Grand Rapids herald. [volume] (Grand Rapids, Mich.) 1892-1959, 1892-01-10

ARMY is-tscH STEAL EirI.E-
which Is possible on account of the size
OF our country, would make it certain
that We eventually would drive any
hostile force taas could probably be
landed On our shores Our anprcpssvd
eoudatiea. however. is so great tia, IL
mus. cost many prco4onS lives and mil
lions o. dollars in money that could be
saved X we had, as we hops to soon
have. the requisite preparation
Surely we have made great strikes in
the last FIVE or ten years toward this
preparation SO far "a our first line, tho
navy. is concerned; aad also are max
ing fair progress in the second linc; for
example. in the superb sets Of breach
loading mort~rs that cover a wide field
OF approach and far out: the splendid
hreach-loading cannon 81 largest range
and greatest penetrating power; in the
swift and sure torpedo boets; the fer
midabie floating batteries; and scaeoast
guns which spring up like magic, DO
their work and then run To instant
safety.
Tho dnal means OF defense of our
country, the movable military arrny
Is Ia Just the same condition es to NUN
hers as 1t was twenty years ago; and
the large number Of trained soldiers
that capae out of the war Of the rebel
lion, who were then available, have
passed away or are too old and infirm
to takc part in any future military
operations; so that we muft begin,
should war come, at the threshold and
60 very slowly in order to prepare an
effective army and mobilize il.
assumed San Diego point TO be at
tackled merely because it is the southern
most harbor Of California, and IS al
most entirely defcnseless, giving in
gress to quite rich country. Howevcr,
any attack on the Pacific coast would
probably only uss such Il harbor as that
for . coaling station from which to send
. force upon the larger and more valua-
bic harbor Of San Francisco; even il the
first attack was not aimed directly at
that city.
Should the attack come on the Puget
sound or the Columbia river the condi-
tons would be the same; except that, in
many respects. this would DO moro
favorable to the asssilant than an Mt
tack upon either of tho other two
,peints, there being such o quantity Of
food and Of transports by horses always
70 be found In the northwest
A hostile army over.unning Washing
ton and Oregon would be very hard to
defeat, on account Of the protection Of
the mountainous country surrounding
these states. There are great distances
across arid plains for us who would
hasten succor to compass; and the fact
that within themselves they have al
most no organized military power that
could keep any considerable force from
taking possession is n strong argument
TO hasten every reasonable provision
against such possibilities as any
thoughtful man cannot help contem-
plating.
The few candid suggestions that have
just been made in answer to your last
question are such as think every man,
every citizen mean, should consider.
and such as should be canvassed before
tho public. and therefore before the M.
tons of the world.
Ii one should say that We arc thus
letting our enemies see our condition,
or helping them to methods, the answer
Is very direct and simple. Tacy, our
enemies. already know more than we
dream: they have sketches of our forts
and Of our hurbors: and they know
within reasonable lirits about how
-
soon we could be made ready for serv-
ice. They are watching our growing
navy, and they understand that, though
we are peace-loving people, we are
indomitablc in war.
Certainly we should not confnc our
selves 20 simple defensive attitude.
because. IN case OF an ousbresls, there
will be blows 20 give IS we'll as blows
TO take. Any small nation would find
its own commerce soon destroyed. its
own seaooa-d blockaded. its own hsr-
boYs seized and fortified, and. doubtless
before long. column like tkat Of Gen.
Taylor OF Of Gen. Scott, in the Mexican
war, walking step by step from city to
city. from siege to siege, from battle to
battle, till IL set down a. the capital.
complete master Of the said small na-
ton.
Still IL Is the earnes. purpose OF ev-
cry good citizen. and certainly OF every
patriotic soldier. TO prevent war by
having such . preparation in all our
three lines OF defense that there will bs
no temptation 10 the folly. the fapati-
eism. the pride or the ambition Of any
GREEDY peopls on the globe to attack
our cities or 90 overrun our domain
o. O. Howard.
Major General u. S. Army.