In view of the briefness of the unexpired service of the volunteers. it was thought proper to discharge those who had been invalided to San Francisco from time to time, rather than return them to duty in the Philippine Islands. On September 6, 1900, there were 435 invalided volunteers in the Department of California-234 in general hospitals, 164 at the Presidio, San Francisco, and 37 at Fort Mason; 385 being reported as convalescent and able to travel were discharged. To avoid confusion and guard against loss of records, instructions were given for careful preparation of descriptive lists of discharged men with notations relating to discharge, pay due, etc., to be listed by regiments and filed at department headquarters pending arrival of the regiments for discharge. All discharged volunteer soldiers able to travel with comfort and safety as to health were encouraged to go directly to their homes, and every assistance to this end was given them. Special terms were effected with the railroads, the rate to Chicago being made at $43.75 from San Francisco, a reduction of nearly 17 per cent on the regular fare (the best that could be obtained), and arrangements were made whereby tickets would be sold to the men at the military posts. To meet the many requests of officers and men of the United States Volunteers who desire to leave the military service to engage in business in the Philippines and cast their fortunes with those islands, the Secretary of War, on October 18, 1900, authorized the commanding general of the Division of the Philippines to accept their resignations or order their discharges. MILITARY GEOGRAPHICAL DEPARTMENTS. The present territorial limits of the military geographical departments are as follows: Division of the Philippines.-The Philippine Islands. Department of California.-The States of California and Nevada, and the Hawaiian Islands. Department of the Colorado.-The States of Wyoming (except so much thereof as is embraced in the Yellowstone National Park), Colorado, and Utah, and the Territories of Arizona and New Mexico. Department of the Columbia.-The States of Washington, Oregon, Idaho (except so much of the latter as is embraced in the Yellowstone National Park). Department of Dakota.-The States of Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, Montana, and so much of Wyoming and Idaho as is embraced in the Yellowstone National Park. Department of the East.-The New England States, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, District of Columbia, West Virginia, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, and Louisiana. Department of the Lakes.-The States of Wisconsin, Michigan, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Kentucky, and Tennessee. Department of Mindanao and Jolo.-Includes all the islands of the Philippine Archipelago not embraced in the Departments of Northern Luzon, Southern Luzon, and of the Visayas. WAR 1900-VOL 1, PT III- 2 Department of the Missouri.-The States of Iowa, Nebraska, Missouri, Kansas, and Arkansas, the Indian Territory, and the Territory of Oklahoma. Department of Northern Luzon.-Includes all that part of the island of Luzon north of Laguna de Bay and the province of Laguna, the same being the provinces of Abra, Bontoc, Benguet, Bataan, Bulacan, Cagayan, Ilocos, Infanta, Morong, Norte, Ilocos Sur, La Isabela de Luzon, Lepanto, La Union, Nueva Vizcaya, Nueva Ecija; all that portion of Manila north of the Pasig River, Principe, Pangasinan, Pampanga, Tarlac, and Zambales, and all the islands in the Philippine Archipelago north of Manila Bay and the provinces above named. Department of Porto Rico.-The island of Porto Rico and the islands and keys adjacent thereto. Department of Southern Luzon.-Includes island of Samar and all the remaining part of the island of Luzon, the same including the following provinces: Albay, Batangas, Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, Cavite, La Laguna, Manila south of the Pasig, and Tayabas, and all islands of the Philippine archipelago which lie south of the south line of the Department of Northern Luzon, as above described, including the island of Polillo, and north of a line passing southeastwardly through West Pass of Apo to the twelfth parallel of north latitude; thence easterly along said parallel to 124° 10' east of Greenwich, but including the entire island of Masbate; thence northerly through San Bernardino Straits. Department of Texas.-The State of Texas. Department of the Visayas.-Includes all islands (except island of Samar) south of the southern line of the Department of Southern Luzon and east of longitude 121° 45′ east of Greenwich and north of the ninth parallel of latitude, excepting the island of Mindanao and all islands east of the Straits of Surigao; headquarters, Iloilo, P. I. The strength of the above-named divisions and departments was as follows June 30, 1900: Division of Cuba.-Consists of the geographical departments and provinces of the island of Cuba. Department of Eastern Cuba.-The provinces of Santiago and Puerto Principe. Department of Western Cuba.-The provinces of Habana, Pinar del Rio, Matanzas, and Santa Clara. The following is a summary of the movements of troops from and to the island of Cuba: FROM CUBA. September 13, 1899.-Companies A, B, C, and D, First Infantry, for Fort Leavenworth, Kans.; headquarters and Companies I, K, L, and M, Eighth Infantry, for Fort Snelling, Minn. September 17, 1899.-Companies E, F, G, and H, Second Infantry, for Fort Thomas, Kv. September 20, 1899.—Companies I, K, L, and M, Tenth Infantry, for Fort Crook, Nebr. (Home battalion.) September 23, 1899.-Companies I, K, L, and M, Fifth Infantry, for Fort Sheridan, Ill. October 15, 1899.-Batteries B, C, D, and E, Second Artillery, for Fort McPherson, Ga. (Home battalion.) October 16, 1899.-Companies E, F, G, and H, Fifteenth Infantry, for Madison Barracks, N. Y. (Home battalion.) January 5, 1900.-Headquarters and Companies A, B, C, D, I, K, L, and M, Fifteenth Infantry; headquarters and Companies A, C, and D, for Plattsburg Barracks, N. Y.; Company B, for Fort Ethan Allen, Vt.; and Companies I, K, L, and M, for Fort Columbus, New York Harbor. January 19, 1900.-Troops A, B, C, and D, Eighth Cavalry, for Fort Riley, Kans. (Home battalion.) July 16, 1900.-Companies E and F, Eighth Infantry, for Fort Snelling, Minn. July 19, 1900.-Headquarters and Companies I, K, L, and M, Second Infantry, for Fort Thomas, Ky.; headquarters and Companies A, B, C, D, G, and H, Eighth Infantry, for Fort Snelling, Minn. (Home battalion.) July 20, 1900.-Headquarters and Companies A, C, F, and G, Fifth Infantry, for Fort Sheridan, Ill. (Home battalion.) August 1, 1900.-Companies B, D, E, and H, Fifth Infantry, for Fort Sheridan, Ill. (Home battalion.) August 4, 1900.-Companies K, L, and M, First Infantry, for Fort Leavenworth, Kans. (Home battalion.) August 9, 1900.-Headquarters and Companies E, F, G, and H, First Infantry, for Fort Leavenworth, Kans.; Light Battery F, Second Artillery, for Washington Barracks, D. C. September 2, 1900. Company I, First Infantry, for Fort Leavenworth, Kans. (Home battalion.) The above movements have withdrawn from the troops in the island of Cuba four troops of cavalry, three batteries of artillery, and the equivalent of five regiments of infantry. PORTO RICO. August 4, 1900.-Headquarters and Troops K and L, Fifth Cavalry, left Porto Rico to take post at Fort Myer, Va. August 7, 1900.-Troops I and M, Fifth Cavalry, for Fort Myer, Va. August 8, 1900.-Companies A, B, C, and D, Eleventh Infantry, for Fort Columbus, New York Harbor. (Home battalion.) On the 30th of April, 1900, Brig. Gen. George W. Davis, U. S. Volunteers, commanding the Department of Porto Rico, upon the recommendation of the governor elect, established six civil executive departments, to facilitate the transfer of the civil duties of the military government of the island. Hon. Charles H. Allen, having been inaugurated as governor of Porto Rico on May 1, 1900, General Davis, on the same day, formally announced the transfer, to the duly appointed civil officers of the Government of Porto Rico, of the military control over civil affairs which had heretofore been exercised by the department commander. CHINA. The perilous situation of the members of the American legation at Pekin and their complete isolation in the midst of an unruly and murderous populace last spring demanded prompt action for their relief. The Commanding General, Division of the Philippines, was therefore instructed by cable, June 16, to send at once a regiment of infantry to Taku, and, six days later, Maj. Gen. Adna R. Chaffee, U. S. Volunteers, was selected to command the United States troops to compose the China relief expedition. The following is a summary of events in China subsequent to the firing by the Taku forts on foreign war vessels which resulted in the surrender of the forts June 17, and to the capture of the east arsenal at Tientsin by the allied forces on the 27th of the same month: July 3.-Headquarters and eight troops of the Sixth Cavalry sailed from San Francisco on the Grant for China. July 6.-Ninth Infantry landed at Taku. July 11.-Two battalions Ninth Infantry reached Tientsin. July 13. Severe engagement at Tientsin between the allied forces and the Chinese. The Ninth Infantry suffered heavily, losing Colonel Liscum and 17 men killed and 5 officers and 72 men wounded. July 14.-Tientsin captured by the allies; Third Battalion, Ninth Infantry, reached that place. July 15.-Light Battery F, Fifth Artillery, and two battalions Fourteenth Infantry sailed from Manila for China. July 17.-Headquarters and four companies Fifteenth Infantry sailed from San Francisco on the Sumner for China. July 26.-Two battalions Fourteenth Infantry, on the Indiana, arrived at Taku. July 27.-Light battery F, Fifth Artillery, on the Flintshire, arrived at Taku. July 28.-General Chaffee, with headquarters and eight troops Sixth Cavalry, arrived at Taku. July 29.-Four batteries Third Artillery sailed from San Francisco on the Hancock for China. August 5.-Pietsang captured by the allied forces. No casualties to the United States troops. August 6.-Light Battery F, Fifth Artillery, Ninth and Fourteenth Infantry, participated in battle of Yangtsung, sustaining a loss of 7 men killed and 1 officer and 62 men wounded. August 9.-Japanese, British, Russian, and American troops advanced to Ho-si-wu, the Chinese flying after firing first shots. August 14.-Pekin entered at 5 p. m. by the allied forces. August 14-15.-Capture of Pekin by the allied forces, in which Light Battery F, Fifth Artillery, and the Ninth and Fourteenth Infantry sustained a loss of Capt. Henry J. Reilly and 5 men killed and 30 men wounded. August 16.-Brig. Gen. Thomas H. Barry, U. S. Volunteers, and four companies Fifteenth Infantry arrived at Taku. August 19.-Action near Tientsin, in which Sixth Cavalry had 6 men wounded. August 21.-Four batteries Third Artillery, on the Hancock, arrived at Taku. August 28.-The allied forces formally entered the palace grounds at Pekin. The relief of the American legation, following the capture of the Chinese capital, transferred to the domain of diplomacy the settlement of the proper redress for the outrages to the representatives of the American Republic and to its citizens residing in that country. It was therefore determined to withdraw the United States troops, leaving only a legation guard, to consist of four troops of cavalry, one light battery, and one regiment of infantry, under command of Major General Chaffee, U. S. V., he being instructed to send the remainder of his force to Manila. The casualties in the several actions in China between July 1 and October 1, 1900, were as follows: The Military Academy at West Point is in a most satisfactory condition. The provision which Congress made at its last session for an increase of 100 cadets filled a need long felt by the service, and will result in great benefit both to the Army and to the country at large. The wear and tear of time has. told on many of the buildings, and much money has been spent from time to time in repair of buildings that would have been better spent in the erection of new ones. This question has been fully considered by a board of officers convened for this special purpose, the report of which is so thorough and satisfactory that it is submitted in its entirety and your favorable consideration requested. The Superintendent of the Academy will be instructed to submit special estimates based on the report of this board. In this connection the report of the Board of Visitors to the Academy for this year, in which the needs and requirements of the institution have received thorough investigation, is of unusual interest and is commended to your careful attention. |