REPORTS TO THE MAJOR-GENERAL COMMANDING THE ARMY. REPORT OF THE ADJUTANT-GENERAL. HEADQUARTERS OF THE ARMY, SIR: I have the honor to submit the annual returns and reports of the Army: A.-Showing the actual strength of the Army June 30, 1896. B.-Showing position and distribution of the troops, by departments, taken from the latest return on file in the Adjutant-General's Office. C.-Geographical departments and posts, with distribution of troops, post-offices, telegraph stations, and nearest railroad stations and boat landings. D.-Statement showing gain and loss in the enlisted strength of the Army during the fiscal year ended June 30, 1896. The number of enlisted men in service June 30, 1896, receiving increased pay under the acts of Congress of August 4, 1854, and May 15, 1872, was as follows: Five years' continuous service ($2 per month). Total.... 3, 451 2, 137 1,023 625 395 13 6 1 638 8, 289 THE LINE OF THE ARMY. The necessity for an increase of the artillery force and for the reorganization of the infantry has been fully explained to Congress, and the matter is now pending before it. It is to be hoped that speedy action may be taken to accomplish the end desired. The number of officers detailed on detached service in April, 1894, was 407; in September, 1895, it was 324, and at the present date it has been reduced to 321. This reduction has been effected without material injury to the various interests which have required the details. WAR 96-VOL I– 6 81 The number of discharges for fraudulent enlistment has steadily decreased since the passage of the law in 1892, viz: In 1893, 301; in 1894, 253; in 1895, 147, and in 1896, 84. Discharges by favor were 338 in number during the fiscal year ended June 30, 1895, and 235 during the past year-a decrease of slightly over 30 per cent. DESERTIONS. The number of desertions from the Army during the year was 1,365, an increase of 200 over the number reported for last year. It represents 5.46 per cent of the enlisted strength. Sixty per cent of the whole number deserted during their first year of service. These men may generally be classed as restless, perhaps congenitally so, unable to withstand the monotony of a regular life and mildest discipline. In cases of older soldiers who desert, the incentive is likely to be found in some local entanglement. The cause of desertion is therefore not altogether in the service; it is part of human nature. Its absolute eradication can not be hoped for. POST EXCHANGES. To-day an exchange doing its full work embraces the following sections: (a) A well-stocked general store in which such goods are kept as are usually required at military posts, and as extensive in number and variety as conditions will justify; (b) a well-kept lunch counter supplied with as great a variety of food as circumstances permit, such as tea, coffee, cocoa, nonalcoholic drinks, soup, fish, cooked and canned meats, sandwiches, pastries, etc.; (c) a canteen at which, under certain conditions, beer and light wines by the drink and tobaccos may be sold; (d) reading and recreation rooms, supplied with books, periodicals, and other reading matter, billiard and pool tables, bowling alley, and facilities for other proper indoor games, as well as apparatus for outdoor sports and exercises, such as cricket, football, baseball, tennis, etc.; (e) a well-equipped gymnasium possessing also the requisite paraphernalia for outdoor athletics. Fully two-thirds of the exchanges are now operating all of these sections. Receipts from the sale of beer have gradually decreased until now they are over 40 per cent less than in the early days of the exchange. The aggregate receipts during the past year were $1,513,829.52, the expenses $1,164,675.24, and the net profits $349,151.28. There has been a slight decrease in the volume of business as compared with the preceding year, but an increase of about 4 per cent in profits, due, no doubt, to improved management. Of the profits, $8,249.32 have been donated to the funds of the various regimental bands; $1,886.70 to laying out, preparing, and cultivating gardens and supplying seeds, roots, and plants; $1,026 to the purchase of books and periodicals for post libraries; $1,792.02 to the fitting up of gymnasiums and the purchase of gymnastic appliances, and $3,296.54 as prizes for the encour agement of athletic sports. Of the remainder, after setting aside a sufficient amount to meet anticipated expenses for at least one month in advance, as required by regulations, $224,979.90 were returned to the various commands as dividends on their investment. The net value of the 73 exchanges now in operation in the Army was, on June 30, 1896, $192,795.97. The exchanges are now largely manned by civilians. On June 30, 1896, there were 153 civilians employed as stewards, bookkeepers, and attendants, at a monthly compensation of $5,308. At some frontier posts it is impracticable to find competent civilians for these positions, and at small posts the amount of business will not justify the expense of hiring them, so that there is necessarily a small number of enlisted men still employed, varying from time to time according to actual requirements. The revised regulations for the exchange which went into operation in July, 1895, seem to have met fully the expectations of the department in simplifying its administration. All reports indicate that these institutions are giving satisfaction. POST-GRADUATE SCHOOLS. The reports from the Infantry and Cavalry School at Fort Leavenworth, Kans., the Cavalry and Light-Artillery School at Fort Riley, Kans., and the Artillery School at Fort Monroe, Va., attest the excellence and thoroughness of the methods of instruction as well as of the general industry, zeal, and proficiency of the student officers. LYCEUMS. Department commanders report good results from systematic readings from advanced text-books, from recitations, from essay readings, and from discussions at post lyceums during the year. The professional papers prepared covered a wider range of subjects than heretofore and have given evidence of reading, intelligent thought, and industry. The system furnishes an incentive for study and research, and it assists in keeping officers abreast of the development of military science and of the ever-increasing demands of their profession. GYMNASIUMS. The value of gymnastics in military training has been fully demonstrated. Notwithstanding meager facilities at posts for gymnastic training, much has been accomplished as the result of the great interest manifested by the men as fostered by their officers. Still better results will be obtained when a thorough course of instruction shall have been formulated. A properly equipped gymnasium should be provided at each permanent post, and its establishment should not be dependent, as now, upon an allotment of the profits of the post exchange or voluntary subscriptions from officers and men. POST SCHOOLS. The operations of these schools during the past year have been generally satisfactory. The legal requirement that no person shall be enlisted who can not speak, read, and write the English language has lessened the necessity for them. Instruction in typewriting and in the making of company, regimental, and other military papers and reports may now be advantageously imparted in them. LAUNDRIES. In consideration of the improved conditions of the service, involving increased expenditures of the enlisted man to keep his clothing and bed furniture in proper condition, as required for inspection, I renew the recommendation heretofore made by me that post laundries be established, under proper supervision, at all permanent posts. CONSOLIDATED MESSES. The consolidated mess is yielding to the troop, the battery, or the company mess. This is necessarily so where the company rather than the regiment is the unit for service. However, for some considerable time yet the consolidated mess houses, wherever they have been erected, must be utilized for the purposes for which they were intended. Respectfully submitted. Maj. Gen. NELSON A. MILES, Commanding the Army. |