New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-01-26
GEN. HOWARD TALKS ON WAR
HE HOPES THAT II WILL BE AVOIDED.
,ovp THINGS THAT NIGHT HAPPEN. HOWEVER.

s affair would result I'm declaration OF war, ana That
Chill would force the United States 10 invade That
country. on saturday every omccr ana man on the
land laughed at the idea OF war; but on sunday and
,.rdav The outlook was different, they said. Gen
90, q O. Howard the commanding ofhcer there, who
!, always conservative in his views, admitted that
conflict might result between Chill and this Nation but
~ also said that he of the opinion that the Chans
uoud use good judgment and apologize without Gre
.Ing any trouble. on the other hand, he said that
~sn might feel that she the injured nation and
herself declare war.
General Howard was found at his headquarters on
aha island and freely discussed the Gillian situation
and spoke of the weakness Of the coast defcnces Of the
,.ri,ed states. lie was guarded in some Of the
oints discussed about the relations of this country
nth Chill and the probable result. but he intimatcd
T., what he said that he would not be surprised il
war between the two nations did take place in the
near future.
ALWAYS A POSSIBILITY OF CONFLICT.
ayes there is a possibility Of war with Chill" said
the General Just at present the United States is at
rsace and has been at peace far as other nations
are concerned for over IA quarter Of century, and
nublc men pray, promise and hope that there may
never be between the United States and any other
government. STILL peace does not rest upon the
will OF party one nation alone, and there is al
WAYS possibility of conflict according 10 international
law till such matters indicated in the ultimatum
shall have thorough settlement
"Our MOBILES spirited representatives. far and near in
the state Department, are laborng with wisdom and
torbearance TO clear up all the differences and to ar
range amicaby all disputes and to bring the two ma
tons together, as they should be, into perpetual
sympathy and union in everything which works for
their mutual advantage. Notwithstanding the strained
relations that exist between Chill and the United
states our representatives will doubt be successful
in settling the matter without going TO war.
And yet, in this case, beyond waiting, be
sOnd concession. beyond attempts at cancellation
or arbitration there IS, under the present law OF ma
tons but one ultimate appeal for final disposition OF
this imbrOgio.
suppose for example, that Chill, insane as such
contest may seem, should hold out against every
reasonable argument every noble statesman Ike enorl
and declare that she had been improperly treated ana
suppose that she should commit such acts toward the
few Americans within her borders as In the case OF
otter nations have preGpitated If Chill shAlld
uphold all possible outIageS, perhaps few Americans
would say suffer it, suffer any wrong any dlShohof
yes any massacre however extensive, rather tah 30
{, war; That would not however. be the voice OF the
vast multitude OF American citizens or the acnon u
our Government officials. War will be declared and
entered upon II those conditions present Themselves
and Chill herself will, doubtless, not only do the
acts OF war officially make the public declaration
of war. Although such thing as war with Chill may
occur. do not think that it will really come
soML THINGS WHICH CHILL MIGHT DO
"lf war is declared with Chill what would that
First She would discontinue intercourse, political
and commercial. She might oonfscate the property OF
all United states citizens within her boundaries she
might mprison sailors catch up all vessels within the
limits Of her jurisdiction and confscate thec cargos'
She might send forth her naval force and run down and
seize American vessels on the high seas she could
aggravate this work by issuing letters of marquee and
authorize fast TO help themselves 10 merchant
ships which are owned and sailed by United States firms
The officials of Chill could Keep up this sort OF warfare
for some time carefully avoiding any direct battle with
naval squadrons, their success depending more upon
he neetness of their and ships than upon their
ability TO succeed in direct naval engagements
WHAT SMALL NAVY COULD ACCOMPLISH.
ave can conceive that a small navy on the Pacific
Coast could make large disturbance. 1t could run
into small like that of san Diego take possession
and hold ON to the city and the water standing on the
defensive and il could orify and garrison the coast
city thus seized make the effort and 1t might even
attempt several anchoisges OF the coast say near san
francisco, for it's ironciaas ana 80 put 'e CITY ANU
Oakland under cOut button.
a country situated on the coast should have three
lines OF defence when receiving AL attack ron the sea
Hr.L the navy itself; second, forts. torpedoes and
hsrbc defence vessels fixed and movable, and nirr
lien Tie third army proper, with base In the
interior. In our case We are partially supplied WIN
enoucl To- protect our vast commerce. Therefore 1t
alone could be considered as an absolute chech 10
lne we have good guns of old pattern mounted
vi principal harbOrs, a. at san FRANCISCO anu ar on
placed In position TO shut out an enemy ana close 'ie
openings 10 the hsrboI- They ~oua lhst nov ea "
ND not by eiectrcIty Again W, have for sudden
use all the tugs, small yachts and larbor bouts, @nnA
giving each long ,par in front and dynamite
could be used % protect ne ef GT % .n mig
II Keep out enemy from sSin Pego san fid'''9'''
II Columbia River and Puget Sound
II ONLY 10000 REGULARS AVAILABLE
II Al the present time probably not more than 10000
Il toops Of our Regular Army would Ire avAiaDN' Up
others being required at the posts they now occupy 10
protect the people from local troubles or foreign at;acs
but the states would le speedily called upon By the
President 20 furnish such number Of men a. wouu
give Us a largo army than our opponents have EveH
and a large aud weIorganlzed army would soon bs
esdy There would be from few Hta,es vel u.ineN
militia. but they would he unaocusiOHed 10 cAihPa's
AT first wOIld have TO suffer great TO- o.
soss limits as possible If Chil-were war declared
assume the aggressive a. Wen a, 'e e sttacEed
merely because IL Is the souhemmo~t harbor , on
california and is almost entirely dgfencees'' sN anE
Attack on tie Pacific Coast such harbor as that
n BE- %sed S% inc ier a gens d more valuable
Of San Francisco, If the first attack were not
aimed directly ut that city.
CHILL NOT ~ GOOD FIGHTING TRIM.
But, while our coast is not well projected CMhs
condition is equally bad, il not worse Chill IS IN no
condition To fight, being exhausted now, and, IL sic
we're deprived OF her principal coaing station on uic
stats Of Magellan she could not do much TO prevent
United States troops from taking possession OF lhe
j country, not hesitate to say that IL wOuld Dc
great shame for big nation like the | nied state, 10
i se'0 war with a little country Ike Chn but tie Id"
0 nations must be obeyed aud our Government must
m%ed lis citizens, matter what their color or con
oton may BE-.
Is Of course wise for all our people the people
m..hmseNes being the sovereign 10 have some hoto
WIN regard TO their preparedness for action IN case VI
| nccssW. And We ought ALWAYS to be ready, As'
ey proper effort for peace snail have been c1
" fope aggression, rady u make short WORK. WIN
inexpensive possible Of life and oil money III ''e
| Nsuons defence ~
In foreiga countries citizens run TO the Bllsn
| otsuls for protection and they get IL. VIII
ay English speaking person In foreign counnE
~anls MS rights he goes 10 the British consul anu
20 not see why such confidence should not be iet
,0ssm this Nation President Harrison and secretary