Daily tobacco leaf-chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1890-1895, 1891-01-22

Subject.
WASHINGTON, Jan 29.-The citizens
of all the states bordering the great
lakes, and especially those of the lake
cities, are deeply interested in a bill of
Gen. Cutcheon's which he has just re-
ported from the military committee of
the house.
Provisions of the Bill.
1t provides for a military post for
cavalry and artillery at Swanton juno
ton on the Vermont border, near the
eastern shore of Lake Champlain. This,
in connection with the bill recently re-
ported for enlarging the military post at
| Plattsburg, on the west shore Of Lake
Champlain, will furnish the means for
such prompt and effective advance on
| the Canadian canals in case of war with
England as would prevent her gunboats
from passing into the lakes This is the
vital question in defending the lake
cities, 1t needs little comment to en-
force its Importance ON every intelligent
mind
Gen. CutCheon's Views.
Gen Cutcheon says of this matter in
his report:
"Swanton Junction is railroad cen
ter near the northeastern extremity of
Lake Champlain, and within few
miles Of the Canadian frontier. Rail
road lines radiate from this point TO all
the eastern states, and in case of neces-
| sity large body of troops could be con-
cenhated from all New England and
New York i'll a very short space of time.
''ln case of the unfortunate occurrence
of hostilities between this country and
! Great Britain one of the first objects to
which the military officers would be
compelled to direct their attention would
be the defense of the northern frontier,
and the exclusion of the enemys gun
boats from the northern lakes
while our opponents would have
great advantages on the water, our
| principal superiority would consist in the
greater rapidity with which we could
| concentrate our forces upon the land.
The otfensive-defensive policy which
the situation would require that our
military authorities should pursue would
necessitate the rapid concentration of
troops not far from the foot of Lake
! Champlain, and rapid advance, with
! the view of excluding the naval forces
of our opponents from the great lakes.
with n view to such concentration
and advance permanent force should
! be maintained, as a nucleus, at point
near the National boundary on the line
connecting Albany and Montreal with
express reference to such contingency
while 1t is to be hoped that occasion
would never arise for the actual employ
ment of such force, yet the same fore.
| sight and precautiOn which led us to ex-
! pend annually many millions upon the
building of a navy would indicate that
we should not refuse a few hundred
| thousand dollars to insure the protec-
tion Of our great northern frontier.
THE chief city of the Dominion of
Canada lies but few miles TO the
northward and all history and expert
ence teach us that in the event of war
the inevitable clash of arms will occur
somewhere around Lake Champlain.
"The committee believes that the
proposed military post is in strict ac-
cord with o1r true military policy, and
our inevitable necessities in case Of
war
General Schoiield on the BnI.
Gen, Schoield thus gave his views ON
the bill to Secretary Proctor;
However slight may seem the prob
ability of any future rupture of friendly
relations between the United States and
Great Britain, the enormous naval
power Of the latter makes it necessary to
take that country into account in the
preparations made by the United States
for defense against possible foreign ag-
gression.
"rhe problem of defense of the sea
coasts is comparatively simple, while
that of the northern frontier is more
| complicated. A passive defense of the
,,n,.4har,, 1ipn la, ba o,J 20 Fo.,AsGanAsz..u
would be impracticable, for the reason
that such defenses would not close the
water ways lying wholly within the
Dominion of Canada, by which British
gunboats could enter the northern lakes.
But even if such passive defense were
practicable, il is presumed that the po-
litiCal policy of the United States would
be wholly inconsistent with such o mill
tary policy in the event of war between
the United States and Great Britain.
That political policy would, it is pre-
sumed, demand prompt and energetic
| operations of an army in the field. The
purely military policy would fortunately
De entirely in accord with such political
| policy, for by that means the greatly
superior power of the United States in
its ability to bring into the field an army
of any requisite strength could be made
to more than counterbalance the i'm
mense naval power of Great Britain.
"As preparation for thQ.execution of
this harmonious political and military
policy, in the event of any future neces-
sity, it is necessary to maintain, at
proper points on the northern frontier.
the nuclei of troops Of all arms--in-
fantry, cavalry and artillery--where the
forces from the adjoining states might
Immediately unite to take the initiative
in such military movements as might be
! requisite to prevent the enemy from
using his waterways to move gunboats
into the lakes.
with this end in view a cavalry sta
stion suitably located near the northern
/ border of New England is requisite. An
infantry and light artillery garrison at
! Plattshurgh and another at Madison bar
racks are other essential features of this
| plan.
1T is not practicable for the states to
maintain, AS part Of their National
/ guard, any considerable effective force
of cavalry on light artillery II is, there
! fore, necessary for the United States to
/ maintain at important strategic points
such regular forces, especially light artil-
| lery and cavalry, as may be necessary IN
any emergency 10 act with the states
| forces constituting the main body OF an
/ army suddenly called into the field.
"For these reasons ! have the honor to
recommend the bill above referred 10
your most favorable consideration.
!
Charles Bradlaugh is thought to be dy-