Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-02-03

What Gen. McNulta of Chicago Has to Say
About the situation.

What Gen. McNuita of Chicago Has to Say
About the situation.
Gen. John McNulta of Illinois, who served
through the entire war. coming out as a briga-
der general, and who was in the twelfth army
corps (Grant's), in interview with a STAR
reporter this morning concerning our defense
less condition. said:
II noticed with great interest the views OF a
naval oficer in Wednesdays STAR. As an old
army officer 1 will say that they were under
drawn If anything. and were q graphic descrip-
t;oa of serious condition that is conspicuously
apparent.
Tine officers of the army and nary have for
years made Intellectual efforts to arouse the
people. who appear to have fallen into
lethargic srupor on this question. to realiza-
ton of the danger that confronts US. Gen.
Sherman best described the situation when
asked. at the time of the bombardment of
Alexandria. what he would do if he had an army
in Fortress Monroe-our greatest stronghold
and it was attacked by an English feet. He
promptly replied, I'd get that army out of
there, sir, and get il out in hurry
'Some of our army and naval officers with
more physical than moral courage in the de-
Tense of our seapOrts. If attacked. would sacri-
fee in a hopeless contest their commands and
their ships merely to demonstrate that our de-
Tenders would eheeriuily die for their coun-
try.
fed camps and naval stations, and Hawaii is
needed to complete the chain. Our seacoast
cities on the Atlantic, the gulf. the great lakes
and the Pacific wholly at her mercy. She
can destroy. them al-and would-within q
month, and most of them within week. after a
declaration of war. have given particular at
tention to the situation tne lakes and Cana
dian frontier. We wouldn't march into Canada,
one so frequently hears, for we haven't any
thing to march. Canada. as it were, would march
into us. In three hours-not days-every
crossing OF the Niagara frontier would be barri-
caded and amply protected. We hear good deal
about Americans blowing up the Welland canal.
In twelve hours there would be 90 900 armed
men there and in twenty-four hours so. 900
more, and the Welland canal, the route of the
English gunboats to the lakes and their rich, de-
fenselcss cities and the Canadian Pacific railroad
the military roads Of England in America,
would be amply protected. Conditions have
changed in this generation. This is an age of
steam, electricity and guns. with explosive pro-
jectiles with an effective range of from nine to
fourteen miles.
1.-The much talked-of torpedo Defense except
as auxiliary force. is delusion that has
ensuared great many superficial thinking peo-
pie into a magnificent belief of their USE
fitness.
I'm war speed is strength In a single voy-
age, in less than month, with the ships on her
admiralty list and her available merchant
steamers-not including horses which she has
il her proyirces-England can transport to
Bermuda. Halifax. Montreal and Esquirna,ilt
500. 900 armed and trained soldiers, with their
field artillery, camp and garrison equipage
ready for immediate service upon landing. and
reship them in fleets carrying from 80 to
100000 men ready for action and occupy the
ground on our territory captured and covered
by the guns of her navy. She would lombard
our cities, land her troops from her transports
under the protection of her great long range
guns. and thus would we be invaded"
That a war would ultimately end in favor of
our government may perhaps be said to be GER
tain. But it is more certain that the first wear
Of its prosecution would cause greater expendi-
tUre of money. greater loss of property and
probably greater per cent of loss OF life than
was sustained by the north and the south dur
ing the rebellion. the loss being largely in the
destruction of our great seaboard cities and our
commerce. Our defenseless navy wards and
| ship yards would be among the very first points
of attack and destruction.
NOW As to the remedy. We should stand on
our rights and protec. them. Annex the islands
and if England wishes TO take them by force To-.
her do 1t will cost US few ships and men
and much humiliation. But il would arouse
our people as nothing else. Wipe on. the OBJ
structionists who menace the entire country by
their nail-paring economy and in few years
we will have coast defenses and navy. Then
the beat of an English drum will no longer be
heard upon the American continent or the
islands adjacent thereto. If the present policy
OF the government is against it let it be changed.
Ii England succeeds il intimidating US this
time she will continue to do SO until we are
forced to fight her. Firmness and the mani
festation of purpose to stand by our rights is
the most likely way to preserve the peace.
American interests demand this attitude and
vacillation or delay will but intensity the situa-
ton and magnify the difficulties.
English statesmen understand that to be
captured England need not be invaded; that
the destruction of her navy is the end of
the life of their nation; and they will go slow
in making the construction by our government
of a navy greater than theirs a necessity. They
can terribly hurt, but cannot destroy us; with
a superior navy can destroy England. BY
crippling her navy, destroying her commerce
and blockading her ports her people would soon
be starved into surrender