The New York Herald Newspaper, November 30, 1873, Page 6

6 FIGHTING CUBA, ‘The General Aspect of the Cuban Question. FROM DEFENSIVE TO OFFENSIVE WAR. EER nS Oy Force in the Towns Against Despera- tion in the Woods. DESERTIONS BY THE VOLUNTEERS. An Indefivite Pro!ongation of the War Under Its Present Conditions. To THE EDITOR OF THE HERALD:— The great diMculty in the way of a satisfactory review of the affairs of Cuba lies in their complex- ity, So interwoven are wrongs and rights that it 1s impossible to do Justice, fulland complete, to one class without inflicting hardship or even injustice on some interests that itis the duty of all govern- ments to protect, The partisans of the various factions are generally conveniently blind to all but their own special interests, and would fain con- vince the stranger of the uvter wickedness and bad faith of their opponents, so that the means of forming just appreciations can only be acquired by a very intimate acquaintance with the inhabitants and their mode of thought, To finda remedy for the anarchy in which Cuba has been for years plunged offers diMculties that can only be success. fully grappled with by the highest order of statesmanstip, unless the Gordian knot can be cut by some heroic policy. Ill armed and without proper supplies of ammuni- tion, the Cubans from the outset of the war were unable to meet the Spanish army in the open field, and it was necessity as much as choice that induced them to abandon regular operations and have recourse to guerilla warfare, for which the dificult nature of the country affords unusual facilities, The want of military education among the Cuban chiefs, as well as the discouragement of constant failure in important operations, led the insurgents to limit their efforts to a strictly defen- sive attitude, This mistaken policy soon reduced them to the greatest misery and the want of even the most common necessaries of life. Those who survived this defensive policy wandered about like famished wolves, and, driven by want, they began @ series of attacks on the towns in the possession of the Spaniards, An amount of success scarcely looked for attended these offensive operations. Jt was soon discovered that not alone were muni- tions and provisions obtained in these expedi- tions, but that the Spanish forces, harassed by their efforts to defend extensive lines, were no longer abie to carry on the active offensive opera- tions irom which the Cubans had suffered so much in the first perlod of the war. The discontent, too, of the Cuban population was intensified by the necessary rigor of the precautionary Measures taken by the garrisons and tne interruption and loss caused by the enterprises of the insurgents. Up to this time it had been com- paratively safe to be loyal to Spain, and that large ynass or the population which is indifferent to po- litical questions, and only desires security, had ranged itself under the Spanish flag. policy of the insurgents changed the situation. It was now necessary to fight and suffer, and a large number of the volunteers began to think they might as well fight for Cuba as for Spain. tions were established between the outlying volun- teer posts and the insurgents, The result has been | the desertion of whole camps to the Cubans. Since January, 1873, more than 2,000 volunteers have deserted, with arms and munitions. The gravity of this disaffection will oe understood when it is considered that, without these irregulars, the Spanish troops could scarcely carry on the war. The volunteers seldom show much stomach for fighting. yet the services they render as scouts and guides are of the first importance. It must be képt well in mind that tn Cuba there are two classes of volanteers, the Cu- The new | Rela- | when not engaged tm active hoalilittes, A good deal of blame bas been thrown on the Cubans for the burning of the plantations, but from their point of view the burning ts defensible, and even necessary. Toney argue that so long as the Span jards find it profitable to remain in Cuba the war will be continued, but that if the Spanish nation was compelled to find the money as well as the men hostilities would soon cease. The chief sources of revenue are the sugar and coffee industries, and there- fore the Cubans burn down the crops and the mills 80 that neither profit nor revenne may accrue to the Spaniards, There is also the additional rea- son that every abandoned plantation becomes a magazine of provisions to the Cubans, a3 owing to the wonderful fertility of the soil, the crops grow year aiter year, though in diminished quantities, without care from tne hand of man. It is owing, in great part, to this peculiar fecundity that the insurrection has been able to survive the crushing blows inflicted in the first years of the war. Every effort was made, and continues to be made, to de- stroy the means of subsistence of the insurgents; but itis simply 103s of time. Itis trae that tem- porary inconvenience may sometimes be caused by cutting down the banana trees and burning the sugar canes; but all these grow again, better and richer lor their temporary destruction. The varieties of root food, the yam, cassava, aweet potatoes, &o., are very numerous, and as thoy grow for years without care, and many of them are in an abso- lutely Wild state, the supply of provisions ts not likely ever to give our, These are supplemented by beans and other vegetables of quick growth. In order to prevent in future even temporary want, the Cuban goverument has given orders for the establishment of farms in conection with all the camps and in the recesses ol the woods, 80 that, in case of retreat, the forces may always find an ample supply of food at hand. In fact, steps are being taken to sustain the war indefinitely, if the Spaniards persist in holding the island. The policy of destroying the plantations and towns | will be more rigorously carried out than ever, so that no Spanish settlement may exist | in the interior, This policy is the result of the ex. perience drawn from the offensive operations in the beginning of the year, which have led to the abandonment of many posts and small towns ip the interior by the Spaniards, who for safety have been obliged to concentrate their forces, and are almost wholly on the defensive. The military aspect of the Cuban struggle has this year under- gone a most unfavorable change 80 far as Spanish interests are concerned, In nearly all the import- ant engagements the Cubans have been victorious, The want of artillery prevents the insurgents gath- ering all the advantages of thelr successes, as, once the Spanish troops take refage in their forts | and fortifications, they are practically unassailable by men unprovided with cannon. It isowing to this circumstance that the utmost valor on the part of | the Cubans tails to give the results we naturally look | for, While the great numerical superiority of the Spanish army enables the authorities to conceal their losses, which are never made known when it can be avoided, No reliance whatever can be placed on the reports of Spanish officers as exhib- Perhapa the most threatening feature of the pres- ent situation are the uneasiness and discontent of the slave population, which in some instances has exhibited itself in attempts to burn done large dis- tric attempts that in part have been successful. There ts little doubt but that the slaves have been instigated to commit these acts by the Caban laborantes, as there seems to be a settled determi- nation to reduce Cuba to a desert state rather than allow the Spaniards to profit by the great wealth of the island. The late fires at Havana seem to be | a further development of the policy of destruction. | for politica! effect. | | The tdea oi carrying the war into the Western De- | partment has certainly been seriously entertained | by Cespedes and the Cuban generals, for, although | the ground is not so favorable for guerilla opera- tions, the amount of damage that could be inflicted on Spanish interests would be much greater than Vue injury now caused by the war. Should the insurgents be able to put their plans | into operation the present pleasant state of atfairs in the Western Department is likely to come soon to an end, as the continued prosperity of trade in that department is contingent on the absolute, submissior of the slaves, The indications are that this cannot be depended on, as, were the restrain- | ing force weakened or withdrawn, a servile in- | surrection would in all probability immediately follow. However, the immediate future of Cuba | depends on the action of the Cuban volunteers in ban and Spanish. The latter are best known f0 | tne spanish service. Should the movement of de- the world by their insubordination and blood- thirstiness. Their fame rests on the massacre of unoffending spectators In the Havana theatres ana the cold-blooded assassination of schoolboys. Their valor, however, has never gone further, and ap to the present their patriotism has not been sufficiently pronounced to induce them to take the fleld against the insurgents. The Cuban volun- teers, on the contrary, are chiefly recroited from the peasantry or small farmers, los hombres det campo, as tney are called, and act as irregular troops, doing the scouting and really the most effective part of the fighting against their country- men, For the most part they are ex-rebels, or men who have surrendered and been pardoned on condition of serving as soldiers, They are very badly paid and worse treated by the Spanish au- thorities, who look on them with dislike and sus- picion at the same time that they are used to hunt down the insurgents on all occasions. They serve, however, more from fear than from love, and the majority are in sympathy while a large proportion are even tn direct com- manication with tne insurgents, whom they sup- ply with provisions and ammunition. During the firat years of the war these men believed that it was impossible to resist the Spaniards, and, de- siring the restoration of peace, they really fought bitterly against their late comrades; but the ill- treatment to which they have been subjected and the conviction that bas now taken root in the Cuban mind that Spain cannot put down the in- surrection induce them to throw in their fortunes with their fellow countrymen, whom they have vainly striven to conquer. If the disaffection should continue to spread, and the whole or the majority of the Cuban volunteers armed and equipped by Spain should throw themselves into the struggle, the success of the Cuban revolution would be assured. The reinforcements already drawn from this source during the current year and the successful landing of two distinct expedi- and so terminate a war that in all proty | tions have placed the insurgents in a position tO | iyiicy will drag on indefinitely, uniess | carry on the war with vigor for the next four | so compromise is effected. $0 long | years. The chief diMeulty in the beginning Wa8 | 1. ine Cubans are mot recognized as the want of arms and ammunition, This, COM- | ) onigerents by one of the great Powers tl bay eae ee ze ls most PrimUry | can never succeed in establishing their indepen My made the Cubans an easy | gence, or even in driving the Spaniards from an. prey for their enemies. Now the conditions | are changed, as the Cubans are now the veterans, while the Spanish regiments are largely made up ofrecruits. Itisestimated by the Spanish stuff that more than 6,000 officers and over 100,000 sol- diers have perished during the war. As the num- ber of disabled and discharged has to be added to these figures it may be judged that the Spanish Army is largely composed of raw material. It re mains to be seen whether Spain will continue to supply the never-ceasing demands for men to re- place the fallen; but it is probable that if the armed volunteers continue to abandon the Spanish flag all the sacrifices that Spain may make in the end will prove uscless. The insurgents aepend more on the dishearten- of this mortality to terminate the war than on driving the Spaniards away by force of ‘They believe that as St. Domingo was abandoned because it was found impossible to (lis- pose of an enemy who would neither fight decisive battles nor lay down their arms, so Spain will eventually become convinced of the uselessness of Whether this remains to be ing effec arms, the sacrifices she is now making. reasoning whl prove correct seen, but it is certain that Spain can only put down the insurrection by immense sacrifices of men and money. Indeed, owing to the extremely dificult nature of the country, itis open to doubt Whether she could put down the insurgents at present in the fleld Within ten ye: The Eastern Department is almost wholly Jost to Spain, as her power is only respected withiit her camps and forts. In the open country everything ids been laid waste, and the insurgent bands wander about dom pianiakoa to plautawon in search of food | sertion continue and assume really large propor- | tions the war will unquestionably spread west- | ward, and affect even the country lying round Ha- | vana, At present the Cuoan insurgents are pre- | vented by their comparative inferiority in bum- | bers from undertaking serious operations on a | targe scale; for under the most favorable circum- | stances it must be ¢ifficult for 10,000 men to make | war against 200,000, which 1s the number of the combined army and volunteers the Spaniards clam to have in arms. Probably one-third | insurgents. If these men could only make up their minds to throw themselves into the Cuban ranks the suppression of the insurrection would | be rendered weil nigh impossible. In the Bayamo | and Manzanillo districts whole villages have | passed over to the insurgents, The desertion of a | 1ew thousand men may not appear very important, j | | | are as much opposed to the Spaniards as are the i | soldiers. Passing over to the enemy, they place | retire, and must either succeed or be extermi nated. Their adhesion, therelore, gives great moral and material aid to the insurrection. assumed thas within the past 12 the conditions of the Cuban struggle have been seriously modifled, and that Spain’s chances or sup- | pressing the insurrectionary movement have very | much diminished, | public in Spain has also caused divisions and | party struggles in Cuba, which under other forms of government were unknown, Indeed, so badly ing the past year that the best informed Spaniards | look on the island as lost to Spain. | courage to make arrangements either with tue in- | On the other hand of the Important coast towns. | the Spaniards cannot hope to put down the insur. | | rection except alter years of war, and at the ex- | penses of sacrifices ol men and money which Spain cannot make without incurring absolute ruin. | The sale of the island would enable the Spanish Treasu creditora, and would give Spain a new start in the world. individuals, and a source of loss both in men and money to the nation. | The abolition of slavery in Cuba cannot be long | delayed, The result wili certainly not be beneficial No amount of remu- | lo the slave-holding classes. | neration could induce any human being to work | 8 the Slaves and coolies are forced to labor under | the whip of the taskmaker, and the isiand will as suredly become less valuable to the Spaniards, But even Were the island emancipated from Spanish ligent Cubans are by no means sure that tf the common bend wh unites Oubans againat Spain were severed the same harmony would continue to prevail. The colored people are too numerous to suvmit to the domination of the in- telligent white population. So there would arise, in all probability, constant struggies ior suprem: il order were not secured by some powerful neigt- bor. This conviction has grown 40 strong among the partisans of Cuban independence that the party originally in javor of establishing a separate and Inaependent republic in Cuba has dwindied down to a few men, while the immense majority are in favor O| securing @ well ordered liberty by annexation to the United States as the only solu- l pon that can restore peace and prosperity to the Os, JAMES J. O'KELLY, | ited to the public; they are in all cases doctored | of this force is made up of Cubans, who in secret | | butit must be remembered that these men are | themselves in a position from which they cannot | In view of theze circumstances it may safely be | Months the | The establishment of the Ke- | | have affairs, both political and military, gone dur- | It would be | much better for Spain if the government had the | surgents or some to reign Power to sell the isiand, | to meet the most pressing demands of | It would conier great advantages on the | nation, while the holding ol Ouba is of profit only to | Tule the social question would remain one of ex: | treme diMiculty, owing to the mixture of races, | At present no trouble is experienced in the Cuban | camp trom this circumstance; but the more intel | | Murphy on his back, at 2 tol. SCOTIA'S SAINT. ——_+—___ St. Andrew and His Votaries in the Land o Cakes—Celebration in His Honor Hore. It is known, from the repeated assurances of her natives, that the saint of “Ireland's green islc” “was @genileman and came of decent people," It dare not be implied that St, Andrew was less refined in instinct, or came of a poorer stock than St. Patrick. From comparison of their work, how- ever, the logical certainty may be deduced, either that St, Andrew was the more energetio, or that St. Patrick had as hard a task in Ireland as his “sainted brother in the faith” had in the many countries where he labored, itis a sorry task to elevate one saint at the expense of the other, and 80 let it be assumed that the Celts were as stead- fast to their paganism in the time of the snakes as they have ever been to other things at modero periods, Thus our saints are both saved, though Ireland 1s sacrificed to the necessity. If any earnest Christian irishman 1s displeased at the remedy that has been adopted for the exigency of the writer, why be may even scandalize St. Pat- rick. Ireland’s pagan sons or her Christian saint, it is immaterial which, so as St Andrew 1s saved from evil remark! This is the saint's anniversary, and he must be glorified. The Scot over bis hag- gis, the Muscovite over his caviare, and men of many other navions over their peculiar feasts, would mutter curses at the HekaLp were St. Andrew slighted to-day. He is almost universally claimed as @ patron, and his constitu- ents are too formidable ior their hostility to bo courted, His reiics have been scattered in the enthusiastic contention for them. Except that of the godly inau’s right arm, the place of deposit of none of St Andrew’s remains is khown, A pious mouk, named Regulus or Rule, according to tradi- tion, brought that precious relic to Scotiand and piaced it m a church which he built where the cath- edral now is in the city of St. Andrews, Tradition has thus placed Scotland under the special protec- tion of dt. Audrew and made his arm her shicid. Having given the traditions about that saint it 18 proper to teil What 18 certain about him, He was the brother of Simon Peter, and pursued with him the calling of a fisherman on the Lake of Gene: reth. When John the Baptist began to preach penance in the desert Andrew went to hear btm. He tinadly became a disciple of St, John aud went w:th him on his journeyings. On the day when St. John, seeing Jesus pass, cried out to his disciples, “Bebold the Lamb of God!’ Andrew and another ef the group followed him, Jesus soon spoke to them, and immediately Andrew learned that he was the Messiah, and accepted his invitation to | go with him on his imssion of mercy and salvation. hence Andrew is styled the Protociat, or First called. Andrew soon brought Simon, his brother, to Jestts, who admitted him as a disciple and gave him the name of Peter. The brotners were not immediately Called to constant attend: ance upon their Master, but tor some time alter- nated their callings of fishers in the pure waters of the lakes and of fishers in the turbid waters of sin for the souls of men. But when they were biuden to it they leit their nets and followed their teacher to His death on the cross. St. Audrew’s name is not noted in the Scriptures alter the Ascension, yet be 1s believed to have disseminated the Chris- tian doctrine in Asiatic and European Scythia, ‘Thrace, Macedonia, Epirus, Achaia. It was at Patra, in Achaia, that he is recorded to hav found that glorious reward on earth of marty: | dom jor his brave endeavors to spread the creed of love and clemene; ihe manner os his martyr- dom was of the most paimful character, yet when | he saw that it Was across upon wich he was to | be put to death sparks of eloquent speech cume irom his mouth in an apostrophe to it:—“Hail, precious crosa, that hast been consecrated by the | bouy of my Lord and adorned with His limbs as with rich jewels, [come to thee exulting and glad; receive me With joy mto thy arms!” Thus did be welcome death and give thanks that it was to be [like Christ’s, upon the cross. But he was | pot nailed upon the dread instrument, only tied with thongs, and leit to perish oj the tortures of hunger and thirst. The saint’s body was honorably interred by a lady named Maximil In the fourth ceutury it was removed | to Byzantiam, or Constantinople, and placed in the Church of the Apostles, From here the disposition ol the remains cannot be told with the assurance of truth, so clouded have tie hallowed endeavors of the saint’s admirers made the matter. The only public commemoration of St. Andrew's Day will be the 117th festival of tho St. Andrew's Society to-morrow evening. TROTTING AT FLEETWOOD PARK. The track was in very fair condition for trotting yesterday aiternoon and two trotting races came off, The attendance was small, the weather befag rather too cold for this kind of sport, and as the horses want rest and recuperation, the past having been asevere season for most of them. The frst trot called yesterday was for a sweep- stakes of $300, between John Murphy’s chestnut mare Louise, W. E. Weeks’ sorrel geiding Sorrel Juke and M. McNamara’s bay gelding Billy Lynch. Louise was the favorite previous to the start, out Sorrel Jake won the first heat so easily that the betting changed in his favor, and he then had the call over the field. Lonise won the second heat by ahead and she was again the lavorite over the field. The third was a dead heat, and the mare still kept her place in the betting, but at increased odds, 10 to 3 being current. She won the fifth heat and the race very cleverly, Bully Lynch being second (for the first time), Sorrel Jake third. The second trot was mile heats, best three in five, under the saddle, for a match of $200, between John Murphy's bay oe Charley Green and W, E. Weeks’ gray geiding Tanner Boy. Green was the favorite when brought on the track, with John It was discovered, aiter scoring alew times, that Charley Green was no saddle horse, and he was then taken out and put in harness. Many pools were soid on Tanner Boy under the beliei that he could beat Chariey Green under the saddle, and these people strenu- | ously protested against tae change of way of going, and they were right. The horse should not have been allowed to go in harness, Such prece- dents a3 these will lead to additional irauds and complications on the trotting turf, as a match | could be made to go as they pleased, and one of | the matchmakers might bring his horse on the | track to wagon, and after getting the pool | box stuffed in bis favor he could take his horse | out of the wagon, put @ saddie on him and | go on and win the money. Tanner Boy beat Char- ley Green very easily the first heat, and this seemed to appease his backers. Tanner Boy won the second heat as easily as he did the first, and | this sent him up in the betting @ trifle, but still | Charley Green had the call. This seemed strange to the unsophisticated until the horses were given | the word, when Tanner Boy was pulled to a break, | giving Charley Green a jead far enough to win. Charley went on and led home 40 yards in front of Tanner Boy. The result of this heat astonished | even the most brazen faced sharper on the track. It was generally conceded that Tanner Boy had won all the heats tuat he could on tus occasion, and the race had to be won by Charley Green, The latter won the fourth heat, when darkness having set in the trot had to be postponed until Monday next, at two o’clock in the afternoon, The follow- | ing are the summaries: FLEETWOOD PARK, Nov. 29,—Trotting—Sweep- stakes $300, mile heats, best turee* i five, is harness. ENTRIES, m. Louise. 1 J. Murphy's ch. D. Piiter’s s. g. Sorrel Ja M. McNamara’s b.g. Biliy Lynch TIME. First heat. Second heat. Third heat. Fourth be Fifth heat. 3816 Same Day.—Trotting match, $200, | best three in five, under the saddle. John Murphy named b. g Charley Green. 2 W. E. Weeks named g. g. Tanner Boy. . TIM st heat... Second heat. ‘Third heat. | Fourth heat..... | PIGEON SHOOTING, A large party of gentiemen met at Port Morris | yesterday to witness @ pigeon match between the two crack amateurs, Mr. Ernest Staples and Mr. Louis Livingston, of Columbia county, New York, at 26 single birds, Ira Paine's best, for ‘$400, 114 shot, 21 yards rise, 50 yards boundary. he following is E SCORE. Srap 1,1, 1, 3, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 0, 1, 1, 1—Total, 20. Killed, 17; missed, 4, LIVINGSTON—O, 1, 0, 0, 0, 1, 1, 9 0, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 0, 0, O—Total, 18. Killed, 9; missed, 9, ‘i Staples won the cnoice and went to the front rat. Livingston, having no chance, gave up the match wheb Staples had shot at 20 birds, A GOVERNMENT DEPAULTER. Boston, Nov, 29, 1873. A despatch from St. Albans states that Anson J, Crane. of Burlington, Assistant Collector of In- ternal Revenue for the Thira district of Vermont, is reported to be ®& defaniter to the amount of 17,000, His bondsmen, one vf whom is Senator munis, are Amy able to make good the amount embezzled, r. & former Coliector, embezzled the money. APPOINTMENT BY THE GOVERNOR. ALBaNy, Nov, 20, 1878, Governor Dix has appointed Joseph Vanderbilt, of Northport, wreck master for the county of Suf- folk, | l Crane claims that Jewitt, | | | Departinens witha THE ARMY. Annual Report of Secretary of War General Belknap. WASHINGTON, Nov, 29, 1873, The annual report of the Secretary of War shows that the estimates for military purposes for the year ending June 30, 1874, were $35,826,378, The estimates for the same purpose for the year end- ing June 30, 1875, are $54,410,722; the excess of the next year over the current one being $584,244. The appropriation for military purposes for the year ending June 30, 1874, were $32,917,071. It has been the custom of Congress from time to time to reduce the estimates of the department, If have endeavored, aided by the ofMfcers of the department and of the army, to keep the expenditures within the timit prescribed by Con- grea; but experience bas shown that the amounts previously asked for, based on data carefully pre- pared by chiets of bureaus alter ample considera- tion, were necessary for the management of the department. In addition to the usual estimates already made the foliowing are submitted for such action as Congress may deem proper to tdke:— Armament of forts. sees $1,449.550 Estimates for engincer purpose: - 20,159, 36 It will be observed that among the estimates for the War Department for the next as well as the preceding years many appropriations are asked for which should not be classed under those for the support of the army proper; for instance, those for the observation and report of storms, the Freedmen’s Hospital, the settiement of claims for horses lost in the military service, the collection and payment of bouaty to colored soldiers, military velegraph lines in diferent parts of the country, refunding to States expenses incurred in ratsing volunteers, signal stations at lighthouses, arming and equip- ping and militia, and numerous other subjects of like character demand expenditures which cannot legitimately be charged as being for the current uses of the military establishment, A critical ‘examination of the expenditures, some of them authorized by Congress without any recommenda- tion on the part of this department, will show that the total expenditures are largely in excess of the amount absolutely necessary jor the actual requirements of the army itself, ‘The act of March 3, 1873, for the establishment of a military prison, made no appropriation to meet any of the expenses necessary to carry it into effect. In order, however, that no time might be lost, & preliminary board, composed only o! army officers, was constituted to collect information and mate- rial for commencing more definite labor upon a plan so soon as Congress should appropriate means, This board, in its investigations, has suc- ceeded in doing even more than was anticipated, and, fortunately, two gentlemen from civil lue who have devoted much tame and zealous study to the subject of = re- formatory prison discipline have been found willing to give ashare of their time gratuitously until an appropriation shall be made to the work of preparing a plan and regulations tor a military prison, Tnis bas enabled me to carry out the pro- visions of the second section of the act by appoint- ing the board therein prescribed. Their report will form the subject ofa future special communi- cation to Congress. He recommends that better facilittes to obtain fleld musicians be afforded by the passage of an act authorizing the enlistment of boys not under 12 years of age, with the consent of their parents or guardians, and says:— It is unnecessary to allude to notorious cases of efficient service by music boys, even on the field of battle, to illustrate their perfect competency for all duties required o/ musicians, While they make the best musicians they generally ata more advanced age have become most vainable Lon-commissioned officers as the fruit of their early training, This plan has, too, the merit of being a most useful charity, for it would provide tor many sons of old soldiers, living and dead, who now are without aim or object in life, and in danger of becoming worthless men; bat who if enlisted would have the benefit not only of tuition in music, but also in the useiul common branches of education taught at the depot school. The subject of discharge of minors who have enlisted in the army has ever been a perplexing one, The most stringent prohibitions have been laid upon recruiting officers, and whenever a minor has passed from the rendezvous to the depot and is there detected by the Examining Board he is sure to be at once discharged. In spite of every precaution a large number of young men, minors in the cye of the law, but actually men, who have been practically thelr own masters for @ considerable tiwe, do pass themselves as of tull age, freely take the Oat to that effect, as embodied in the contract of enlistment, und are transported at considerable expense to regiments, Here, on the least dissatisiaction or after the commission of some crime involving punishment, they forthwith write to their parents, who have hitherto, perhaps, bestowed but little care upon them, and a moving appeal is made to tne department for their dis- charge. Since the passage of the act of May 15, 1872, the department has judged that it had no dis- cretion leit, and when the proof of minority is clear, end the consent of the parent or guardian has not been obtained, a discharge is invariably given. Since the passage of the act referred to, and up to June 30, 1873, 206 applications tor discharge from this cause have been received. Great expense to the government, as well as frequent evasion of punisument and the conseguent disorganization of necessary mill- vary discipline, is thereby caused. or is the ostensible object of the parents to re- cover the child effected, because the latter is dis- charged hundreds of miles from home, and even if disposed to return, which is seldom the case, has not the pecuniary means. He suggests that some action be taken toward the passage of a positive law to punish recruits who have deceived recruit- ing officers by jalsely swearing to their age or parce condition, and gays:—“‘In my judgment e should be immediately turned over to a proper tribunal, and the United states law officer in whose district a recruit may have committed an offence should be required to prosecute him tor the false oath he has taken and for the great ex- pense he has given the government.”’ The practice, whicn prevailed to a considerable extent, of arty officers visiting the seat of govern- ment during the session of Congress, attempting to influence legislation by interviewing members of Congress, and presenting business that should only be brought to their attention through the head of the Executive Department, became such a serious evil thaton March 15, 1873, 1 caused an order to be issued directing that no oficer, either active or retired, shall, directly or indirectly, Without beimg called upon by proper authority, solicit, suggest Or recommend acuon by members of Congress, for or against military alfairs, Th necessity for this order was apparent. Members of Congress have pene brought the subject to my attention and have made complaint, very justly, of the persistent efforts made with them ersonally to influence their views on legislation. ‘he order, as it itself says, is not intended to pre- cinde officers from illustrating or expounding a measure before Congress which may have received favor or sanction of the President, the Secre- y of War or the General of the Army. The experience of ofiicers when so used is and will be viewed as vaiuable, but it Was and is Intended to restrain officers from urging ‘their views in an improper manner upon meters of Congress, and in Cadet the time of those intrusted with the necessary legislation ol the government, That order will be enlorced so far as it lies within my power and authority to ac- complish it. He next refers to his tour of inspection through the Department of ‘texas in company with Lieutenant General Sheridan, last spring, und speaks in high terms of the efficiency and good conduct of the troops there stationed. At several of these posts, where bow white aod colored soldiers were stationed, the general good conduct and fine military appear- ance of all the troops het wont J the garrisons were prominent to a marked degree. In section 24 of the actof July 15, 1870, the pay of officers of the artny was established, and provi- sion was made that the sums therein specified should be in full of all commutation of tuel, forage, servant hire and clothing, longevity rations and all lowances of every name and nature whatever, and should be paid monthly by the Paymaster, Further legisiation is necessary to define the scope of this provision—whether it Is intended to include certain things, such as trans- | portation in kind of Officers’ servants and trans- portation of officers’ horses and buggage, author- ized in the regulations beiore its passage, but not held to be emoluments; or does it have reference | simply to money adowances then received by otfi- cers of the army’ During the past year the five Inspectors General of the army have made careful and thorough in- spections in the Departments of the South, Texas, issourt, Gull, Arizona, Dakota and Columbia, ex- cepting Alaska. In the Departments of Arizona, Texas, Dakota and Columbia 4 thorough examina- tion was made into the condition of the personnel and material of the army at all the remote and widely dispersed posts, stations and depots within the limita of those departments, with the excep- tion of Alaska, embracing 117 Pay posta, gar- risoned by 18 regiments of infantry, 17 companies of artillery and 8 regiments of cavalry. Serutinizing examinations have been made by the Inspectors General of the accounts of all the onicera who have made important disbursements of public money Let the year. The funds re- ceived and expended by them, with the balance: reported due the United Stuas, have been care- fully verified by official statements received from the Treasury Department and depositories, and under this system it 14 hardly possible that a detal- cation or fraud ou the part of disbursing oMcers of this department can escape timely detection. Since the close of the war, in the Quartermaster’s Department much time and labor have been be- stowed upon the examination and settlement of the accounts of oMcers for disbursements made during the rebellion and since its Close. Most of these accounts have been adjusted, and the ac- ovunta of disbursing officers of that department ‘© vow examined promptly as received. Within past two years I have caused forma and methods of business in this department to be sim- piifled, to the adv: of the service and the relief of the officers, Much dificulty 1s experienced in keeping the expenses of the Qnartermaster’s amounts appropriated by NEW YORK HERALD, SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 30, 1873—QUADRUPLE SHEET. Congress; and so apparent was it during the past fiacal year that the appropriation for barracks and ft would not admit of any expenditure m that appropriation beyond ‘the payment of cents of oilices and hire of quarters for _ troo) that 16 was found necessary early in the asprin, to entirely arrest any work upon repair ‘a construction of barracks and quarters. Notwithstanding this necessary and sharp measure, which involved much incon- venience to troops crowded into buildings much in need of repair, or cantoned in tents and huts too much ex d to the melemency of the weather, the liabilities have, to a small amount, exceedes tho sum appropriated. The Secretary recommends that an allowance of $10 per month be made to Meutonants of the line detailed as acting assistant quartermastera, Of the filty rat which, at the close of the War, under executive orders, purchased Irom this Department railroad material to the praised value of over $7,500,000, 30 of them have paid their = Genstotneamonen f 4.0 28 ne al a ant o! e tot amoun' eoliected from these noe with interest and ex- penses, has thus far been $5,116,605, He recommends the of a law which will enable the department to collect trom the Post Of- fice Department the postal earnings of several of these delinquent ratiroads, The bonds of the roads given at the time of the purchase, pledge them to use these earnings in liquidation of their debts, but they refuse and persistently neglect to give to the Postmaster General necessary formal orders to wurn over the funds to this department, He also recommends an Sppropriation to con- tinue the present experiment of the artesian well at Fort D. A. Russell, believing @ series of owing wells to the people of Colorado, Wyoming, Mon- tuna and Dakota will be of importance upon the development oi their material interests. In regard to headstones for soldiers’ graves in the national cemeteries he staves that contracts have been awarded. Particular care has been taken to have these headstones permapent when once erected. The entire cost of these slabs and blocks under the contracts awarded, should see be entered into by the successful bidders, iL amount to $770,045. He recommends that the $100,000 appropri. ated by Congress for the erection of a depot at San Antonio be used to purchase or rent such posts in Texas as may be found actually needed, cheat being no necessity to erect a depot at that point, He also recommends an act to be passed author- izing the issue of tobacco to the enlisted men of the army as a component part of the army ration, as near as may be in amount equal to that author- ized to be sold to them. The recommenaation made in former years 18 re- newed that the catalogue and tables of the ana- tomical section of the Army Medical Museum be published ina style similar to Martau’s “Urania Americana.” A bill for this purpose passed one house of Congress during the last session, but failed to become a law. s ‘he Secretary thinks it 1s absolutely nece: for the weliare of the service that the medical ir be opened to appointment and promotion, Allusion is made to the recommendation to the Paymastet General for legislation providing for an increase of the present force of paymasters., There are now but 44 In the service. The Paymaster Gen- erai recommends the number to be fixed by law at 52, and that promotions and new appointments be allowed. ‘The corps of engineers have been actively en- gaged on the defensive works of our coasts, upon harbor and river improvements and the surveys for them, and for the protection of the navigable waters o1 the United States against deterioration, whether irom bridging or other causes; upou the geodetic and hydrographic survey of the lakes, upon Ler for the defences of the coasts, upon military surveys and recon- noissances in the interior, upon aera and geological explorations, upon public buildings: and grounés in the District of Columbia, upon the construction of lighthouses and upon the demarca- tion of the boundary between the United States and Great britain. ‘The works projected and approved for the modi- fication and strengthening of our sea coast de- fences and fortifications have been advanced with a rapidity consistent with economy and efficiency, and the works for our prin- cipal harbors now contain guite a number or Jatiorms ready for their armaments of guns of-the largest calibre. Heavy guns, mounted in covered ositions along the shores of the inlets to our har- bors, must always be the basis of any successiul defence, and works projected and in course of con- struction should be prosecuted to completion and be suitably armed, With the small appro- priations granted for the trial of torpedoes, investigations on this subject have been continued to the benefit of our system of submarine mines. This accessory ior the defence ot harbors in recent years has Geveloped into one of great importance among maritime Powers; and to investigate recent electrical methods and sys- tems of torpedoes, as well as to procure certain materials, two officers of engineers were sent dur- ing the summer to Europe. The results of their mission are a collection of valuable information on the subject, and asaving of expenditure to the government, ‘The river and harbor improvements mentioned in the last named report have been continued, and the works and surveys connected therewith have been carried on during the past year with vigor. Sectiou 3of the Ktver and Harbor act of March 3, 1873, directed that a report be made upon the practicability of bridging the channel be- tween Lake Huron and Lake Erie, without material injury to the interests of navigation, and upon the number and character of vesseis ett lls that channel. The subject has been committed to a board of experienced en- gincer officers, who are now onpased. uponit. It is expected that their report will be received dur- ing the early part of the session of Congress. In carrying out the provisions of recent acts of Con- gress authorizing the construction of bridges my attention has been called to the iact that certain bridges have been built, and that one is now being constructed across the navi- gable waters of the United States without any authority of law, and that one of these parties is now constructing a bridge under authority claimed to be derived from acts granting the right of way for railroads througn public lands and grantin; lands to aia in the constraction of a road chartere by State authority. In view of the provisions of more recent acts of Congress, requiring the Secre- tary of War to maintain a supervision over the location and construction of bridges crossing navigable waters of the United States, in order that the interests of navigation shall be protected, 1 feel it my duty to invite the atiention of Congress to this subject, and to suggest such general legislation as may be deemed necessary for the preservation of the great natural channels of commerce. In this connection the Secretary recommends that the act authorizing the construction of a bridge across the Arkansas River at Little Rock, Ark., approved May 31, 1872, be repealed, for the reason that a bridge con- structed in compliance with its terms would mate- rially obstruct and impair the navigation of the river. The survey of the lakes has been continued with success during the season. The survey o/ Lake Michigan has been pushed Jorward nearly to completion, and that of the St. Lawrence River has been extended nearly to Lake Ontario. Other portions of the survey are tn satis- factory progress, The commission appointed by the President to examine and report upon a system of irrigation in the San Joaquim and Sacramento valleys, in Califor- nia, met and organized in San Francisco in May, and proceeded at once to examine the valleys question and the streams emptying into them. At the end of June they had made satisfactory progress. They are still engaged in the collection of information to enable them to render a tuli report upon the subject of their in- vestigation, Reierring to the report of the Chief of Ordnance calling attention to the arguments favoring a re- peal of the law prohibiting promotions in the Ordnance Corps, the Secretary says :— “Their clans i promotion appeal strongly to the attention of Congress." A board of experienced officers, of which Gen- eral A. H. Terry was president, was convened in September, 1872, for the selection of a breeci-load- ing. system for the muskets and carbines of the military service. After an exhaustive trial of all the systems presented, the Board selected the eat field breech-loading system as the one of ail those brought before it which is best calculated to meet the demands of our mili- tary service. The report of the board was approved, and the Springdeld system of breech-loader will hencetorth be used for muskets and carbines of the army, At the same time the calibre of all small arms for the service—rifies, carbines and revolvers—has been fixed ut 4 5-100 of an inch, Jt is now a qnestion of grave importance whether new arms of the ac- cepted system shail not be made at once in suficient quantities for a reserve supply in case of war, and to this end an appropriation of $500,000 has been asked for the next fiscal year for the manufacture, together with the materials now on hand, of about 35,000 arms, The anoual appropriation of $200,000 for arm- ing and equipping the militia, an amount fixed by Congress during the early part of the century is now found inadequate, by reason of the great increase of the population, to supply the wants of the whole body of the militia; and it is therefore recommended that the appropriation for that purpose be increased in a manner pro- portios to the increase of the population since the passage of the act of 1808 providing for the distribution of arms to the militia of the country, feel great hesitation in recommending in- creased appropriations at this time, but 1 deem it my duty to say that the armament of our seacoast defences, which involves the question of the de- fence of our principal seaboard cities from attack in case of war with a naval Power, Is & subject demanding the earnest attention of Congress, ‘he principal cities on r coast are in a very defenceless state, and the tedious and costly work of preparation cannot be commenced A the Pa tT out of ® war with the ho accomplishing any adequate result, The work must — be Y done’ in time of peace, without waiting for au uncertain period in search after perfection In gun construction. The importance of this subject mereases with the earn- est and combined efforts on the part of all nations to supply their forts with the most improved armament, and should war find this country without @ proper delence against the iro clads and their great guns the responsi. bility cannot reat upon this department, as the importance of this subject has often been ba to the attention of Congress, An appro- priation of $1,449,632 is estimated tor by the Chief of Ordnance for the next fiscal year for the pur- chase of smooth-bore guna and for carriages, Me: sum will provide for one-sixth onl! (ue guns ANd Gerriagen Qyan ‘wat ——t} the fortifications whitctt the soth of June, 1874. ‘hia be requirea for will be ready by amount is not embraced fu the recular estimates of appropriations ior the army, but it is a subject of great tw portance, the question of this ap propriation is respectiully submitted, ‘The heavy rifled guns selected for fabrication and test, under the act approved June 6, 1872, are now in progress of manufacture and will be com pleted during the wint Valuable informa tion aud experience are to in the trial of these guns, result most probably leading to the early adoption of an effective rifle of suitablo calibre for the ser- vice, and, in this connection, I would recommend the purchase of a suitable proving ground tor the proper trial of these experimental heavy guns, © oheapness Of cast iron and the marked prog- ress, attained in the manulacture of gunpowder in the past year’ mduce a recommendation thas an appropriation of $75,000 be granted, to be aypiled in the fabrication and trial of 12-inel cast iron rifled cannon, that the capabilities of the metal for rifle constructions of large calibre may be pet to the fwlest test, in the hope that its practical utilization for this purpose may be conclusively assured or denied. The powder in the hands of the department 1s, on account of the want o! proper storage, concentrated in a large part in the m: nes Of Our Seacoast fortifications, while under the searching influences of the sais air it 1s rapidly nudergoing deterioration. For its better preservation a large powder depot should be establisued in some region where neither public nor private interests would be en- dangered by Its proximity, and an appropriation of ‘$100,000 is recommended jor the purchase of a i] Be suitapdle site and commencement of mag- azines, The abolition of some of the smaller arsenals and the application of the proceeds of their sale to the erection of @ large arsenal of proper construction on the Atlantic coast, 1s again urged, on strong economt- cal grounds, and it is recommended that a law be passed authorizing the Secretary of War to make a sale of any of the smaller arsenals at such times as would be most advantageous to the govern- ment, and to apply the proceeds as suggested, The departinent feels much embarrassment, arising from conflicting claims founded on alleged iniringements of patent rights in the construction of breech-loading guns at the national armory. The officers of the Ord- nance corps, in the execution of their oficial duties, are seriously annoyed by private actions for damages instituted by persons claiming to hold valid patents which have been iniringed in the winctions of the government armory, and some legislation seems to be required to enable the department to dispose of the claims, cretary Belknap embodies a synopsis of the operations of the Signal Bureau, puolished in tue HERALD & few days since, and adds:—The ascer- tained comparative accuracy of deductions from reports styled “Probabilities” has been more elearly presented in this than in preceding years. The percentage of verifications has been Mathematically computed for each of the Lag graphical! districts mentioned in the reports, department acknowJedges as in Jrevious years the general support of the popular ¢pinion of scientific men and of the press in its eflorts successfully to carry on this work, Errors have occurred, but it has been generally recognized as inevitable that some must occur im the present condition of — science, The great ied of the work is no longer doubted. It has achieved resuits the promise of which a few years ago could hardly be hoped for. It is mentioned in connection with this subject that arrangements have been made with the meteorological oftices of Rus- sia, England aué Turkey to commence January 1, 1874, an exchange with the United States of the daily reports taken simultaneously at the different stations throughout the great extent of tne Rus- sian and Turkish Empires, the British Islands ana the United States, The Co-operation of the sys tems of other nations is expected. My annual inspection of the affairs of the Military Academy and corps of cadets in June last disclosed avery creditable state of discipline and an atten- tion to study very commendable in the cadets, The Secretary recommends, as there is no Assistant Secretary for the War Department, the passage of a law which will permit the Secretary of War to authorize the chief clerk, in case of illness or other temporary absence of the head of the department, to sign requisitions and other papers deemed necessary ior immediate signature. In conclusion he refers to the fact that py joint resolution of Congress the Secretary of War was required to appoint a competent per- son to arrange and prepare for _publi- cation official documents relating to the rebellion and operations of the army during tue war, and to submita plan of said pubiication and estimates of the cost thereof to Congress at its then next — session. person was appointed to assume this work, who was to receive @ compensation of $2,500 per annum. Although the appointment was made at the time, no acceptance was filed and no action was taken toward ‘the§arrangement and pub- lication of the records. As the appointment under previous legislation cannot now be made, tor the reason that the act prescribed that the pay- ments should cease in two years after, its passage, this levislation shonid be revived and the Secretary of War authorized to make tue SU RCE Oa This is @ great national work of much historical value, and constant, daily ob- servation and experience render itevident that early steps should be taken to collect and prepare these Vast and important matertais for publicaion General Sherman’s Report. WASHINGTON, Nov. 29, 1873. The following is the report of General Sher- man :— HEADQUARTERS OF THE ARMY, . WASHINGTON, Nov. 7, 1873. To Hon. W. W. BELKNapP, Secretary of War :— S1k—I have the honor herewith to submit a state- ment showing the organization and actual strength of enlisted men in the army, compiled from the official returns, up to the latest date, and invite your attention to the recapitulation, showing 25,535 enlisted men of cavalry, artilery and in- lantry and 3,970 non-combatants—the whole ag- gregating 29,505, or 495 less thao the number, 30,000, limited by law. In the active regiments the number of men sick and on the necessary details about the posts will fully equal 26 per cent, so that the actual strength for military service does not exceed 19,652 men, In order that the regular army shoula fulfil its arduous daties on the trontier, as also form the model on whicn to shape the volunteers and militia force of the United States, I earnestly rec- ommend that the Congress be asked to fix the limit of the enlisted force at such a figure as will give 30,000 for the regiments of the line, and to provide ation for the non-combatant detach- ments, such as the Engineer battalion, the Ord- nuance Department, West Point detachments, Signal Department, ordnance and commissary ser- geants, in the same manner as has been done for the hospital stewards, The artillery regimenta have an organization different trom the infantry—viz., 12 bat- teries to a regiment; but of these, only one is equipped and instructed as a battery of artillery, the other 11 cumpanies of each regiment being armed with muskets and instructed as intantry. In order to simplify the organization to apply the new tactics (now ek Dini completion) to all arms of the service alike, with your approval, have ordered the word “battery? app, techni- cally, to such only aa are provided with horses and guns, and all others to be called “companies,” Some of the artillery officers think the act of July 28, 1866, entities them to the name ‘‘battery,’* whether they have guns or not, and it might be well to ask a modification of the law so as to read— “battery or company” for the artillery regiments, to correspond with the words “troops or com- pany” used for the cavalry in the same act, The number of regimental commissioned oMcers on duty, or belonging to the several departments and divisions, number, in the aggregate, 1,532; present for duty, 1,234; absent on leave or de- tached, 298, The foregoing does not include the 31 second lieutenants, recently appointed trom civil lite, now under orders to jo their regiments, I now enclose the annual reports of the division and department commanders, copies of which have been submitted to you as received. The military divisions embrace the whole area of the United States, and these reports include the acts of all the regular army, leaving nothing to be fat by Way Oi history of the events during the ast year. ‘The reports of all the department commanders, with the exception of that o! the Department of a not yet received, are also herewith: sen No part of the army 1s under my immediate con- trol, and the existing army regulations devolve om the Secretary of War, the actual command of the military peace establishment and all responsibility thereof, so that I forbear making any further recommendations or report, Very respectfully, your obedient servant, __W.T. SHERMAN, General. RESIGNATION OF SENATOR CASSERLY, SAN FRANCISCO, Nov, 29, 1873. The following letter was received this after hoon: SAN FRANCISCO, NOV. 28, 187% . Newron Boorn, Governor of California, Dear Sin—I hereby Sie my unexpired term in the Senate of the United States as Senator for California, this resignation to take effect immedi- ately, 80 thatthe State Leyisiature, which meets on the 1st of next month, may fill the vacancy. As my intimate friends in the Senate well know, FE have long desired to withdraw from that body, and at the same time to withdraw wholly from polttics anda er ‘al life. My duties on both sides of the Continent have demanded of me have received #0 much attention as to generally impair my health and compel me to neglect my private aimairs. ‘The latter consideration is not a controlling one, but the condition of my health is such as to lead Ine to seriously doubt my strength to discharge the arduous duties of a Senator from California. T have deferred carrying out my desire uncil the Present time, when botn objects may be accom pistea at once, and when the Legisiavure, just . z successor. Very re~ o meet, may elect My succiety RRLY. ecttuily, Mr, Casserly led the majority of his party here in opposition to the ratiroad monopoly; but thas majority is in the minority in the Legisiature, and might not have been able to effect his re-election ina triangular contest, with Booth on one side. ‘The general opinion 18 that his resignation will operate tavorably for Booth and disastrously to the schemes in the ratiroad interest as laid bv ule ‘Onze, Uuglt oulet political agent,