The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1895-12-28
STRIKING. DEFENSE EVILS.
Confusion in Army and Navy Circles
Emphasized by the Crisis.

Confusion in Army and Navy Circles
Emphasized by the Crisis.
A good deal OF surprise is expressed over
the comparative inefficient state Of our
army and navy for defense in case of war.
1t had been the assumption that. as the
regular army was small it was kept up
to the most efficient condition and that
the navy was similarly situated, but
now that there is the threat of foreign
war it is found that many things con-
corning the army and navy are very diff
ferent from what is generally supposed to
be the case. ~.rs
For instance, Lieut.. Nibla ok of the navy
has called the attention OF the Department
to the fact tina the army and navy use rifles
of different caliber and different make. and
that the ammunition would not be eX-
Changeable.
The naval militia use one kind of n rifle
while the regular militia use various kinds,
but il the army militia were armed with the
latest pattern shown by the War Depar tnient
they would still have different kind from
that winch would be used by the naval
militia This would be Il very serious
dra wback in case OF war. because great
care would have to be taken TO keep the
ammunition separate and n dcarth i'll the
supply to the army could not be made up
from the navy, or vice versa.
Another serious defect TO which Lieut..
Niplack calls attention is the difference
OF the signal codes used by the army and
navy. The army formerly gsec The same
code as the navy. which WIS found 10 work
with c;iiire satisfaction. bit now the army
has Il different signal code. and therefore
communication between the two AIMS OF
the service coIld ii IT b. carried on in casa of
war by means OF signals. These are fatal
defects, which might AID wo;lI prove very
scrioas. They appear t. be absolutely
Inaccessible, but they are the result OF
the independent methods by which The
Army and Navy departments arc nsslceG.
there being no EFF n; 70 work iii rni-cn.
The militia in the variols States are
armed with all SORTS of o,G-fashione;i riff .cs.
many of which w aid d. Il moSt wholly use
less in case OF VIII, rs No ANNA riiic-. oou'd
Ike Obtain to fit them. even il they We're
rot more dangero,s To the 'mcn i;iI; used
these gins than 10 the enemy. On,. thing
That is likely to res III from the present w;ir
scare Is an pverhauling cf the means of
defense and some agreement 10y with
both arms of the service will work more
in unison.
Another important feature which attra cts
much attention is the employment of for
eigncrs, particularly EEr,is.men, in 10th
the army end navy. British, subjects have
until recently been employed as naval con-
strueiors' and trusted. with lii the secrets
concerning our naval vessels. Aliens are
emp Dyed in positions of trust now in both
the army and navy. and Il large proportion
OF tie privates in The army and of the
sal org in the navy are Foreigners. $50
Wnen the Prcsidsa, sui,.>sas 20 in regs rd to
VeneZ ;feia wss EfsS.c public soGne OF the
privates and one corporal c'npi.,y at WI.
let's Point. New York. teciareti thS they
would not firtt t;f..r, Is i, il. t:cir native
land. These r. Gus aiiaSt ai.ractssi wide ..
teniioa, and Iii Il h Va. .i-ca.;y bsan .:t-o-
ducsad Ia Congress 'i,i r. ia 1nS :fnC.
baiae eii;sy.s~sf iift4s s.oysi,g,fient's sccyieu