregate $52,42"J,11.;. and the estimates subniittcd bv tue secreta) y of for tlie next fiscal year cali for appropriations amountin to $52,318,889.66, Theskill an industry of onrordnanoeofficers nd inventora have, it ïslielieved. overeóme the mechan cal obstac.les which have heretofore de layed the arinament of our coasts. and this ereat national undertakinif uprm -Inch we have entered may now proceea a rapidlv as congress sha.l determine. With a suppíy of timshed guiis of large i alibre already on nand, to wüich additions should now rapidlv f.illow. the w sdom of providing carriages and emplacements for their mouut caunot. be tjo starongly mxed. Ulerease in the JMilitm. The total enrollment of tiie militia of the several states is 117.5 3 offi;;ers and milisted men, aa Inorease of f,.n:t over the number reported at the close of the present year. The repons oí elections by regular army officers show a marked inc rease in interest and efficiency aniong tlie state orgamzations and 1 strongly recommend a continuante of the pollcy of affording every practical encourugement possible to this important auxiliarv of our military establishment. The comlition of the Apache Indians. held as prttoners by the governm.in tor eigut years at a cost 01 half a unUiou dollars, has been changed during the year frorn captivity to one which glve8 thein an opportunity to demónstrate their capacity for self-support and at least partial oivilization. l.ogislation eaacte.l at the late 8688I0I1 of congress gave the war department anthority to transfer the survivors. munbcring :i46, from Mount Vernon barracks, in Alatiama, to any suitable reservation. The department selected as their future home the military lands near Fort Sill, Indmti Territory, n-liere. under military surveillance, the former prisoners have been esta' lished in agriculture uuder contlitions favorable to ih ilr advanc.ement. In re'OKi)itiou of tlie long and distinguished ! military söi-vicls and faithful discliarge of tl. licate and responsible civil duties by MaiorGeneral .Tolin Si. Schotield. now the general commandilig the army. it is suggested to congress that the timiiorary revival of the graaeof lieutenant-general in his behalf would beajustand eracious act, and wonld permit nis retirement, now near at hand. with rank bentting his meritn.