The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1858-04-28

10 fSk Aofot oF fhs HsSsLp
washington, April "a, 1883.
In reviewing the able report printed by order e'
the Senate, of Capt. G. b. Mcclellan, one Oh the
officers sent by this government to examine The MIL
tasy establishments of Europe, and especially the
SEPARATIONS OF the war in the Crimea, have been
struck with the magnitude of the warilke establish
ents of the other continent, and with the e,ncency
IA which they are kept up.
A comparison of these with the mesere prepare
sis of like nature upon this side of the Atlantic,
inclines one 10 have some spprehensons as 70 the
smscS~encss, at least for time, Of hostiitiss be-
tween any of those great Powers and this country.
In calling attention 10 these faces he says
h-,ey ed that c.lrn consideration OF events SO
AssSiy and perectiy narrated N the preceding pages
nus lead al upprejndscea persons among oar country
meat, n firm eopvicacD 90 tvo vial points
I. That our systen Of permanent desences ia
v~ and proper one, which ought 70 be completed and
sgyasd with the leses possible delay.
That mere individual courage oarucs sufnce 20 over
ssr tire forcen tina. would te brought AGAINST
nv ,a % ns n ns
and mechanical military ski, wb,ch only be
acquired by Of education nstItuted for the par
Ia the DAY SAILING vessels the successful sese Of
AhA topol would baSe been impossible It Is evident
~ the Ross o,c not appreciate the advantages
seardeo by steamers, and were unPresTed to sustain
sssse
Nsus o,semoark upon shores IL iess than three
noetbs nonn the com nencement OF hostilitss even
hrssr forse than tba. which naslly emcamped around
srsas opol 7, resist sucb attack should ever be
cities and bar bors must oe fortified, AMI those
qualifications uu-t be proed.t with guos, ammunition
d instyus,ed .r.errsts IN rene. the advance or sush
N army The ,per,o Is not enough 70 trust TO the
ssnse' OF brave but undscioined msa that We can
40 invading army Of Is COO 20 mon could easily
- cuhed by unreni,tna Attacks Of Superior numbers;
Bot comes n the Of moro than 100 600 ds-
opimei veterans, the very muntaie brought 70 bear
against them would work is own destructon scssass
md h. han
snd are IN their own way. We cannot A6crd MOSCOW
Devsr ought 10 BE- ,aSse enough To provide for
~ the contingencies that may arise, but IT
hnce Of the frontier JUSTIFY hs OF OF
nd non commissioned officers shonld be unusual
s,gs to provide Tor sudden and the greatest
ase,6s care soouj ne bestowed upon Instruction Of
me special arms o. the Artillery syd engineer troops
These are conclusions arrived at by one who is
perfectly acquainted with every branch of our mill
tsry establishment and OF the defensive resources of
ths country and have resulted from n careful per
soDal examination of the establishments in the
European nations most likely to come in hostile con.
tact with us. That such contact must sooner or
liter occur il evident TO every one who has studied
the history OF nations and the nature of mankind,
and the reliable authority above quoted, wei
knowing the individual courage and natural
aptitude Of his couptrymen, aud the compare
tive ease with which these qualities may be rem
dersd, by discipline and instruction, available
Cor infantry and cavalry, has urged attention 10 the
Improvement only Of the train corps Of artillery and
engineers. The latter skilfuly but slowly, for
hfyiDg princ pal harbors; it is wise foresight
spon the part of Congress ~ appropriate money for
these works But of what avail are sncb works IL |
they are not 20 be defended Is IL Of use tn garuish
sur coasts with Notifications at millions Of expense
when there are none instructed in thir defence! /
BY falling an easy prey 20 the active foe they afford
~ him the advantage which it was intended they |
ahoQld have secured 10 Us.
10 prevent this and TO prevent our shining from |
being burnt In our harsors and oar seaboard cities
and towns from being sacked and pillaged efficiency
instruction in all that pertains 10 this important
branch. " IL the settled policy Of this government
nn 70 pretend TO vie with the great Powers of Eu
rope in the magnitude OF their military establish
nents but IL Is its duty To every means to pre-
serve the nscleus OF organization as perfect as pos
sitle
The present artillery strength of forty eight CON-
Panes Il rot sufficient TO furnish the minimum Of one
company for each FORTH aton now ready for Defence
~ say nothing Of that required for field operations
The requirements of the Indian frontiers have been
such, since the Mexican war, that not more than
sDefourh Of the above force have been in positions
b, profit by the advantages Of instruction. as arti
fsry which rendered our arms so illustrious In Next
~. This fraction has not been composed constantly
Of the companies; but frontier and fertilization
duty have been 80 alternated that had the system
sf instruction b.en complete all would now be &C
esmplished in this special branch.
The defect arises not from want OF opportunity
Cor II would not be necessary to change the system
II rotation N withdraw single from frontier
service IN order % remedy it-but Il is the want of
means, and results from the unnatural division Of
ery duty into two distinct parts aud giving TO one
The ordnance corps-such control over the material |
% 10 prevent the other and equally important
branch from acquiring that instruction which j. 30
eventual for the proper defence OF the country. /
separate ordnance corps is an irregularity known
only 70 our own service and the bad eject OF II is
vnihle Throughout the whole branch Of artillery: |
that In the hands OF the ordnance is performed with
mot az DO form
The whole Of IT, duty 10 the artillery and giving TO II
. chief whose duty IL will be 10 look after it, into.
rcsts, professional pride and esprit dc corps will /
agnin stimulate thu gallant and Intelligent body,
and when u becomes necessary for the citizens To \
rise in mass To protect from foreign enemy their
sesbosrd cities there will be AT hand a proficient |
nucleus ready 10 instruct them In the means Of de-
fence.
The present Is propitious time for the change; |
wcunted troops are wanted for the frontier: by re-
sforing TO the artillery the duty performed by
ehs ordnance the latter be 1T once formed into
m efficient regiment Of dragons. thus not only |
saving n the treasury the additional expense OF y
sev regiment but promoting the efficiency Of the
artillery.
10 recent wars artillery has been the decisive arm.
This will lie stil the in future, for the in
rrvvtnents that are daily making In all kinds Of
nrarms render cannon yet more necessary. The |
LING range VI the modern rife. and increased eff |
siency II small arms generally will no longer require
armies 90 engage hand 81 hand rnuzzle 10 nuzze, |
bat they will take advantage Of buildings, walls and
lniItoCNmtutr, Irbfn winch tnelf ml<sliee
win he elective whiIe themselves under cover.
ARTILLERY will be required 30 dislodge them shot and
MEL vii be used 70 make such places untenahle; !
and instead ~ the Mime rife doing away with the /
necessity for cannon a. Is sometimes asserted its
introduction viii only increase the value OF the |
latter.
The recent war between the allies and Russia af. \
fcrds lessons which should not be dsreaarced by us
The declaration OF u reached the allied Zee, upon /
tbe 9th OF April. 1854; on the 22d with nineteen |
shipe Of the lDe fgnte and ten steamers carry
- An all 49, - a
Odesss, and In less than twelve hours burnt 10 the
waters edge the whole Of the vast shipping that |
had taken refuge behind the Qualifications which |
from want a proper defence, had no effect ia |
esther ujurine the enemy OF protecting their own |
port They were however, In ~ complete a state |
% readiness for such assault as AZ any Of our |
harbor; and what IL there 10 prevent at any time \
such force rom destroying Boton New York or |
-1ort onfo Eureiv L..