The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1883-07-04
ON POKER.
With His Opinion OF Our Army That Isn't
Big Enough and the Navy We
Haven't Got.

Interview in the Fort Worth Texas
Gazette: General, what do you think
of a large standing army! Dc you think
that such an institution should be dis
outraged in this country?su
II think the army should he at least
10000 strong. 1t is all well enough to
say we have no use for an army, but if
we should need it we would need it bad
ly. The affairs of nations are almost as
uncertain as the affairs of men, and,
while to-day all may look bright, cheer
full, and with prospects of eternal peace,
a week from now we may be girding our
loins for a sanguinary contest. Thirty
thousand men will make the nucleus of
a standing army, and at least that
strength should ge m~aintained.n
"What do you think of the recent
scandals in army life?n
II regret it very much, as it will have
a very bad effect throughout the en-
tire seryice-will lessen the respect Of
men for their officers and generally
speaking, bring the army into disre-
pute.. Some good, however, may come
from the exposure and q vice of long
practice may end.'
"Was poker-playing prevalent in the
army i'll your time?"
mot to any great extent. Whist was
more of an army game in my time, and
it never had the bad effect Of poker"
"Do you believe in the existence of
that poker ring in Washington?"
II am afraid [laughing] that I must
believe it, as there is very little doubt Of
its truth. But officers Of high rank had
nothing to do with it. There were
doubtless some colonies and majors on
staff duty who are quite frequently in
the company of the highest officers at
the head Of it, and this is how the young
officers get to be fieeced. You see, the
young fellows are initiative, and if they
see the older men playing they feel that
they should do the same. Besides the
young fellows like to tell when they
return to theirs posts of the easy famil-
arity on which they are with Gen. this
and Col. that
"Do you think army poker playing is
confined to Washington alone?o
ooh, no; but Washington has certain
ly spread thessdisease. Every military
post in the United States, with few ex-
ceptions, has two poker games running
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 Of
ficers and four or five Of the men cap
ture all the money that the paymaster
leaves behind"
"The custom of selling duplicated pay
checks was unknown in the old army,
I presumed
Eyes, sir; [ have never heard of a case
Of that character. The officer that
would do it would be driven out of the
army without the formality of a court
martial under the old regime"
General, what do you think of the
"What navy?n
"Why, the United States navy
"Bless your sonl, we have not got any.
tinction of being unable either TO fight
or rum
do you think we should have a
navy?"
Undoubtedly; and, unlike the army,
it should be O large me-. The extent OF
our coast line makes q navy an absolute
necessity, and the people will learn so
If we ever become engaged in war;
"What kind Of armament would you
recommend-heayy iron yessels?D
"That / hardly know enough about to
give an intelligent opinion. If the tor
pedo is ever perfected to such an extent
that they cang guide, steer md guageit
with accuracy, It would not surprise me
if it reyolutionized naval warfare. The
great nations of Europe are experiment.
ing all the time, and [ think will event
TALLY succeed in making a perfect torpe-
do. In the meantime they are not neg
lecting their ships, but are continually
increasing and improving them.
-rs-x~