New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-12-21
IFTHERE SHOULD BE TROUBLE
AN ARTILLERY OFFICER TELLS WHAT
SHOULD THEN BE DONE
NEED OF PROTECTION FOR NEw-YoRK-sUGGEs-
TIoNs AS TO THE FoRTIFICATIoNs OF
NEw-yOPx

lery officer Yesterday musinely Wei, I'll tell you.
Ii is my Judgment that the regular Army force
should be divided ana put ct two points, one-thrd
at san Francisco and two-thrds at New-York 1t
should be recognized at once by the authorities tna
here is the metropolis OF the country that should De
protected at every hazard. What would be the
force in separating the Army In detachea regi-
men;s, two or three here, one al the Dela"are
River another at Charleston and two or three more
at Boston? Nothing effective could be accomplished
in that way Ii would be simply a case then or
every other city caring for its own interests TIL 'he
Government could pu. itself together Chicago Tor
instance. could not be expected to depiete her re-
sources to defend NewYork and the same can De
said of Buffalo and OF New-Orleans. Let the enemy
take Boston for a time II they wanted H. wed get
it back with interest in time. We would do that
II it took fifteen years. England knows it. too
This matter of the increase of the Army is the
serious question and it seems like satire on 'he
situation that a circular should have been received
as late as yesterday telling recruiting olcers -
enlist no more men other than old soldiers. as the
legal limit OF 5000 had been nearly reached or
course the circular comes as a matter of official
routine. one being issued about every four months
OLD RIFLES STILL READY FOR USE
The Government has any quantity or the old
breech-loading Winches,ers. which many experts
consider superior offensive weapon TO the
presen; pattern. The old Winchester was a SUI
peror rife 1t carried a big ball. and 1t had a long
range A felow-oficer and l were discussing the
possibilities the other day, and ne disposed OF the
whole question of an army In a few words. why
said he, I'd just take In lot OF raw recruits.
Needn't mind about the drill. All they need to
know is right about face and present arms. Ia
take them, SIR and give each one Of 'em Win
chester and q nosebas full of bullets with an ex-
ira bucketful on the ground beside him. Then I'd
put EN- in the trenches with regiment of regulars
at either end of the line keep her steady. and I'd
tell every mothers son TO just stand there and do
nothing but load and fire. load and fire. strand ia
Ike TO see anybody take those breastworks"
My old friend is hardly scientic soldier" added
the officer. but he's all right when it comes to
fighting. And he not so far off in his estimate
of the intelligence of the American soldier. either.
You know. time when the English laughed at
the military pretensions of this country, but they
do not do it to-day. Take any army of any nation
the other side and Il is thought that regiment
is placed hors de combat If loses % cent of its
strength. 1t proved in the late war that a loss
of 60 per cent did affect the efficiency Of the re-
mainder For with that loss against them the rest
did know they whipped. but doggedly
fought
A SPIRIT OF EMULATION.
There is another thing. too. which at this time
would help America. and that is to be found in the
spirit of emulation that would certainly exist be-
tween Northern and Southern regiments Take. for
instance regiment from Massachusetts and an
other from South Carolina and place them fighting
side BY side The Southerners would simply say
We can't allow Massachusetts to best u.s., and vice
snd b6e % s w0qa that f he to ss be- no
war, for firmly believe three nations would
is na certainty Of It ye am that Russia is
only waiting her chance 10 get at Englands East
army. wSich u IS spong for V employmen What
should IKE to see Insisted upon though Is an mme
the coast defence branch of the service should be
ike M old o% ga" IN kansas Who zoo
upon the issue, remarked What do we care Ihere
Kansas There is enough patriotism be sure Of
that; but the people act only under the most imme
f5rtihcaiions Of Fort Wadsworth. remember
@ he Enh Fp e of aefe CLOSELY a
scanned by the officers for they have the most
eoG sn to carefS gather ali they can in the way
of information. The younger officers especially on
edge and asked what it was. They knew nothing Of
obsolete fortihcaons, for on the other side of the
away to make room for modern low-browed tur-
rets with heavy cannon.
NETWORK NOT DEFENCELESS.
1T should be understood. however, that this
harbor is entirely defenceless. There is need
OF making things out worse than they are. for
all the accounts Of Notifications in this country
are treasured uD on the other side whether they
fully believed not. General Henry l.. Abbot
for years worked complete the torpedo system
III work wss vrtuay finished Only he and two
three other officers know the plans upon which
the works were perfected but perfected they are
to-day and they would undoubtedly make 1t very
uncomfortable for attacking fleet. The tor
Of fleet Elf if it should try to enter the lower bay
and pass to the Narrows. Now We should have
boats OF course with big appropriation. we
could buy guns and get them speedily, but when 1t
week nor in a month. There are a good many An
ished now. il they were only supplied with the nee
gun at Fort Wadsworth is nearly in position and
the Department has promised four more to be
Ions rlr rh. 6,ra
will complete the new battery at that fort and
while it would be better if the guns were OF the
ten-inch type, still with the five we could tease an
incoming feet nightly
The new gun weighs fourteen and a half tons
to rest weighs twenty-six and one half tons. II
pierce thirteen inches of steel at $500 yards
NEED OF MACHINE GUNS.
IF. with this battery of five guns. had a
full compliment of machine guns the water
frort al Fort Wadsworth and another array of
rapd-nre batteries at Fort Hamilton We
would be in position 10 protect the torpedo plant
IL We added TO these number Of powerful search
lights to sweep the bay at night OF course the
enemy would be handicapped, for they would be
likely to run aground.
Another thing those two twelve-inch guns at
Sandy Hook are stiil mounted and ready for work |
So Win tie Tsy VIII Be AT w Sf1 wo W"
and the mortars and twelve-inch twins at the
df Of ' ducks e England has gone hunting after
times gone by
In this connection II may be added that Fort /
Wadsworth must now have a range finder for |
battery use AS the new guns have been /
mounted and before they have been tested it Will /
be necessary 10 remove all the buildings from |
the lower end Of the reservation and also to re-
move the lighthouse which stands at that point /
and serves as a range light for incoming vessels |
The lighthouse authorities have not as yet de- |
cided where they will put 1t.
WANTS A SHIP AND A DYNAMITE GUN.
A strongly built man. swarthy of countenance and !
with a flowing black beard. walked alonG Wall-st !
Yesterday Many people recognized Captain Baker |
who took out from this port the dynamite cruiser
Nictheroy. formerly the merchant freighter FL Cd
10 holm sllnnress MellOs naval rebellion in Brazil |