The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1889-11-21
OUR DEFENSE.

There is but one nation from whom we
need expect trouble. Surprising a war
was forced upon us by Great Britain,
there being no other way apparent to
settle some tough complications that
might arise, how are we prepared for
such an event? If England should de-
clare war against us, within thirty days
after notice had been served upon US,
she could send three army corps across
our Northern border of 30, 900 men each
and it may be even a lager force, and
what have we to meet such forcep 1t
is not probable that anything OF this
kind will happen, as in these days arbi'
tration instead of war is coming into
style. But supposiDg arbitration fails,
what then? Navies could lay waste our
seaboard cities and land forces could
move over the country aud lay vast re-
gions and inland cities in ruins. We
have not much to oppose to an invading
force. Our forts would stand only q
feeble racket, our ships of war, in num-
Der and condition, are not the admira-
ton of the world, our army consists Of
80 900 men, on the border and near some
of our large cities, and our national
guards number about 1861 men. or
ganized under the laws of the various
States, partly for pastime and partly for
State defence, and to meet emergencies
that may arise in the enforcement OF
local regulations. We have no good
artillery or cavalary, such as would be
needed IN case of war. Our national
guards are a feeble defence against
trained troops. Patriotism will go some
way in defending country, but skill is
needed. We have 13, 100000 men from
whom to select our national defenders,
We ought to have $50, 900 men, who, on
short notice, could take up arms and
have a sufficient understanding of their
use to be able to shoot at foe and not o
friend. We do not mean that we shou d
have a standing army of that number OF
men, but our national guards should be
increased to that number and made
more efficient. At present, it is prob
able that not more than one-half Of the
men forming these guards are in condi'
ton to be called out of the States in
which they are enrolled. Some are moi
of the proper military age, others have
physical disabilities that would rule
them out. Some never contemplated
anything more than local service. These
various State organizations are little
more than nuclei around which to gather
a force of raw recruits In the face OF
regular army they would oppose a
feeble barrier, As already remarked,
this force should be increased. And
then more time should lie give n to mill
tary drill. or course there should be
some patriotism to help the thing along
but the $500, 900 which the General Gov
erment now appropriates for this object
should be increased to $2,000,000. Let
some of the surplus be applied to for
ward uses, not all 10 backward uses
Our business now is to look out for the
future. But we ought TO have enough
men enrolled in thisState to form brig
ade. Then they should be company
drills, and muster of regiments, and the
entire brigade should go into camp two
weeks in every year, and be drilled, and
subjected to the Inconvenience and
hsrdships of real war, so far as this car
be done without the. war. A force Of
carpet knights would offer feeble de-
| fence in any emergency. A part of this
time should he paid for by the nation
another part by the State, and some
should be contributed by the individual
| do pdtG VI thC CO"Oo " hio SOuh
try. This national guard should be madt
large enough in every state to permit ar
efficient defence to be drawn from the
aggregate when the necessity arises. II
addition to this the State ought to have
battery of heavy artillery, and at least
troop, if not regiment of cavalry
This branch of the service is not so easily
maintained as a volunteer force, anG
yet no obstacles stand in the way thai
cannot be overcome. There are plenty
of young men. We have horses II
abundance. Time is frittered away in
mere nothings that might be made pleas
ant in squad drills and company meets
as we'll as useful in case of danger We
have only space to hint concerning these
matters, We do not want large stand
ing army, but we need a citizen soldiery
with enough understanding of military
tactics to fall into line of battle and dc
good service when the crisis come if il
comes, -Northield NelUS,