and only dimly seen through the open sight of the gun, but was very distinctly seen through the telescopic sight.

For the purpose of testing the merits of the Essick-Page printing telegraph as a means of transmitting information in seacoast artillery firing, the company offered the school the free use of the instruments during the target season. By this system the message is printed on a sheet of paper 5 inches wide. It is operated like a typewriter, and a special advantage of the system is that the operator has before him an exact copy of what is sent and being received at the several stations along the line. The installation and management of the system was assigned to Lieut. H. C. Carbaugh, Fifth Artillery. The work was attended by the usual embarrassments in introducing new methods with untrained hands, but they were overcome and the system was found to work very well. Easy and reliable means of communication with the different batteries of a post and between the various parts of works are of the first importance. With some modification of the system which has been suggested, and more experience in using it, it is believed that it will be found more satisfactory than any method that has yet been tried.

Since my last report the pintles and platforms of the 15-inch S. B. gun battery have all been put in good order and new carriages of the latest model have been supplied to replace the old ones. Two of the four wooden platforms on which the 8 inch C. R. guns are mounted have been replaced by concrete platforms, and the gun carriages repaired and improved as suggested in a former report. These batteries are now in excellent condition, and it is earnestly hoped that the two remaining wooden platforms may be replaced by concrete before another year.

The index circle of the new mortar platform has been put down with the zero to the south. With the vernier at the rear end of the carriage as now placed, and where it must necessarily be placed in the case of gun carriages, 180° must be added in laying the piece for all azimuths under 1800, and 180° subtracted for all azimuths over that number. This complication would be avoided by placing the zero at the north instead of the south point of the circle.

The continual shipment of heavy ordnance to and from the post has forcibly demonstrated the lack of suitable means for handling such heavy weights. Cranes capable of lifting from 20 to 30 tons should be erected at the wharf and railroad station for loading and unloading this material, and adequate means provided for transporting it to and from the batteries. With the means now available both the labor and time necessary to accomplish the work is greatly increased.

LIBRARY.

The usual additions of current military works have been made to the library during the year. It now contains about 11,000 volumes, and I can not urge too strongly the importance of providing a larger and safer building for their accommodation.

BINDERY AND PRINTING PRESS.

The bindery and printing press are under the management of the adjutant, Lieut. Edward Davis, Third Artillery, and contribute much needed assistance to all departments. Besides many unbound volumes purchased for the use of the school, all of the valuable exchanges of the Artillery Journal are here bound and added to the library.

DISCIPLINE.

The standard of discipline maintained at the school is, I think, eminently satisfactory. With the exception of desertions, which have been rare, infractions of discipline have all been of a minor character. The enlisted strength of the command has been maintained constantly at or near the maximum by enlistments made at the post. While we have no regular gymnasium, athletic sports are encouraged, and systematic attention given to the physical training and development of the

men.

GENERAL REMARKS.

The present class is the first in many years in which all the members were able, without distinction, to take the entire course. All possess excellent abilities, and thus far their attainments, as shown by their work in the several departments, are about the same, the difference between the head and foot men being very small. Under these circumstances the regulation of the school which requires the staff to note in each department, as distinguished, such as have shown marked proficiency, in my opinion, accomplishes substantially the object or intent of the regulation, and the further provision that their names be arranged in the order of merit would seem unnecessary. Such grading is distasteful to the students themselves and many objections are urged against it.

The equipment of the different departments of the school is improved yearly, and now offers substantial advantages both to the regular class and to those who may be permitted to pursue special courses. The policy of allowing officers to pursue such special studies not only extends the sphere of usefulness of the school, but, under proper regulations, must result in much benefit to the service.

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

ROYAL T. FRANK, Colonel First Artillery, Commandant.

The ADJUTANT-GENERAL OF THE ARMY,

Washington, D. C.

REPORT OF THE COMMANDANT OF THE UNITED STATES INFANTRY AND CAVALRY SCHOOL.

UNITED STATES INFANTRY AND CAVALRY SCHOOL,

Fort Leavenworth, Kans., August 1, 1895.

SIR: I have the honor to submit the following report of the operations of the United States Infantry and Cavalry School for the second school year, commencing September 1, 1894, and ending with the graduating exercises on June 17, 1895.

The student class which completed the course at the school was composed of the following-named officers:

First Lieut. Charles H. Muir, Second Infantry; Second Lieuts. John S. Switzer and Joseph C. Castner, Fourth Infantry; First Lieut. Earl C. Carnahan and Second Lieut. Edward Sigerfoos, Fifth Infantry; Sec. ond Lieut. William H. Simons, Sixth Infantry; Second Lieut. William Wallace, Seventh Infantry: First Lieut. John A. Perry, Eighth Infantry; Second Lieut. Arthur W. Yates, Ninth Infantry; Second Lieut. Edward

A. Shuttleworth, Eleventh Infantry; Second Lieuts. Matt R. Peterson, Peter C. Harris and Frederick W. Füger, Thirteenth Infantry; Second Lieut. Charles R. Krauthoff and First Lieut. Frank Owen, Fourteenth Infantry; First Lieut. Edmund Wittenmyer and Second Lieut. Henry J. Hunt, Fifteenth Infantry; Second Lieut. Benjamin F. Hardaway, Seventeenth Infantry; Second Lieut. Percival G. Lowe, Eighteenth Infantry; Second Lieuts. Jasper E. Brady, jr., and John Howard, Nineteenth Infantry; Second Lieut. Wilson Chase, Twentieth Infantry; Second Lieuts. Munroe McFarland and Ralph H. Van Deman, Twentyfirst Infantry; Second Lieuts. Robert L. Hamilton and Albert C. Dalton, Twenty-second Infantry; Second Lieut. James E. Normoyle, Twentythird Infantry; First Lieut. William Black and Second Lieut. John R. Seyburn, Twenty-fourth Infantry; Second Lieut. John S. Murdock, Twenty-fifth Infantry; Second Lieut. Robert C. Williams, First Cavalry; Second Lieut. James J. Hornbrook, Second Cavalry; Second Lieut. John P. Ryan, Third Cavalry; Second Lieut. Edward D. Anderson, Fourth Gavalry; Second Lieuts. Louis C. Scherer and James G. Harbord, Fifth Cavalry; Second Lieut. Ervin L. Phillips, Sixth Cavalry; Second Lieut. John O'Shea, Seventh Cavalry; First Lieut. John C. Waterman, Eighth Cavalry; Second Lieut. Matthew A. Batson, Ninth Cavalry; Second Lieut. Winthrop S. Wood, Tenth Cavalry.

The class originally reported with 46 members. Of these, 4 were relieved from duty at the school for various causes and 1 was found incapable of completing the course; the remaining 41 members, mentioned above by name, have received the diploma of the school. This class has shown ability, zeal, and soldierly conduct, and if opportunity affords it is confidently believed that the class will also testify in its work to the value of the course of study pursued at the school.

The following-named officers, having shown the greatest proficiency, are recommended by the staff to be declared "honor graduates" of the United States Infantry and Cavalry School:

(1) First Lieut. Charles H. Muir, Second Infantry; (2) Second Lieut. John P. Ryan, Third Cavalry; (3) Second Lieut. Peter C. Harris, Thirteenth Infantry; (4) Second Lieut. Winthrop S. Wood, Tenth Cavalry; (5) Second Lieut. Edward Sigerfoos, Fifth Infantry.

For a synopsis of the work done in the last year attention is invited. to the accompanying reports of the instructors in charge of the several departments.

SEPARATING SCHOOL AND GARRISON.

From this time on it is probable that there will be no necessity for detailing any officer of the garrison for additional duty with the school, so that the former trouble, which resulted in temporarily crippling some departments by the absence of its instructors who were called upon for detached service with their companies, is not likely to arise again.

The separation of the school from the garrison has still further been effected by the now clearly defined limits of each. The instructors, assistant instructors, secretary, and student officers are assigned to quarters pertaining exclusively to the school, so that whatever changes occur in the personnel of the garrison they will not in any way affect the school. This is a great step in advance.

Some day McPherson and Thomas halls will have to be torn down. They were old barracks for enlisted men and have been used for quarters by student officers who had families. Being uncomfortably crowded

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and lacking the conveniences demanded by decency, these qua.. have been a cause of great complaint.

Awaiting the time when they shall disappear, it is the intention now to attempt to make them more habitable by converting them into nine sets of quarters instead of fifteen as heretofore. This has been rendered possible by the acquisition of the line of houses on Riverside, which were formerly used by officers on duty with the military prison. This school has grown from a very disheartening start into a useful institution, and it is still growing; therefore, the benefits it bestows should become available to an increasing number of students until we should find a class of accomplished officers graduating every year. To do this it is absolutely necessary that more quarters be provided. They need not be luxurious, but they should be better than can be made out of Thomas and McPherson halls.

DETAILING OF STUDENT OFFICERS.

Regimental commanders in making selection of officers one year in advance of entrance at the school would assist greatly if their choice were made among those who they know to be qualified for the work. The school has passed beyond the preparatory stage. Its allotted time can not be diverted to preliminary study of algebra, geometry, and trigonometry. The attempt to help those lacking such elementary knowledge by sending them to the school for study a few months before the entrance of their class has been found not to produce results at all commensurate with the efforts made. If a young man has no training in those branches he can not acquire necessary proficiency in such a short time, and it is not desirable that he should be sent here to become an actual impediment in the development of the school. It must be remembered that comparatively few of the young officers can have the opportunity of benefiting by the facilities offered at this school. Therefore those who do come should be men capable of mastering the course. If the study of text-books in algebra, geometry, and trigonometry is found necessary among commissioned officers, they should be sent to a school established for that purpose.

This school is intended to train officers in the practical application of methods.

DAILY MARKS FOR RECITATIONS.

The abolishment of daily recitation marks is strongly recommended. The student should be encouraged to ask information from the instructor on points which he does not clearly understand. This is often carefully avoided from the fear that by showing such need of explanation he will be cut one or more tenths in his mark for the day.

At the Military Academy the system would seem to be a necessary stimulus to exertion and the only means of accurately estimating the daily progress of the students. But to the commissioned officer there. should be a higher motive in the sense that the Government is investing a certain capital in fitting him to make profitable return through increase of capacity for useful service.

The cadet congratulates himself if on any one day he has been so fortunate as to recite upon the only portion of the lesson which he studied to the exclusion of all the rest. The idea never enters his head that the neglected portion is a positive loss to himself, unless at some later day or at examination such neglected subject should happen to be given out to him, in which case he merely looks upon his fate

A. Sinfortunate. The officer instead of jealously watching for tenths should look upon the school course as a mine of knowledge wherein he is at work for acquiring all he can to enable him to make proper return to the Government when called upon.

VALUE OF DIPLOMA.

The degree of proficiency to which the student should attain ought to be raised, and if at any time the officer is found neglecting his opportunities he ought to be sent away. Then the diploma given by this institution upon graduation should be a passport for the holder for all future examinations for promotion so far as they pertain to the subjects taught at the school.

INSTRUCTION IN DRILL REGULATIONS.

It is a waste of time at this school, to insist upon recitations in drill regulations. The practice is a remnant of that resorted to in the infancy of the school when no one knew what else to turn his hand to in making a beginning. The captain of a company "is responsible for the theoretical and practical instruction of his officers, and requires them to study and recite the regulations so that they can explain thoroughly every movement before it is put into execution." No officer should be sent here to recite these drill regulations. It is intended, however, to give instruction by lecture upon the drill regulations of foreign armies in order to facilitate comparison with our own methods. The field work in the departments of military art and engineering is developing in a very satisfactory manner.

This spring the barbed wire fences which have been allowed for years to interfere with the field operations have been removed and numerous crossings made over railways and ravines, so that there will be increased opportunity for practical work. Attention is invited to the detailed description of such work given by the instructor in military art and the instructor in engineering.

For practical instructions in field operations with troops it is very desirable that at least one field battery be stationed at this post, as has been so often recommended. The infantry and cavalry should be increased. Of course this is looking to the future when necessary barracks can be provided.

The annex to the academic building is now completed and will give increased facility for instruction in all the departments. Attention is invited to the report of the secretary of the school showing the necessity for the service of a janitor to care for this large building.

The recommendation of the former commandant of the school for an appropriation of $1,600 to purchase instruments for the department of engineering is renewed. The necessity for obtaining these instruments has been clearly shown in previous communications from the chief of the department and again in his report hereto attached.

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

H. S. HAWKINS,

Colonel Twentieth Infantry, Commandant. The ADJUTANT-GENERAL UNITED STATES ARMY,

Washington, D. C.