 |
| Maj. Gen. Nelson Miles. |
Cortland
Evening Standard, Thursday, November 12, 1896.
UNITED STATES ARMY.
The
Report of Major General Nelson A. Miles.
TROOPS
IN GOOD CONDITION.
Many
Suggestions for Improvement Made by the General, Especially as to Coast Defenses
—Advocates an Increase In the Regular Army.
WASHINGTON, Nov. 12.—In his annual report to
the secretary of war, Major-General Miles, commanding the army, says that
fortunately during the year the army has been called upon only to a limited
extent to act either against hostile Indians or against bodies of men engaged
in violating the laws of the United States or the internal treaty obligations.
The personnel of the army was never in better condition; the percentage of
violations of discipline has been exceedingly small and the standard of
enlisted men is constantly improving. The care exercised in obtaining suitable
material is shown by the fact that out of 49,240 applicants for enlistment
during the last year only 7,465 were accepted as qualified.
General Miles recommends a liberal
appropriation for replacing the present decaying and antiquated post buildings
occupied by the army and especially those on what was formerly the Indian
frontier with new and sanitary quarters.
General Miles believes that freedom of the
country of late from Indian outbreaks is to be ascribed to the fact that
Indians now receive better treatment from the government; that they are more
impressed with the power of the army to punish them, and that affairs are in
many cases managed by competent army officers. Therefore, he recommends that
the same policy as to the Indians be continued.
On the subject of location of army posts, General
Miles says that these should be placed with reference to the defense of the sea
coast ports, to the protection of citizens from strong bodies of Indians and,
strategic points on the lines of communications.
In no case, he adds, should they be located for
the benefit of local communities or other than purposes of national defense.
General Miles again devotes a large portion
of his report to the consideration of questions of coast defense and he renews forcibly
all of the recommendations of that subject made in his former reports. He says
the appliances of war have undergone so great a change in 30 years as to make
it imperatively necessary to change the entire character of our old
fortifications and the armament as well. Apparently we have about reached the
limit of the present type of high power gun, throwing large armor piercing
projectiles fully 12 miles, and it is believed by the best military authorities
that further very great improvement in this respect is a matter of
extreme doubt.
The report states that the change in warlike
appliances makes it necessary to place high power guns at much greater
distances than formerly from the centers of wealth and commerce and so to build
barracks and quarters for the defensive garrisons. Therefore it is recommended
that liberal appropriations by the coming session of congress for the
manufacture of guns, their emplacements, quarters and barracks.
The estimates that General Miles says are
imperatively required to be allotted for the next year for the work of the
ordnance, engineers and quartermasters' department at different coast points
are as follows:
Portland, Me., $1,134,850; Portsmouth, N.
H., $898,925; Boston, $1,078,350; Narragansett Bay, $62,825; Long Island sound,
eastern entrance, $913,600; defense of New York, southern entrance, $1,299,600;
Philadelphia, $625,625; Baltimore, $671,450; Washington, $577,925; Hampton
Roads, Va., $619,325; Wilmington, N. C., $125,535; Charleston, S. C., $350,925;
Savannah, [$893,926]; Key West, Fla., $32,400; Pensacola, Fla., $150,400;
Mobile, Ala., $150,100; New Orleans, $489,400; Galveston, Tex., $157,925; San
Diego, Cal., $800,925; San Francisco, $902,850; mouth of Columbia river,
$566,325; Puget sound, $764,050.
General Miles renews his former
recommendations for an increase of the army, on the ground that it has not kept
pace with the increased wealth of public and private interests. He advocates a
standard of strength, to be fixed according to the population and wealth of the
nation, which standard would, in his judgment, be judicious, patriotic and
eminently wise, not only for the welfare of the people of the present day, but
for all time of the existence of the republic. Therefore, he suggests that the
enlisted strength of the army be fixed at one soldier to every 2,000 of
population as a minimum, the maximum strength to be determined by the president
according to the necessity and requirements of the nation.
He also points out the importance of having
at least two stations east of the Rocky
mountains and one west, suitable for the accommodation of one regiment of cavalry
and renews the recommendations made last year concerning the use or bicycles
and motor wagons and the promotion of competent enlisted men to the grade of
second lieutenants after five years' service.
 |
| Capt. Gen. Valeriano Weyler. |
NO CHANGE OF POLICY.
Interference
In Cuban Matters Not Likely.
WEYLER'S
ENERGETIC CAMPAIGN.
His
Taking Command In Person Seems to Indicate a Final Attempt On the Part of Spain
to Crush the Rebellion at Once.
WASHINGTON, Nov. 12.—The renewed reports
that the United States is about to intervene in the Cuban conflict are not
confirmed in official quarters, nor is there any evidence to indicate that at
the present time the United States has under consideration any change in its
policy.
The only available information reaching here
is that the Spanish military operations, begun early in October, are about to
go forward with greater energy than at any previous time. Important results are
expected from this forward movement within the next three weeks.
There are now 25,000 more Spanish troops en
route for Cuba. They will be distributed in the western provinces. It is
expected that with these additional troops in position the four western
provinces will be completely garrisoned and occupied at every point by the
government troops.
The lull in operations within the last few
days is explained by a circumstance not yet known. The insurgent leader, Maceo,
moved to the coast for the purpose of receiving a pneumatic dynamite gun which
had been landed with great difficulty. The reports reaching here show that the
trials of the gun failed to show it to be formidable, the shot carrying only
500 yards, or less than the distance carried by rifles. Under these
circumstances Maceo has retraced his steps without the dynamite gun.
Meanwhile the Spanish forces have been divided
into two main divisions, one in the south and the other in the north of the island.
The main purpose of the troops has been to
occupy the mountain passes and this has proceeded so rapidly that it is
asserted here positively that every approach and egress to the mountain
recesses is now commanded by a heavy force of Spanish troops. This plan of
campaign is relied on to force the insurgents to fight in the open country.
The civil affairs of Cuba have also
undergone a change within recent days. By agreement between the leaders of the
Liberal, Conservative and home rule parties, constituting all the loyal
elements, they have been merged into one party known as the party of common
defense. The main feature of agreement is the termination of the rebellion
before any plan of autonomy shall be put i n to operation.
During the second fortnight of November 18,000
additional troops are being places in the field to operate against the insurgents.
ALIENS
DEPORTED.
Three
Italian Lunatics Sent Back to Their Home.
ALBANY, NOV. 12.—As an outcome of prolonged
correspondence with the Italian authorities the state commission in lunacy has
succeeded in deporting three alien lunatics to their home in Italy.
These aliens belonged to the very lowest
strata of society and had but recently landed in this country. Each had been
convicted of crimes of a more or less serious nature and had been committed to
a state prison or penitentiary where, their insanity becoming manifest, they
were committed to the Matteawan asylum for criminal lunatics.
The deportation of these patients not only
saves the state the cost of their maintenance, but the room occupied by them is
now available for insane patients having a legal residence in the state.
The first of these was a particularly
troublesome man, whose deportation the commission unsuccessfully attempted some
three weeks ago, the lunatic being rejected by the steamship authorities as an
unsuitable and most undesirable passenger.
The commission will deport next week a young
English woman who recently arrived in this country from England and, becoming
insane, was committed to the Long Island state hospital, Brooklyn. The mother
of this patient was unaware of her whereabouts for a long time, but finally
learning of her commitment at the state hospital at Brooklyn requested the
commission to use the money found on the patient to pay the cost of returning
her to her care.
BOARD OF
SUPERVISORS.
Fourth
Day, Thursday, Nov. 12.
The board convened at 9 o'clock and was
called to order by Chairman Crane. At rollcall [sic] a quorum was present. The
journal of the previous day was approved.
The special committee on resolutions on the
retiring clerk, Mr. John C. Barry, reported as follows:
Resolved, That we, the members of the
board of supervisors of Cortland, N. Y., in annual session assembled do feel it
a pleasure as well as an imperative duty to pay more than a passing tribute to
our highly esteemed and retiring clerk, J. C. Barry, Esq., be it therefore,
Resolved, That we take this method of giving expression to our appreciation of his
efficiency and very marked ability, as well as the extreme courtesy displayed during
the four years he has served as the clerk of the board of supervisors of aforesaid county; and especially have
the new members of the various board been prolific in their praise of
his kindness and invaluable assistance rendered them. And we also recognize the
fact that he has so systematized the work in charge as to render its
accomplishment more rapid than in former years and we each of us do bear
witness that he retires from this board with the best wishes of all; and be it
also further
Resolved, That a copy of these resolutions be incorporated in the minutes of this
board.
B. P. LEE, JOHN O'DONNELL, W. H. DELONG,
Committee.
On motion of Mr. Lee:
Resolved. That the report of the committee as read be adopted.
On motion of Mr. O'Donnell:
Resolved, That all resolutions and reports be reduced to writing before they are
entertained by this board.
On motion of Mr. Childs:
Resolved, That the salary of the county treasurer-elect shall be fixed during the
term of his office at $500 per annum.
On motion of Mr. Lee:
Resolved, That the committee on jurisprudence have supervision of the preparation
of the grand jury lists.
On motion of Mr. Brown:
Resolved, That the supervisor of the
town of Harford be authorized to levy and collect tax on road districts Nos. 19,
8 and 7 the sum of $58.76, and also on districts Nos. 5, 28, 22, 29 and 24 the
sum of $35.79, aggregating $94.55 to meet payments on two road machines coming
due March 1, 1897.
On motion of Mr. Corning:
Resolved, That the clerk of the board of supervisors be authorized to add to the
abstract of the town of Cincinnatus the account of Benton B. Jones for printing
town meeting ballots, etc., $15.50, the same having been duly certified, but
not presented to the town board for audit.
On motion of Mr. Holton:
Resolved, That the unworked highway tax returned to the several supervisors by
overseers of highways be added to the assessment against the property for which
the same is levied, except in those cases where there is a reasonable doubt of
the justice of such return, which cases shall be laid before the whole board
for action.
On motion of Mr. Bingham:
Resolved, That the supervisor of the town of Solon be allowed to add to his town
abstract the bill of Benton B. Jones, $14.50, bill for printing, said bill not
being presented to the town board for audit, and being properly verified.
The clerk read the report of the U. S. loan
commissioners which was referred to the committee on settling with school and
loan commissioners.
The clerk read the report of the railroad
commissioners of the town of Cortlandville, which was referred to the committee
on appropriations.
The report of the railroad commissioner of
the town of Truxton was read by the clerk and ordered on file and so much of it
as refers to raising funds was referred to the committee on appropriations.
The clerk read the report of the district
attorney which was referred to the committee on settling with district
attorney.
The clerk read the report of the bonded indebtedness
of Homer academy which was ordered placed on file.
Mr. Holton presented the matter [of] unpaid
road tax in the town of Virgil. After discussion, on motion of Mr. Bingham:
Resolved, That the return of unworked road tax in Dist. No. 16 in the town of
Virgil be ignored and the supervisor be directed to refuse to add the same to the
tax roll of said town.
The report of the supervisor of Marathon
relative to the bonded indebtedness of the town was read by the clerk and
ordered placed on file.
The board then engaged in committee work for
the remainder of the forenoon.
WHERE
THEY ARE STOPPING.
The
Cortland Residences of the County Supervisors.
During the session of the board of
supervisors those from the more remote towns are stopping in Cortland, while those
who live comparatively near the county seat go home over night. Mr. Corning of
Cincinnatus is stopping with his daughter, Mrs. F. H. Miner, 103 Maple-ave. Mr.
Smith, Cortlandville's representative, resides at 150 Main-st. Mr. Lee of
Cuyler is stopping at the Cortland House and Mr. Tuttle of Freetown is with his
brother, W. D. Tuttle, 26 Union-st. Mr. Brown of Harford is at the Cortland House
and Chairman Crane of Homer resides at Homer, but takes his dinners at the
Cortland House. Mr. Surdam of Lapeer is stopping with his uncle, N. B. Earsley,
24 Hubbard-st. and Mr. Hammond of Marathon and Dr. Hunt of Preble are at the
Cortland House, but Dr. Hunt occasionally goes home over night. Mr. Childs of
Scott is at the Cortland House. Mr. Bingham of Solon drives to McGrawvllle each
morning and comes up by electric car and returns in the evening. Mr. DeLong of
Taylor is at the Cortland House, Mr. O'Donnell of Truxton is at the same place,
but goes home over night. Mr. Holton of Virgil drives to Cortland each morning
and returns at night. Mr. Greene of Willet is domiciled at the Messenger House
during his stay in Cortland.
PREPARING
FOR SKATING.
The Rink
at the Park will be in Good Condition this Year.
Superintendent F. P. Mooney of the Cortland
and Homer Traction Co. has already begun his preparations for the skating
season. A rink was last year prepared just east of the Tioughnioga river on the
park property, but, as it was an experiment and a new thing, there were many
difficulties about keeping the ice in good condition. The dam below the rink
has within the past few days been strengthened by a new bank of dirt so that it
is thought it will not leak.
A new centrifugal pump has been purchased which
can be run by electricity whenever attached to the trolley wire. This is
expected to flood the rink in a couple of hours, and will be a very great improvement
over the old traction engine which was last year used for this purpose and
which took a long time to flood the place even if its fire did not go out and
stop its pumping altogether.
It is believed that the rink will be in splendid
condition this winter and will be a favorite place for that most healthful and
exhilarating of winter out-of- doors exercise.
The skating flag will be displayed from the
pole on the STANDARD building as last year when the ice is in good condition.
BREVITIES.
— Two tramps were lodged at police
headquarters last night.
—Marathon is to have a farmers' institute on
Feb. 17 and 18.
—The large water tank on Prospect Hill, which
was damaged by the recent cyclone, has been thoroughly repaired and is now
stronger than ever with braces and with heavy wire cables used as guys.
—The public hearing upon the proposed Elm-st.
franchise for the Cortland and Homer Traction Co., which was to have occurred
last night before the board of village trustees, was postponed until Monday
evening, Nov. 30.
—The clothing stock of H. G. Jaquay &
Co. in this village was sold at sheriff's sale Monday and was purchased by Mrs.
Laura A. Graham of Cortland. The goods will be removed to Cortland and the
store closed.—Canastota Journal.
—Mr. E. E. Ellis of the Ellis Omnibus &
Cab Co. reports that orders are coming in very nicely since election, where
before that time everything was perfectly dead. The prospects are that the
company will soon be busy and have all it can do all winter.
—We publish in another column the official election
returns of Cortland county as canvassed by the board of supervisors. It will be
noted that they differ very little from the returns as previously published
which were gathered by The STANDARD'S own corps of reporters in the several
towns.
—Jason N. Merrill, an Ithaca carpenter,
while working yesterday on Williams' dam in Cascadilla gorge slipped and fell
thirty-six feet striking on his head on the rocks below and killing him instantly.
His brains were flushed out. The body was rescued with great difficulty. He leaves
a wife and three children.
—Several of the pledges to the Crosley
hospital fund remain unpaid and if those giving such pledges will kindly
forward the amounts to the treasurer, Mrs. F. H. Cobb, 4 Monroe Heights, they
will confer a favor on the managers who are desirous of finishing the annual
collection before the expiration of the year on Nov. 30.
No comments:
Post a Comment