The Critic and record., 1891-04-04
ARTILLERY AND THE COAST.
How the United states Is Prepared for
Attack and what We Seed Addition

Attack aud what we Need Addition
ally.
FjcD, m, BJooItH Eogic
The readers Of the editorial columns Of
our daily papers are treated from time to
time with comments on the weakness ot
our scaboard Notifications which cover
our centres Of trade and wealth, and with
what delightful ease hostile ironclads
could drop anchor beyond the range of
our guns and with their long range pieces
Of ordnance demand heavy contributions
from our plcthCric vaults of treasure or
accept the other alternative of shelling
and destruction of these cities, with the
appalling loss of life and millions worth
of property destroyed attending q refusal
To-day the Government Of the United
States IS in correspondence with the Brit
ish and Italian Governments on subjects
which must be fresh in the public mind.
viz THE Bcring Sea Question and the
killing, by mob in New Orleans, of
Italian subjects. Wars between nations
have arisen on less proyocation than these
causes, but the cool heads Of the statesmen
at the helm of the countries involved will
doubtless listen to reason, and an honor
able settlement of the Misunderstanding
will bc reached. But let not a settlement,
at this time, Of these difficulties fan us
into q sleep of imaginary immunity from
danger in the future.
The future war of this country will com
bine maritime and seabOard defense. The
Navy is receiving to-day recognition of its
great needs, and will soon be habilitatcd
with coats OF steel that will defy the
deadly steel missiles of Krupp and Arm
strong. The seaboard Notifications, how.
ever, must be the principal bulwarks of
defense. We must have our turreted
forts equidpped with the heaviest of rifles
at the most exposed points of our principal
harborS, supplemented with batteries of
smaller calibreS, covering submarine
mines, and groups of mortar batteries
with their curved fire. With these
modern guns and Notifications are needed
artillerist of the highest order of intelli-
gcnce, who can by rapid calculation, lo-
cate an incoming ironClad and, when
reaching an imaginary square on the
waters surface launch upon it well laid
guns missiles of great weight and energy
requiring but one or two of these dis
charges of immense metal completely to
annihilate the foe.
But have we such personnel to-day
The answer is, Yes, in quality, but not in
quantity. Our artillery, what there is of
it, will compare favorably with that of
any other nation, but we need more of it.
A futile attempt was made at the last ses-
sion of Congress to pass an artillery bill
that would increase the Army by two
j.
was so overweighted with "riderSn by its
enemies that it died under the hammer
of the Gar" The artillery, then. must
appeal to its numerous friends in and out
of Congress Irrespective of party Cfor it
is of national Importance to give it a
reorganization based on the highest order
of efficiency and excellence, that il may
better defend the country from disgrace
full defeat in case of war.
of hug pa-
celved but very little promotion or reward
in the past for its laborous study and
scientific attainments, TO say nothing of
its great achievements in action. II is a
remarkable fact that for over thirty years
no colonel of artillery has been honored
with the commission of a general officer
when vacancy in that grade has oc-
CURED, but the prize has generally fallen
to either the cavalry or infantry. An OPP
portunity will soon offer itself to right
this wrong, as vacancy in the grade of
brigadier general will occur on the Goth of
next April, caused by the retirement from
active service, by operation of law, of
Brigadier General John Gibbon.
1t is hoped that the President will recog-
ni2e the claim of the artillery for this
| next appointment and bestow upon one of
| its worthy colonies the stellated shoulder
strap. All of them will retire, by opera
| ton of law before any of the eligible
| colonels of cavalry or infantry will, and
| with them 20 out nearly all of the veterans
| Of the last war who held high rank. Let
| the artillery, at least ask for this tardy
recognition of their past faithful services
| to the country, and thus secure not
merely an official concession of their
rights and claims but also provisional
admission of the necessity of preparing
our nation and its land military arm FOR
| the needs we have pointed ont.