Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-01-19
On the Probabilities and Possibilities
of a War With Chile.
HE DOESN'T EXPECT TROUBLE,
But Admits That 1t May Be on the Way,
and Says 1t Would Cost
MANY LIVES AND MILLIONS OF MONEY

reporter, this afternoon. He was appar-
emily more alarmed about the fog
than the war cloud which is
lowering over u.s. He did not want
the weather to get so thick that it would
prevent his coming over to New York in
the evening to deliver his lecture on Cen
eral Sherman in the Scotch Church.
When asked what the prospects were for
then replied: 81 don't believe that a war
with Chile is at all probable. But
still it is within the realm of
possibility. A war with England,
or Russia, or Spain, or Italy, or some of
the ambitious little governments in the
northern part of South America, is not
likely to occur, but, nevertheless, it is pos
sible."
Blaine Laboring With Forbearance.
General Howard said that the insurgents
o. Chile had been very much exercised over
the Itata incident, and bv our slow recogni-
tion of what appeared to them to be their
rights. The State Department is laboring
with wisdom and forbearance, he
said, to settle amicably all differ
ences between this country and Chile, and
he thought the Departments work
would be successful. But there is only one
ultimate appeal for the final disposition of
dispute like this, if all attempts at arbi-
tration should fail.
'If Chile should hold out against every
reasonable argument" he continued, "snd
declare that she had been improperly
treated; if she should perpetrate such acts
against us as other nations have perpetrated
at the beginning of war, then war would be
declared and entered upon
General Howard believes that the first
thing Chile would do would be to ally her.
self with some powerful nation.
Three Means of Defense.
'tNow, to meet aggression from abroad"
General Howard said, ga country situ-
ated on the. sea should have
three lines of defense. First, the
navy ITSELF second, forts, torpedoes,
and harbor defense vessels, and third, the
army proper. In our case we are partially
supplied with navy, we have some good
guns of old pattern mounted at the principal
harbors, and a number of submarine
mines that could be utilized to shut
out an enemy. Then we have all
the tugs, yachts and harbor boats which,
fitted up with long spar in front and some
dynamite, could be used to protect the en-
trance to the harbor. With these means we
might be able to keep an enemy out of our
Pacific coast harbors.
"But assuming that these should not be
enough, should an attack fail, and further,
that one harbor, San Diego, for instance
should come into full possession of the
enemy, then field army would have to be
equipped and organized in,order to regain
that harbor.
The Possible Course of Attack.
''The ultimate direction in which hostile
force would act from San Diego would be
up the coast toward San Francisco, proba-
bly, attacking San Francisco at the same
time from the sea- In such a contingency
the United States would concentrate its
troops as rapidly as possible as
near the front of the enemv's
action as would be safe. and
make a rapid movement toward Los
Angeles. Probably, however, that place
would fall into the hands of an enemy be-
fore we could gather there sufficient num-
Der of troops to act against an invading
army. Then we might concentrate on the
line of the Southern Pacific Railroad, south
of San Francisco and the Sacramento valley.
eve have available, probably. not more
than 10000 troops of our present regular
army for such campaign. The remainder
of the troops would be needed where
they are now stationed to guard the
people from local troubles or for
eign attacks. Consequently, the States
would be called upon to furnish men to
meet the foe. A few States would send us
well-drilled militia, but they would be un-
accustomed to field service and campaign
ing. Nearly all the States, however, could
furnish us nothing better than raw recruits.
As result, we would suffer the greatest
loss of life at first.
Uncle Sans Chief Plan of Defense.
"Our plan would be to confine the enemy
within as close limits as possible, until, by
equipping and drilling our green forces, we
should be strong enough to make an aggres-
sive fight. While we might be
defeated in one or more engagements,
eventually we would certainly
drive any hostile force that could probably |
be landed on our shores The attempt, |
however, would necessarily cost us many |
lives and millions of dollars in money, be- |
cause of our unprepared condition.
"We have made great strides in the last |
hve or ten years toward this preparation, |
so far as our navy is concerned. We are |
also making fair progress so far as forts, |
torpedoes and harbor defense vessels are |
concerned We have superb sets of breach |
loading mortars that cover a wide field of |
approaches far out; we have splendid |
preach-loadlng cannon of the largest range /
ana greatest penetrating power; we have
nN SURE lOrpeuO DOaIs, we /
have formidable floating batteries, |
and ave have seacoast guns which |
spring up like magic, do their work, and |
then run to instant safety. But our nova
bic army is in ust the same condition as to
numbers as it was2O yeras ago.
New beginning Necessary.
The large number of trained soldiers who
came out OF the War of the Rebellion have
passed away or are too old to take part in
any future military operations. So we must
beginning, and prepare an army and then
mobilize it. %
General H. L. Abbot, President of the
Engineers corps, was found in his Office,
sitting before great map of North
America and playing upon a typewriter.
He was preparing report which
he was to take to Washington
IN the afternoon, and had time only to say:
eve can lick Chile, or any other country.
without any trouble"