The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1892-03-20
GEN. MILES ON COAST DEFENCEs.
DeIusions In Regard TO Our Ability TO De-
Iend Ourselves without Preparation.


WASHINGTON. March 1o-In an interview on
the subject OF coast defences. Gen. Nelson A.
Miles. the well-known Indian fighter. who is
now in Washington. made some interesting
and important statements He said:
1T Is a subject OF which the people know
less than Of any other great national question.
The first great desire Of the nation Is for
peace-to forget the horrors Of war-and this
desire has luled the people into feeling Of
Indifference alike unwarranted and unjusth-
able. The men who know the real condition
OF the country hesitate to tell tho exact truth
about 1t. The actual knowledge Is possessed
only by the few who have made study OF the
subject. who have had experience in warfare.
and who know how great Is the progress that
has been made In the art Of war during the
last thirty years. There Rre some decisions.
however. that seem to the military man almost
unaccountable. The first is the supposition
that there would be plenty Of time In which to
prepare for war. All history proves that many
important wars were decided in a few weeks.
some in few days. and the great majority Of
them started without any notification what
ever. In the last 100 years in less than ten
cases out OF 100 have there been any declara-
lions OF war preceding actual hostilities.
Another delusion is the one that 6O.OO0OOO
of people. with sixty billions Of wealth. could
depend upon it's ingenuity to brighten great
military or naval power away from our frontier
ingenuity Of man has been taxed for the last
thirty years In inventing new engines , OF war.
lions of their genius to England. France. Ger
many. Russia and even China. to get them
The third dclusion is that We. in the alb
sence OF land batteries. which would render
as
rate naval power. We could defend our great
cities and harbors. where the wealth Of three
ing nulks Of ships and BY, the laying Of sub
marine mines ,es and torredoes , IL these OBJ;
a nit sea hnops ana
Another delusion is in the supposition that
mere numbers constitute military and naval
Steam power. elect ricity. dynamite. and other
ins ton Of IRON len s,t or Twelve miles.
nowder and machine mi guns are the engines o.
able fort with these appliances"
Q, fhs army and navy and National
"In, proportion to our wealth and Popula-
ton the army has been reduced 'H the es
otism it will compare tayorably with any mill
sT OF in Na hf w4 TGe b.
gent and patriotic body Of men. does not stand
en- tho face Of the globe under any colors;
equipped and properly prepared. So that
@ hnes t: f &c aon .seHGb sl
truth t and educate the public mind up to S our
meet nee some serious disaster that may CHECK heck
debt that would last Tor smother generation:
greatness. Our pop9latIon may soon hs SO
fSms ,iE Indifferent to the ntesssts Of
as to the welfare q those Who inhsbis the Inc
navy ' Responsible for 100 miles Of fronti ie
occupied by 5000. 900 people. the possessors
most navy can do is 70 protect the commerce
t,itcations will some day receive from the
BE- a needed Before We have them wv A' A''''
Gan ss se enn Guar q s tho b asss
aeSpt bellows s t xiii be-" replied the General
apparent to every thinking: man. In accord
a conyention held last November there will
n fhe month q Husus The oSss
81 q this nsee ensampmSnt will % to pTT9mote
to raterna bet%een fR The
Whether Gong, sss III furnishes the necessary
transportation or not, tho troops will undoubt.
eddy se5 int m for greet
Just now tacsSse q tie Coming election. but
tho s 0 1T all the
Conclusion. There win be am pie time in which
to mako the necessary arrangementA