The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-08-12

fourteen guns; cguisinR in the Pacific. The
Omaha, twelve guns; Asiatic waters. The Van-
dalia. eight guns, here. and the Shenandoah,
nine guns, IN the Pacific Then there are the
Following third-rate cruisers, which ars ready
Juniata, Ossipee, Cluinnebaug, Swafar.s, 0aIena,
Marion and Mohican. All Of these ire eight.
gun cruisers, 1000 tons displacement The Tro-
quois and the Kearsarge are also ready; they
have seven guns each. Then there are the
Adams, Alliance, Essex, Entsrprise and Nipsic
with six guns each. and the Ranger and
Yantic, with four guns In addition to
these the following sixteen ironclads could be
got ready IN three weeks Some of them are
ready now: Ajax, Canonicus. Comanche, Cats
kill, Jason, Lehigh, Mahopac, Manhattan. Mon.
tauk, Nahout Nantucket, Passaie, Saugus and
Wyandotte Each of them has two guns and
they are all laidup for repairs, either here or at
League Island. City Point, or some of the other
navy-yards Five four-gun, double-turreted
monitors are now being built. and If war were
declared they could be ready In no time. They
are the Amphitrite, Monanock. Miantomah, Pu-
ritan and Terror"
$40 you expect 9 declaration of war from
"CandidIy, don't. got all stirred up mo.
ment ago, and felt that it had really begun; but
now, looking IL over In sober earnest, Lam forced
to admit that there is just about as much chance
of Mexico fighting as as there is of Newell,
flying out the window And the commodore
gazed across the level sward TO the spot where
some young ladies' were playing tennis, screened
General Schofeld, who fills Hancock's old
place as commander at Governors Island and
chief of the Army of the Atlantic, smiled appre-
catively when asked about the chances of the
Mexcans wiping out the country.
sRubbishn he CALCULATED. "Our standing
army is limited by the Constitution to $4,000,
but to-day we have Is, 600 soldiers within twenty~x
four hours travel of the Mexican frontier. The
Mexican troops are undiseiplined, and their
numerical strength is Insignificant"
Chow are they armedV
'Indiffsrentiy well. Possibly those near the
border may have repeating rifles"
"Would that give them an advantage over our
menqy
Il think not We made fair trial of maga-
zine guns when was in command at Chicago
My experience and observation teaches me that
for raw, poorly disciplined troops they are q
positive detriment; for wen disciplined superior
troops only a small advantage but for steady,
good, ordinary soldiers a decided advantage.
Now, doubt it the Mexicans come within this
latter category. The reason for this seeming
anomaly is plain to every military man.
sharpshoorer can handle cartridges nearly as
quickly az magazine gun can push them into
place; while, q raw man would make greater
mess Of magazine gun than he would Of load
ing singie-shot breechloader."
What do you believe would be the result OF
war between the nationsW
LET them tackle Us and find out" replied the
General grimly.
When General Grant made his tour of Mexico,
HVe years ago. No WAS accompaniment W C6hStdk
Sheridan. In conversation with army officers
and other gentlemen, after their return, both
generals expressed surprise at the efficiency Of
the Mexican army. They made full notes of
everything they saw, including the Topography
Of the country the roads, situation of towns
and Notifications The Mexican government
treated the visitors with every mark OF respect.
and wherever soldiers were stationed reyisws
were held In the City of Mexico the military
display was q most imposing one, and was the
subject Of frequent references by General
Grant and General Sheridan.
The latter was heard to say one day that it
would take 400, 000 OF our troops to march to the
City of Mexico. The efficiency of the Mexican
army, he said was admirable, but they lacked
officers With officers of equal ability, General
Sheridan thought that the Mexican troops would
prove as formidable an enemy as the United
States could encounter. After the last revolu-
ton, which ended In the overthrow of Lerdos
General Diaz Immediately began system Of
rigid army discipline, which has resulted 10
bringing Mexican regulars UP to q remarkably
fine standing. In commenting upon this subject
prominent officer, we'll acquainted with Mexi-
can military affairs, said that the troops Of the
sister republic are harder and can stand much
more fatigue than ours As an illustration OK
this he cited the march made by Diaz In 1877,
when he took 1000 troops seventy four miles In
one. day. These soldiers were infantry. Mexi-
can soldiers are said to be as tough as their
mustangs aud capable of more endurace.s