two of the regiments should furnish two each. These troops could also then be raised to a war strength, another very desirable consideration, which has been previously represented, without a serious reduction in the strength of other troops, and field officers could be detailed from the entire list, thus securing those most suitable.

I will also here renew a recommendation that I have several times made in one form or another, that officers assigned to the cavalry branch of the service be permitted to perform their first year of service at this school. It seems especially appropriate that additional second lieutenants be given their first service there, as it can not be known to what regiments they will finally be assigned, and Fort Riley is as central a point from which to order them to permanent stations as any that could be found. They could be attached for duty to regiments having troops in the school.

If all officers assigned to the cavalry could not be ordered there for one year's duty, at least a sufficient number should be sent to enable the commandant to supply each troop with three officers for duty at all times. They will derive far greater benefit than from service at an ordinary post not possessing such facilities for instruction as exist in a large command. The starting of a young officer with proper ideas of his duty is of great importance.

As the matter of expense has seemed to be a first consideration in the changing of troops on duty at the school, I would respectfully submit a further modification of previous recommendations, with a view to decreasing said expense. Instead of changing troops every three years, let each tour of duty be the regulation four years. It would then be necessary to change but two troops each year as long as only eight are in the school and three per year when it consists of twelve. In order to give as many officers the benefit of the course as possible, however, it is thought the subaltern officers should be changed every two years if this recommendation be adopted. Two years is sufficient for an officer to obtain whatever benefit is derivable from the course of instruction.

A large clock with sweep second hand for timing horses at the regu lation gaits, and a large mirror for making plain to unskillful riders faulty positions unconsciously assumed, would be useful adjuncts to riding-hall instruction:

Shortly before leaving Fort Riley I was notified that, pursuant to a recommendation I had made, the chief farrier and his school of farriery and blacksmithing, formerly located at Jefferson Barracks, had been ordered transferred to the United States Cavalry and Light Artillery School. This fact causes it to be all the more desirable and necessary that the veterinary dispensary recommended in former reports should be provided, and a blacksmith shop constructed in connection therewith where instruction in horseshoeing could be properly and systematically given. Provision should also be made for the chief farrier.

From an experience of several years at Fort Riley I have concluded that no dependence can be placed upon the weather there, as to suitability for outdoor work, after December 1. For this reason I consider a change in the division of time for cavalry instruction desirable, and therefore submit the following modification of previous recommendations: Instead of assigning the period between September 15 and October 1 to regimental and brigade drills and that between October 1 and December 20 to field exercises and combined maneuvers, the latter should be begun on September 15, three days of every week being

devoted thereto, the other two alternate days (Saturdays and Sundays are excepted) being utilized for regimental and brigade drills and ceremonies, in the order named.

The rendering of reports upon field exercises and maneuvers requires time for their proper and careful preparation and is a most important feature of the instruction. There should, therefore, never be had, in my opinion, more than three field exercises or combined maneuvers per week. It is believed that from twelve to fifteen of each of these and six regimental and three brigade drills are all-sufficient for efficient instruction. The period from September 15 to December 1 would afford from fifty to sixty working days, ample for the requirements of the above instruction and allowing some for the possibility of loss through bad weather or other emergencies. Ceremonies could continue with good weather, or such days as were suitable to December 20 could be utilized for matters which had been crowded out during the season by accidents and exigencies of the service. As a rule, however, I believe it for the best interests of the service that all school work should be completed by December 1.

The recommendations made in the reports of the directors of the two subschools are concurred m. Attention is respectfully invited to the contents of these reports contained in Appendixes A and B.

The changes which have occurred in the staff of the post commander since the submission of my last report are shown in the following memorandum:

Loss.-(1) Capt. S. R. Jones, assistant quartermaster, left post October 9, 1894; (2) Chaplain D. R. Lowell, post chaplain, left post June 9, 1894; (3) First Lieut. P. F. Straub, assistant surgeon, left post March 20, 1894; (4) First Lieut. J. M. Kennedy, assistant surgeon, left post April 25, 1894; (5) First Lieut. J. E. Maxfield, Signal Corps, left post November 3, 1894.

Gain.-(1) Capt. W. H. Miller, assistant quartermaster, joined post October 9, 1894; (2) Chaplain T. W. Barry, post chaplain, joined post October 27, 1894; (3) Capt. J. D. Poindexter, assistant surgeon, joined post October 24, 1894; (4) First Lieut. S. Reber, Signal Corps, joined post October 10, 1894; (5) First Lieut. W. W. Quinton, assistant surgeon, joined post March 14, 1894; (6) First Lieut. T. U. Raymond, assistant surgeon, joined post December 8, 1894.

As this is the last report I shall make concerning an institution with which I have been connected since its inception, and in which I have always been deeply interested, I take this occasion to make grateful acknowledgment that my service as its commandant will ever remain one of my pleasantest memories because of the loyal support and valuable assistance which was always cheerfully rendered by my subordi nates in the management of its affairs.

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

JAMES W. FORSYTH, Brigadier-General, United States Army.

The ADJUTANT-GENERAL UNITED STATES ARMY,

Washington, D. C.

REPORT OF THE COMMANDANT OF THE UNITED STATES
ARTILLERY SCHOOL.

UNITED STATES ARTILLERY SCHOOL,

Fort Monroe, Va., August 31, 1895.

SIR: I have the honor to submit the following report of the United States Artillery School for the year ended August 31, 1895:

The following officers constitute the present student class: First Lieuts. Harvey C. Carbaugh, Fifth Artillery; Elmer W. Hubbard, Third Artillery; Charles F. Parker, Second Artillery; T. Bentley Mott, First Artillery; George O. Squier, Third Artillery, and Alfred W. Hunter, Fourth Artillery. Second Lieuts. John T. Martin, Fourth Artillery; Sidney S. Jordan, Fifth Artillery; Delamere Skerrett, Fifth Artillery; Edward F. McGlachlin, jr., Fifth Artillery; Maurice G. Krayenbuhl, Second Artillery; William C. Davis, Fifth Artillery; William S. McNair, Third Artillery; Andrew Hero, jr., Fourth Artillery; George Blakely, Second Artillery; Jay E. Hoffer, Third Artillery; Arthur W. Chase, Second Artillery; Frank W. Coe, First Artillery; Samuel A. Kephart, Fourth Artillery; Sawyer Blanchard, First Artillery, and William Chamberlaine, First Artillery. First Lieut. Thomas Ridgway, Fifth Artillery, a member of the previous class, but who was prevented by sickness from completing his studies, has been assigned to the present class for the second year's course.

Lieutenant Blanchard was reported sick from March 20 to May 15, 1895, since which date he has been on sick leave of absence. Lieutenant Martin was relieved from duty at the Artillery School June 28, 1895, by Special Orders, No. 48 current series, Adjutant-General's Office, and ordered to report for duty at the Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio.

In addition to the foregoing, Lieuts. Charles D. Parkhurst, Fourth Artillery; Warren P. Newcomb, Fifth Artillery, and William L. Kenly, Fourth Artillery, graduates of previous classes, were ordered to the Artillery School and authorized to pursue a special course of studies for one year.

The period covered by this report embraces courses of instruction for commissioned officers in engineering, artillery, exterior and interior ballistics, and practical artillery exercises; also practical instruction in photography and telegraphy.

ENGINEERING.

Two and a half months are given to the study of military engineering. The course includes surveying, topographical sketching and map reading, field fortifications, reconnoissance, military communication, and seacoast defense. As students already possess a theoretical knowledge of these subjects, instruction is largely practical-field work with the different instruments used in making surveys, reconnoissance, etc., lectures by the instructor, Capt. J. M. K. Davis, First Artillery, and informal discussions on the subject of seacoast defense.

ARTILLERY.

This course, to which three months are given, includes the metallurgy of gun metal, gun and gun-carriage construction, elastic strength of guns, ordnance and gunnery, and armor and its attack by artillery.

Prior to the commencement of the course the instructor, Capt. J. P. Story, visited the proving grounds at Sandy Hook, N. J., the gun factory at Watervliet, N. Y., Watertown Arsenal, Barton, Mass., the Bethlehem Iron Works, Pennsylvania, and other important establishments, making a careful study of the work done and in progress and of the means and methods employed, thus enabling him to present to his class the latest information upon artillery questions. During this course the fleet of Admiral R. C. Meade, United States Navy, visited Hampton Roads, and through the courtesy of the Admiral and of Captain Evans, commander of the flagship New York, the officers of the school were afforded the opportunity to visit that ship for the purpose of examining it and its armament. The class was divided into sections, and an officer of the ship assigned to conduct each section and make necessary explanations. The mechanism of the Hotchkiss, the Driggs-Schroeder, and the Dashiell rapid-fire guns were explained and their practical working exhibited; the main armament in turrets and the manner of training the turrets and guns, and of elevating and aiming the latter were explained; also the electric equipment of the ship and the manner of discharging torpedoes. The pains taken by the naval officers in charge to explain fully the offensive and defensive arrangements of this model cruiser and the practical working of all its parts made the visit one of special interest and profit.

BALLISTICS.

Three months are given to the study of exterior and interior ballistics, about three-fifths of the time to the former and two-fifths to the latter. The instructor, Captain Ingalls, is the author of the text-books used in this course. The method pursued is a combination of blackboard demonstrations, questions, lectures, and the solution of practical numerical examples. By this method the instructor says:

Not only are the principles upon which the science of ballistics is based thoroughly mastered, but what is generally more difficult of attainment, the application of the formulas and tables to the important and complicated problems which are continually arising in gunnery are made more easy.

PHOTOGRAPHY AND TELEGRAPHY.

Instruction in photography consisted of lectures describing the apparatus and the manner of using it and the application of photography to military purposes; also practical work in the laboratory in making negatives and prints from them in silver, bromide, and blue-print papers enlarged or reduced.

Instruction in practical telegraphy was given by Lieut. Samuel A. Kephart, Fourth Artillery, a member of the class, who is a practical telegrapher. The progress of the class under his efficient management was good, and, with one exception, all attained the prescribed standard. The other departments of the school for commissioned officers, though not engaged in the regular instructions of the class until the second year of the course, have afforded those taking special courses the means of pursuing their studies with great advantage and the members of the class the opportunity to employ their spare time in preparatory or experimental work. These advantages were improved to a very considerable extent. Lieutenant Newcomb pursued a special course of study in electricity with reference to its application to military purposes. During the year, also, Professor Crehore, of Dartmouth College, and Lieutenant Squier, of the Artillery School, conducted jointly a series

of interesting experiments with a view to developing a new instrument for measuring the velocity of projectiles by the use of polarized light. The experiments were very successful and promise the best results. In addition to the foregoing, the duty devolves upon this department of keeping in order the firing, chronograph, telegraph, and telephone lines of the school. In the chemical and explosive laboratory Lieutenants Parkhurst and Kenly pursued special courses, and many of the student class devoted much of their spare time to experimental work under the direction of the instructor. To the department of steam and mechanism belongs the work of construction and repair, of providing steam for heating and power for running the dynamos and other machinery of the school. The shops pertaining to this department are well equipped, and much of the apparatus required by the other departments is made there.

ENLISTED MEN'S DIVISION.

Unabated interest is maintained in the enlisted men's branch of the school, which, under the management of Lieut. E. A. Millar, Third Artillery, continues to be an important factor in its scheme of instruction. Through its means noncommissioned officers are given an education and training which enable them to understand thoroughly and perform efficiently the manifold duties devolving upon them. The school commenced October 9, 1894, with a membership of 47. By discharge, furlough, etc., this number was reduced to 43 at the close of the session in May. Of these, 13 completed the two-years course and were given diplomas; 18 completed the first year's course, and others were in various stages of progress.

ARTILLERY PRACTICAL EXERCISES.

For the purpose of drills and practical instruction the eight batteries of the school are organized into two battalions of four batteries each, under the command of field officers. Practical artillery instruction for the year embraced nearly the entire schedule of exercises prescribed in the programme of the school, together with the service of the 8-inch B. L. R. gun, the 12-inch B. L. R. mortar, and the 3.6-inch field mortar recently received. Provisional manuals for the service of these pieces were prepared by Lieut. W. P. Duvall, Fifth Artillery.

Target practice was conducted with a special view to the instruction of student officers, but care was taken to make it as instructive as possible to the batteries. It is believed that both officers and men received all the advantages that could be obtained from the ammunition expended, which, in the case of the 8-inch B. L. R. gun and the 12-inch B. L. R. mortar, was very limited. Practice with these pieces was exceedingly interesting, and while the practical use of them has developed some minor defects in the carriages, which have been noted elsewhere, the ease and facility with which they were operated and the accurate and uniform results obtained inspired both officers and men with the greatest confidence in their efficiency. The tables used were the ones computed by Captain Ingalls, the targets those in ordinary use, and the ranges for the mortar 5,284 and 9,004 yards; that for the gun was 6,182 yards. On account of the ricochet a shorter range for this gun can not be safely used and a somewhat longer one would be safer. The telescopic sight devised by Lieut. Charles D. Parkhurst, Fourth Artillery, was employed in laying the gun, with entirely satisfactory results. At the above range the target was invisible through the peep sight,