The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-06-18
MCCLELLAN ON POKER.
Our Army That Isn't Big Enough and the
Navy We Haven't Got
Interview in Fort Worth (Texas) Gazette.


Navy We Haven't Got.
Interview in Fort Worth (Texas) Gazette.
General, what do you think of large
standing army? Do you think that such an
institution should be discouraged in this
countryP'
Il think the army should be at least 80, 900
strong. It's well enough to say that we have
no use for an army, but if we should need it,
we would need it badly The affairs of ma
tions are almost as uncertain as the affairs of
men, and, while to-day all might look bright,
cheerful and with prospects OF eternal peace,
week from now We may be girding our
loins for sanguinary contest. Thirty thou
sand men will make the nucleus of standing
army, and at least that strength should be
maintained"
what do you think of the recent scandals
in army life?"
II regret st very much, as 1t will have a
very bad effect throughout the entire service
will lessen the respect of men for their Of
ticers, and, generally speaking, bring the
army into disrepute, Some good, however
may come from exposure and a vice OF long
practice may end"
"Was poker playing prevalent in the army
i'll your timer
'Not to any great extent. Whist was more
of an army game in my time,. and it never
had the bad effect of poker" d.
DO you believe in the existence of that
poker ring at Washington ... ,....5.. ..
II am afraid [laughingl that l must believe
It, as there is very little doubt of its truth
But officers of high rank had nothing to do
with it. Phere were doubtless some colo
nels and majors on staff duty who are quite
frequently in the company of the highest Of
ticers atthe head of it, and this is how the
young officers get to be fleeced. You see, the
young fellows are initiative, and if they see
older men playing they feel as if they should
do the same Besides, the young fellows
like to tell when they return. to their posts
of the easy familiarity on which they are
with General this and Colonel that"
!, DO you think army poker-plaYing is con-
fined to Washington aloneP' ...
oh, no. but Washington has certainly
spread the disease. Every military post in
the United states, with few exceptions, has
two poker games running all the time, the
higher and the lower, as they are called
One is participated in by the officers and the
men patronize the other The result is that
one or two of the officers and four or five OF
the men capture all the money that the pay
master leaves behind" r''.
THE custom of selling duplicated pay
checks was unknown in the old army, 1 pre-
sume?'
Yes sir; / never heard of case of that
character The officer that would do it
would be driven out of the army without
the formality of court-martial under the
old regime"
General what do you think of the navy?'
"What navy?
''Why the United States navy"
"Bless your soul, we have not got any,
Our so-called navy has the unique dstinc-
ton of being unable either to fight or run"
do you think we should have navyP'
"Undoubtedly, sir; and, unlike the army
it should be large one The extent of our
coast-line makes a navy an absolute necess-
ty, and the people will learn so if we ever
become engaged in war"
what kind of armament would you re-
commend-heavy iron vessels?'
THAT hardly know enough about to give
an intelligent opinion. If the torpedo is
ever perfected to such an extent that they
can guide, steer, and gauge it with accuracy,
it would not surprise me if it revolutionized
naval warfare The great nations of Europe
are experimenting all the time, and I think
will eventually succeed in making perfect
torpedo. In the.meantime they are not neg
lecting their ships, but are continually in
creasing and improving them"