New-York tribune., 1870-12-06
ARE NE PREPARED FOR WARf
THE WEAKNESS OF OUR ARMY, NAVY, AND COAST
FORTIFICATIONS.


WASHINGTON, Dec. 2.-Now that the troubles
with Canada about the fisheries are growing more
Rerioue and Gen. Butler talks Of TO enforce the
settlement OF the Alabama claims while Democratic
newspapers assert that expresses the views OF the
Government IL becomes matter Of interest TO inquire
how well we prepared for war; what the condition
Of our military forces what ships we have TO cope with
the ronelad fleets of great naval power and what
Notifications the safety Of sesbOard cities depends
careful consideration Of strength In these respects
and comparison OF forces with those Of the nation
II is proposed should assault, may convince some
beigerent people of the wisdom of continuing TO use
soft words at least until better prepared TO come
10 blows. ..
Our army now consists OF about 49, 900 men, and IL is In
process reduction $4,000 directed in the act Of
Congress for the reduction Of the army passed last
session. BY virtue Of the act, 400 supernu-
merary officers leaving the by musterout for
incOmpeency, by resignation, by retirement for dis
ability, that the frst OF January military estab
shment Will consist of Is regiments OF infantry 10 Of
cavalry, and Of artillery tolerably well armed, excel
lenty differed. and commanded by able and expert
enced Generals as the world show. Probably
ton can produce equal number Of officers who have
had a. great amount OF DattleexpeT1enee as our Gen
erals and regimental commanders. Our infantry is
armed with rather clumsy breechoader, produced ~
altering Springfield muzzelOadng muskets according
70 device OF the Ordnance Bureau IL is inferior to
half dozen different breech-oaders made by private
factories in this country s not quite good as the En
eish Snyder gun but viii compare favorably with the
awkward needle-gun. It's pet Of the Chief OF Ord
nance who clings to it with remarkable pertinacy, in
spite Of the decision Of Board Of officers IN favor OF am
other arm, and the repeated recommendations OF the
General Of the army that it be abandoned. About 10000
Of these ordnance breechloaders have been made
We have Therefore efeentlitte army $4,000 strong
under the very leadership, rather IT would be ef
fcent II could be got together but 1t is scattered Tar
aud wide the whole Of vast domain. from Maine
20 Texas and from Florida to Alaska In no place can
regiment be found assembled and rarely are there more
than companies at apost The present army rs barely
sufficient take Of the Indian country and afford
seany peaeearrisOns for the principal coast forth-
cations But Of volunteers in of there would Of
course no lack and powerful army could be impro-
vised in few weeks composed in great part Of veteran
soldiers and officers, fully sufficient for the invasion
and occupation OF all the British Provinces in spite OF
all the force that could be opposed to There
would be no lack Of soldiers, but there would
be lack Of breeehloaders for the Government has but
reserve and the country has been drained during
the past four months Of every available weapon that
would hold powder and ball for the supply Of theoregn
demand while all our private armOries have been work
ing constantly European orders, TO their fullest
capacity The Government has sold since the close OF
the Rebellion $4,000 guns and Of this number, $4,000
disposed OF since the beginning OF the Franco
Prussan war and nearly the whole number have left
the country. But a small force Of volunteers could
therefore be promptly armed with breechOaders and TO
o. SO in condition to 90 to war until we make
modern enough for the large force Of volunteers
who would have 20 do the fighting.
Thus much about army Now letsus see what ships
we have with which encounter the powerful Of
Great Britain composed Of 7Is vessels Of which 40 are
immense armor-plated steamfngstes, averaging $500
each. We have not single sea-gofng iron-ciad
But there the monitors II viii be said Some linger-
ing confidence, doubtless still exists among the misn-
formed in that stupendous humbug of the the
hutth Of
naval officers. few Of these iron deathtraps yet
main in servceable condition, and could be made use
fu for harbOr defense, long as they will float but
nearly ALI the costly swindes must be considered TO be-
as Admiral Dahgen termed them, only the useless
lumber Of the war. They not worth counting as a
part of our naval forces. We have foryOdd yes
sells Of all kinds in commission, and about as many
were laid up at the various Navy Yards that could be
fitted out and made serviceable In few weeks-wooden
vessels all Of them and most Of them quite sma-useful
for cruising and capturing merchantmen OF for block
aiding purposes but Of small account az fighting ships
when pitted against such powerful hon-csds as the
Monarch which visited shores last Spring Nor have
We like Great Britain, a steam mercantile marine that
could be made available in Of There lsai reg-
lary out Of the port Of Liverpool more than hundred
large and swift passenger steamers which could be
quickly converted into powerful ships Of war; while we
have not a dozen vessels Of similar character AS far
s naval strength concerned the United States is not
even secondrate power Spain Italy, and even Turkey
would as Gen. Butler says be mainly maritime
To undertake such contest with little navy would
be absurd and suicidal II want to fight England,
therefore, we must first spend at least SOOOo00OO TO
create a navy 70 meet hers.
Its doubtful II could protect chief seaboard
cities from the attacks Of powerful armored fleets. The
forts which guard harbors in the main brick and
stone structures built upon theories which the recent
improvements ordnance have rendered obsolete They
have been constant drain upon the Treasury for the
past half century, but a simple earthwOrk, such as
single regiment could throwI in two or three days.
would be better protection against the Armstrong and
Fraser guns with which British ships armed. Nor
are the heavy guns that forts 70 be implicitly
relied upon. Most Of them have been mounted without
having been put any sufficient proof and those which
have been proved have shown such inequality Of endur-
give rise 10 the fear that the system
which they made is radically defective Some have
burst at the fourth round while others endured
deal could OF course be done IN the way Of I'M
provsnS harbor defenses with earthworks, tOrpedOes
and eOsEuetons but the people Of Boston, Hew-YOrk,
hsU~re and cities would have good reason for
~os sSake at night they knew an armored feet was
APpiV~0Nng our shores with hostile intent.
lo IesUae: have no army except small, scattered
ioive' could not be spared from s present duty
o ~ n"' ~ Sreechloadng guns tOarm new troops with;
We nav. NJ navy worth mentioning; forts cannot
' ~ -, 80 Usage Of iron-clads and heavy cannon
~ y AA more men behind them than in front.
-, .o-as - Nses the conclusion is palpabe-we are
nrnsr5fi1n y, var, and we must either spend year In
e0ncude 10 keen enormous cost OF money or wisely
00Ai'iuUo W AoeP ls peace.