| Show General Hchofleldj Report WASHINGTON Nov MajorGeneral l Schofield commanding the United States army in his annual report says in part I may be asserted that all that is now required for the final and peaceful settlement settle-ment of the great Indian problem is the wise just and humane treatment of the Indians upon their reservations and tho presence or proximity of such a military force as will deter tbe young and restless among them from attempting to imitate the deeds of their ancestors The time has now coma when the future positive or probable military necessities of the country coun-try should dictate its military policy The army should be so stationed that it may be prepared at the shorten notice t respond to any call which may be made upon its service and at tie same time to assist in all practicable ways in preparing the militia of the United States for national guards for active service in time of need It is believed be-lieved to be so manifest to all who consider con-sider the subject that demonstration is un neccessary that the important seaboard cities should be so fortified armed and manned as to be capable of selfdefenso against the attack of any foreign fleet and each of the great seacoast cities of the United States should be provided with an adequate number of seagoing battle ships capable of attacking upon the broad ocean any hostile fleet which might attempt to blockade our harbors or destroy our commerce com-merce When the important seaports are adequately fortified and armed the homo fleet it is presumed will be sufficient for each of the great oceans The military policy of the United States will never require such defense de-fense on the northern Irontier tronter as proposed by the fortification board of 18b5 and carciully selected garrisons as a nucleus for the concentration of forces in an emerLencv arA indPL SSt is factory progress RtHIUctlr has been made at Watervliet in the fabrication of experimental experi-mental guns and mortars of the highest test General Ssbofleld describe = B at length l the straits into which the department depart-ment has been put by past legislation Concerning the number of privates in the army ho wants the limit raised to at least 30000 and says that without this number tho peace footing cannot be made thoroughly effective and cannot be relied upon for service which may immediately be required of regular troops in any emergency emer-gency and before the ranks can he filled by recruits or volunteers called into the field In this connection the general suggests sUgsests that whenever such an increase is made provision J should be made for the organization organ-ization of a large battalion of young men between the ages of sixteen and twenty years selected with respect to their intelligence intelli-gence and good character with a view to their education for the service for commissioned of com-missioned officers and as officers either of regular forces or milita privileges being given to such young men to enlist for a regular period of service or to receive an honorable discharge at their own option at the expiration of their course of instruction instruc-tion Such a school would be of very great value to the military service of the country It is suggested that steps be taken without with-out delay to organize in all of the seaboard states a due proportion proporton of heavy artillery cue batalions the for service of the formications of those states and that these batteries be reported to the department in order that places of instruction may be assigned to them where they can spend their annual encampment in company with regular troops and under the immediate instruction of an accomplished artillery officer Regi mental organizations for such artillery batteries bat-teries is not necessary In the interest of the army probably biennial instead of annual fr an-nual instruction of infantry troops for field sufficient exercise on a large scale will be found In conclusion General Schofield says that tt several measures enacted by the present I Congress will prove of great and lasting benefit to the military service and the zealand l zeal-and fidelity with which the duties of the army have been performed meet his commendation com-mendation |
