Results at target practice not as good as might be desired. He criticises the accumulation of large company funds, due to excessive profits of the post exchange. He states that the deficiencies and inconsistencies of the drill regulations for cavalry are responsible for much profanity in the Army. He says there is a general complaint that a number of men are being enlisted who are under age and physically unsuited; and that many horses received were unfit for cavalry duty. He says that the younger officers of the Army believe that a law should be enacted requiring physical examinations of officers of the higher grades before promotion. He recommends that the decision of summary court officers be substituted for that of boards of survey in regard to losses, stating there seems to be a lack of responsibility felt by the members of board of survey.

Maj. Edgar S. Dudley, judge-advocate, Department of Cuba, reports that in his opinion the time has come for a modification of the Foraker law so as to give some latitude to municipal corporations in the matter of municipal franchises. Among the most important changes in laws have been the replacing of escribanos in courts by salaried recorders and introduction of the writ of habeas corpus into the existing legal system, the modification and simplification of the law of criminal procedure, the establishment of correctional courts, and the legalization of the religious marriage ceremony.

Maj. George M. Dunn, judge-advocate, Department of Cuba, recommends that the fifty-fourth, fifty-fifth, and fifty-eighth articles of war, not being now applicable to service in foreign countries (they now apply to service in the United States only), should be made so; that the limitations on the hours of trial in the ninety-fourth article of war be made subject to the discretion of the president of the court; that the employment of stenographers on general courts be made obligatory when practicable.

Discussing the abolition of the canteen, he says that during November, December, and January, 1900, with the canteen, there were 139 convictions for drunkenness, and during the months of March, April, and May, 1901, the canteen having been abolished, there were 275 convictions for drunkenness, or nearly twice as many, due to the abolition of the canteen. The men, too, suffer as much from a restricted diet as they do from bad rum; the profits of the canteen, formerly used for the purchase of butter, eggs, and fresh vegetables, being reduced more than one-half, so that now the sober men get fewer vegetables and drinking men get more rum.

Capt. Chauncey B. Baker, chief quartermaster, Department of Cuba, reports that a competitive trial was made in June between the Aparejo and Moore pack saddles, the Moore pack saddle being found, in his opinion, entirely unsuited for severe field service. He recommends that no Moore pack saddles be hereafter issued in that department. The amount saved in the department during the year by substituting green grass for straw for bedding was, without counting cost of transportation of American hay, $15,252. He reports 1,275 schoolteachers carried to the United States and back by United States transport. He reports on the relative merits of four kinds of ovens and field ranges, stating that the Hunt range and the Buzzacott range are the most desirable.

Maj. Valery Havard, chief surgeon, reports that the health of the troops has shown a steady improvement upon former years,

statistics showing that the ratio for admissions to hospitals, and the ratio of mortality have approached very closely those of the United States. The ratio of admissions for common infectious diseases is much lower than in the United States; for tuberculosis it is higher, which would seem to show that a high and equable temperature is not the best for consumption. The record for syphilis is bad, nearly double that of the United States, notwithstanding municipal inspections of prostitutes. The ratio of alcoholism is double that of the United States, and is attributable to cheap alcoholic drinks. He believes that malarial fever will be practically eliminated on the island hereafter, and states that in the summer of 1900 a board of of medical officers met for the purpose of investigating yellow fever, and the result of their experiments was one of the most brilliant medical discoveries of the age, namely, the mode of transmission of yellow fever; and, as a natural consequence, a complete revolution has taken place in the methods adopted to prevent and combat this disease. He criticizes the field uniform for its lack of military neatness and smartness, the combination of khaki trousers and blue shirt is not effective from a military point of view. Food is generally satisfactory. The vexed question of the quantity of meat which should be consumed by the soldiers in this climate is practically solved by common experience. While the men do not eat quite as much food in Cuba as in the United States, the proportion of meat eaten (to other constituents) is fully as great.

Regarding female nurses, he states that, despite the wisest regulations, female nurses will be now and then, perhaps without any fault of theirs, a troublesome and demoralizing factor at posts. He believes that it is in the interest of the service to employ them at only large important hospitals, never less than two or three together.

The death rate of Habana (24.26) has changed but little during the last six months. Conditions can not change until cesspools have been replaced by sewers.

Maj. Gen. John R. Brooke, commanding the Department of the East reports that the barracks at some infantry and cavalry posts are not constructed for the present size of companies and should be enlarged. He recommends that visitors be allowed to visit certain parts of coast defenses, see the guns, and witness the drills. He thinks that no harm can result; that similar permission is granted in the naval service, thereby increasing the interest of the public in the Navy. He further recommends that all approaches to seacoast defenses from the rear be made defensible by proper lines of defense.

General Brooke makes a detailed report of his annual inspection of various forts and complains that in a number of forts and batteries the magazines were damp, the strength of the garrisons insufficient to furnish one relief for each gun; that the barracks were not properly located, being too far from the guns, and that many of the Southern posts have not proper communication in the way of roads or landing facilities, and that some of the quarters are not properly constructed; recommending that they be built to suit the climate and be made cool and comfortable. Otherwise service in the South will be at a discount, preventing the reenlistment of desirable men.

Lieut. Col. J. P. Story, Artillery Inspector, Department of the

East, states that the most important problem at the present time is to obtain officers and men to operate the mining defenses. He estimates 70 officers and 2,700 soldiers as necessary for these defenses. As it is difficult at all times to provide this number of officers and men, he recommends, as an auxiliary force, that a volunteer reserve be organized, officered by electrical engineers, and that an artillery school of mines be established at once; to which the school for electrician sergeants should be attached. He further recommends that the artillery be represented by detail of officers on the board for testing rifled cannon, and also at the Sandy Hook proving ground; that during drills and target practice all men should be present except the sick and the guard; that to the ten artillery bands already organized three be added; that all property needed for artillery equipment and for mines be carried on one return; that the present strength of the coast artillery, not being sufficient to furnish one relief for the present armament, the deficiency be met by volunteers organized in time of peace as artillery of the National Guard. He also recommends that such State militia organizations of artillery go into camp yearly for a certain period, receiving pay from the United States.

Maj. James M. Moore, chief quartermaster, Department of the East, reports that $1,586,551.66 was expended during the last fiscal year for buildings at fifty-six posts, principally new stations for the shelter of the newly raised artillery troops.

Lieut. Col. Edward E. Dravo, chief commissary Department of the East, calls attention to the inadequate storage facilities at various posts of the department, and recommends that the chief commissary visit and inspect all posts of the department in order that such deficiencies may be discovered. He recommends that the post commissary officer be not detailed as quartermaster, as such detail compels him to devote most of his time to quartermaster duties, and throws the care of food supply very largely on the commissary sergeant. He deplores the discontinuance of the transport service to Porto Rico, with its cold storage facilities, the absence of which prevents the Government from continuing the shipment in cold storage of such commissary stores as are liable to deteriorate to their detriment; and recommends the establishment of a small cold storage and ice plant in connection with the commissary warehouses at each post, costing, approximately, $6,000. He recommends the "concentration of subsistence affairs," and the issue and handling by the Subsistence Department, not only of food but also of the facilities for preparing it and utensils with which to eat it, including ranges, ovens, kitchen utensils, and tableware.

Lieut. Col. James A. Buchanan, comanding Porto Rico Provisional Regiment of Infantry and district of Porto Rico, reports that on June 30, 1901, the Porto Rico Regiment, United States Volunteer Infantry, was mustered out and that the Provisional Regiment was mustered in. He states that there is not a suitable drill ground in Porto Rico, with the exception of the rented ground at Henry Barracks; nevertheless, drills have been regularly performed with satisfactory results and improvement. The reservation at Ponce has many objectionable features, and he recommends the purchase of a tract of 279 acres more suitably located 14 miles from the town of Ponce; and also the purchase of property for a new reservation near Mayaguez, which contains 45 acres, conveniently situated, an option for which at $70,000 has been held. He refers to the report of Captain Flagler, engineer officer, who states that $950,000 had been expended on the public

roads, of which amount $200,000 came from the emergency fund (act of March 3, 1899) and $750,000 from the fund "Refunding_customs revenue." He states that the work on these roads is excellent, being much better than the Spanish roads, and that it is done by contract. They give work to the destitute and open up communication in sections in which the people are poverty stricken on account of the difficulty of getting their products to market. The number of miles of road and average cost not given.

Maj. Gen. Elwell S. Otis, U. S. A., commanding Department of the Lakes, reports that military instruction has been much interfered with on account of the transient character of the garrisons, due to frequent changes and the dispatch of troops to the Philippines. He further states that with increased garrisons additional repairs and new constructions will become necessary; that a decided want is greater accommodations for military prisoners in the absence of the Fort Leavenworth prison, the post guardhouses being overcrowded; that the number of deserters captured has largely increased since the increase of the reward, and that the lack of officers at the post has interfered much with the control and discipline of the command, but that this lack of officers will be soon remedied by the new appointments.

Maj. Gen. Elwell S. Otis, also commanding Department of Dakota, reports that practice marches and military instruction and post lyceums have been interfered with by the dearth of officers present for duty, but that affairs are in a satisfactory condition. He makes no recommendations.

Maj. Philip Reade, inspector, Department of Dakota, reports that troops are fairly well instructed, except in target practice, field exercises, and problems in minor tactics; that "there is danger that the Army may relapse into the apathy on the subject of instruction with small arms that prevailed for some years after the civil war," there being a decrease in the number of qualified marksmen. That at most of the posts the question of an adequate water supply is vexatious. At Assinniboine, Keogh, Missoula, and Yates there is no sewerage system. He reports noncompliance with the law in the case of a college receiving Government aid, there being absolutely no military instruction, though the prospectus of the college (The Montana College of Agriculture and Mechanical Arts) inferentially states there is. He recommends that all military colleges be furnished with military textbooks, and that the amount and nature of military instruction be regulated by general orders from the War Department; also the amount of ammunition issued be regulated according to the size of the college; and that officers who served in the civil war, when they are retired, be given increased rank.

Maj. Gen. S. B. M. Young, commanding Department of California, reports that the officers and men of his command are well instructed and efficient, and commends the painstaking care and ability shown in the shipment of officers and men and material to and from the Philippines. He recommends as an urgent matter an increase of accommodations at the general hospital, Presidio of San Francisco. General Young shows that during the past fiscal year a total of 1,206 WAR 1901-VOL 1, PT III- -5

officers and 38,257 enlisted men returned from the Philippines and China, and that 376 officers and 14,303 enlisted men left for the Philippines and China, this including 14 officers and 201 men of the Navy and Marine Corps shipped on army transports. That there were mustered out up to June 30, 1901, 661 officers and 19,087 men, and since June 30, 1901, and ending July 5, 1901, 97 officers and 3,013 enlisted men of volunteers have been mustered out at San Francisco, completing the discharge of the volunteers.

Col. J. M. Marshall, chief quartermaster, staff of General Young, reports the shipment to the Philippine Islands of 2,031 horses and 2,062 mules; 118 horses and 9 mules died from disease or were killed to prevent contagion, and that 1,035 horses and mules remained on hand. The Mallein test for glanders was applied to horses of the Ninth Cavalry, and proved a pronounced success, every case being proven by post-mortem examination. He reports the expenditure for buildings at Fort Point, $59,015; the contracts for construction of Fort Baker, California, $154,547; and Fort Miley, California, $107,154; these being new posts.

The chief quartermaster at Honolulu, H. I., reports the completion of an artesian well on the naval reservation for $6,294.40, producing a large supply of water of excellent quality for the use of transports. No action looking to the selection of a permanent site for a military post has been taken, the present post, Camp McKinley, being only temporary.

The chief surgeon, Department of California, gives a tabulated statement of the results of physical examinations of the 22,283 volunteers mustered out at the Presidio, which shows a percentage of disability, found, of only 2.94.

Maj. Gen. S. B. M. Young, also commanding the Department of the Columbia, reports that the command has been increased by 13 officers and 630 enlisted men during the past fiscal year. Discipline, health, and efficiency has been improved, percentage of trials and desertions decreased.

Operations of the commissary and quartermaster's departments satisfactory in all respects. The supply departments are also supplying Fort Liscum, Valdez, and Camp Skagway, Alaska. Alaska. Additional quarters are under construction at Fort Lawton and Fort Columbia, Wash. The posts of Fort Sherman and Camp Osborne, Idaho, have been broken up.

Brig. Gen. H. C. Merriam, U. S. A., commanding Department of the Colorado, reports that within his department there are numerous Indian tribes, including the Navaho, Apache, Ute, Shoshone, and Arapaho, and that the distribution of his troops had been influenced largely by the locations of these different tribes. He devotes much space to discussion of the condition of these Indians, saying that the conduct of all of them had been such that troops had been called out but once on their account, and that this was at the call of Indian Agent Myton, of the Uintah and Ouray agencies, December 12, 1900, to suppress disorders due to discontent of the Indians, who were aggrieved at the invasion of their reservation by white sheep herders and miners, it appearing that their agent had authorized the use by whites of unoccupied lands on the reservation, this apparently contrary to treaty rights of the Indians.