ANNUAL REPORT OF THE MAJOR-GENERAL COMMANDING THE ARMY. HEADQUARTERS OF THE ARMY, Washington, D. C., November 10, 1896. SIR: I have the honor to transmit herewith the reports of Major-General Ruger, commanding the Department of the East; Major-General Merritt, commanding Department of the Missouri; Brigadier-General Brooke, commanding Department of Dakota; Brigadier - General Wheaton, commanding Department of the Colorado; Brigadier General Otis, commanding Department of the Columbia; Brigadier-General Forsyth, commanding Department of California; Brigadier-General Bliss, commanding Department of Texas; and Brigadier-General Coppinger, commanding Department of the Platte; the reports of the Adjutant-General (Ruggles) and the Inspector-General (Breckenridge) of the Army; also the reports of the commanding officers of the United States Artillery School at Fort Monroe, Cavalry and Light Artillery School at Fort Riley, and the Infantry and Cavalry School at Fort Leavenworth. These reports give a full history of the military affairs in the different departments, the movement of troops, the important military changes that have occurred during the year, the administration and discipline, the result of inspections, instruction, and progress made at the various military schools of practice; also the reports of field operations, practice marches, target practice, etc. I concur in the recommendation contained in the report of Major General Ruger concerning field exercises; also in the recommendation of Brigadier-General Coppinger regarding the Bannock Indians. Fortunately, during the year the Army has been called on only to a limited extent to act either against hostile Indians or against bodies of men who are engaged in violating the United States law or international treaty obligations. There have been several lawless bands that have to some extent disturbed the peace along the Rio Grande and the border line between Mexico and the southern border of Arizona and New Mexico. The troops of the Mexican Republic, as well as our own, have been engaged in suppressing such acts of lawlessness as have in a small degree interfered with the peace of the communities on both sides of the border, and arrangements have been made through the Government of Mexico to secure cooperation of the forces of that Republic and our own to this end. The troops in the Department of the Colorado have been actively engaged, in small detachments, in protecting the settlements against the depredations of a few Indian outlaws. The zeal and judicious disposition and action of the troops have contributed largely to maintaining a condition of peace and security among the sparsely settled districts of that frontier. The personnel of the Army was never in better condition. The percentage of violations of military discipline has been exceedingly small during the year, and in the main both officers and men have fulfilled all the requirements that could be expected of a patriotic, intelligent, and efficient army. The standard of enlisted men is constantly improving. The requirements for entering the service are now so exacting that during the last year out of 49,240 applicants only 7,465 were accepted as qualified for service in the Army, showing the care taken in enlistments and the rising standard of requirements. The soldiers are now very largely American born and taken from every section of our country, and very many of the most respected families are represented among them. This condition of affairs has made to a very large degree the elementary schools established for enlisted men under section 1231, Revised Statutes, unnecessary, and now calls for a different class of instruction, more strictly professional. It also emphasizes the need of a different grade of special text-books, and post libraries should be supplied, with suitable books, for those who would use them. Very many of our soldiers, through their Army training to a faithful performance of duty with promptness and accuracy, and the instruction they have received during their service, are engaged in business for themselves or have secured excellent positions in civil life after their discharge, and are among the most valued citizens in the community where they reside. A good post library at every military post is also needed for the use of the officers in the post lyceum work. Through this work a valuable incentive to study and improvement has been provided for the service. It is recommended that post libraries meeting both these needs be provided. A great improvement has been made in the architecture, durability, and stability of the public buildings that are now occupied by the Army, which contributes largely to the health and comfort of the occupants and is in the end economical. Yet the necessity for changing from the old temporary and rapidly decaying buildings that have heretofore been constructed, many of them on what was formerly known as the Indian frontier, to the more durable and sanitary buildings that are now being constructed requires a large increase of the construction fund, and this, added to the fact that in many cases new posts have to be constructed for the accommodation of batteries of artillery, renders it necessary that large appropriations be made, and I therefore recommend that a liberal appropriation be furnished for the construction and repair of public buildings for the Army. These buildings, once constructed, will serve their purpose indefinitely with ordinary repairs. During the last year the country has fortunately been free from any serious outbreak of Indians, and all the different tribes have been in the main peaceable, well disposed, and constantly making some progress toward civilization. I attribute this to three causes. The first, the presence of, and knowledge on the part of the Indians of the strength and efficiency of, the military forces that are within reach of all the tribes. The presence of the troops has a wholesome effect in restraining any turbulent element or spirit of disaffection or dissension that may occur among the tribes. The second is the fact that the Indians are receiving more benefits from the General Government and a just, intelligent, and judicious administration of their affairs. The third is that many of the most turbulent and heretofore hostile Indian tribes have been under the care and control of experienced, judicious, and conscientious officers of the Army, who have had years of experience with these people, have administered their affairs with intelligence and fidelity, and command the respect and confidence of the Indians. I recommend that the same policy be continued in regard to the management of the Indians. Most of the infantry, cavalry, and light artillery have engaged in practice marches and field maneuvers during the year, which have been highly beneficial to the service and instructive to both officers and men. Wherever it has been practicable, especially at Fort Riley, Kans., the forces have been concentrated and practical field maneuvers and problems in minor tactics executed with marked intelligence and efficiency. Very great attention has been paid to the physical improvement of the commands by thorough athletic training through calisthenic and gymnastic exercises, with highly beneficial results in improving the physical condition of the different commands. At all military posts where shelter is needed in winter a suitable gymnasium building-and for cavalry a riding hall-is absolutely essential to the efficiency of the men and the development of their physical condition. The requirements of the service render it necessary that troops should be stationed in the important fortifications along our 8,000 miles of seacoast and at certain points along the 7,000 miles of our national boundary, to give security to our national interests against a foreign foe and protection to our border from Indians, etc., on both sides of the national boundary; second, that they should be located within available reach of large bodies of Indians who, while apparently peaceful and harmless, require the presence of strong military forces to keep the hostile element subdued and in a condition of safety; third, the location of troops at strategic points in different parts of the country where they can be economically supplied with all the materials required for the necessities of the service, and be on lines of communication where they can be |