The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-11-12
General Miles Makes nm Alarming Re-
port ON the Unguarded Condition
Of Places Subject 10 Attack.
MODERNGUNs BADLY NEEDED
TORPEDO PLANTS USELESS WITH
OUT PRoTEcrIvE BATTERIES.
Recomme ndations as IN the Army
Use of Bicycles and Motor Wagons
Urged-National Military Park.


my, was made public to-day. The person.
mel is shown TO be in excellent condition..
well instructed. efficient and attentive 10
duty. Liberal appropriations are required
for public buildings at the posts, many OF
which are out OF repair. General Miles
believes that the peaceable conditions now
existing among the various Indian tribes
is largely attributable TO the presence OF
troops at suitable points. and ID the admir-
able conduct OF the experienced army Off
GERS who have been placed in charge OF
the principal agencies While Ii Is econom-
ical and desirable TO have the reserve
forces OF the army near the great centers
of communication, General Miles urgently
contends that these points should be Sc
lected solely for their strategic value, and
that the tendency toward concentration
should not be carried 10 the point Of depriv-
ing the Western settlements Of proper pro-
lection
Under the head OF the coast defense, Gen.
eral Miles states that the condition OF
these defenses is such as 10 require decided
and immediate action for their improve
ment. The unguarded condition OF our
coast is known oy every first-class power
and our people should not be led into false
security He quotes from his report OF
1884 strong argument for the defense OF
Puget sound, shows that since that time
new Canadian railroad communications
have been established there. yet not
single gun has been placed I'm position for
defense. while those at the entrance OF the
Columbia are obsolete and OF little value.
1t is true that some progress has been made
toward defending San Francisco, and few
modern guns and rifles have been placed.
These, however. are but a small part or
the general plan for the defense Of the har-
Dor, while San Diego is in the same con-
dition as Puget sound, entirely at the ner-
cy of any foreign fleet.
General Miles recalls what he said In his
report OF 1889 on the absolute Importance Of
the defense OF the entire Pacific coast, IN
view of the fact that II was possible for
any naval power TO blockade every irnpor-
tant port within ninety days, while IL would
take many years TO make successful
resistance and the country might be re-
quired to pay indemnity OF &.oooooe.ooo-
While the railroads might transport mill
lion brave men to the coast. they would be
useless without appliances TO cope with the
modern engines of war, and with all our
intelligence, pride. inventive genius and en-
terprise we are as far behind I'm the mod
ern appliances OF war as China or Japan
Such were the conditions six years ago.
says General Miles, and such are the condi-
tions to-day. with the exception OF the
slight progress made at San Francisco.
The entire gulf coast and all the great
cities OF the Atlantic coast northward TO
Philadelphia are entirely without modern
guns In position are a few obsolete guns,
and none OF these batteries could stop q
single frst-class war ship. much less net
Some progress has been made at New York.
but, like San Francisco, only small part
of the project has been accomplished Win
one exception. the cities north OF New YORK
are in similar condition to those south OF
IT, Some guns and mortars have been con-
structed, and some shipped 10 their destina-
tions, carriages for lem are under con-
struction and emplacements nave pesn
made TO limited extent.
TORPEDOES NOT ENOUGH
General Miles, in support OF his recon-
mendation for adequate coast defensess
points to the fact that the batteries at
MouItrie and Sumter kept at bay fc1f yezrs
the most powerful navy OF the world He
SAYS that our people cherish two misleading
delusions-first, that torpedoes can be de-
pended on to protect our coasts. and, sec
ond. that it's four thousand miles of coast
can be defended by a navy. He shows that
torpedo plants are useless without protect
i've batteries, and that the water in our
principal harbors is 30 deep that light-draft
war vessels might pass over torpedo mines
without danger. He asserts that the recent
maneouvres in England have shown tnat
even the powerful British navy is unable
to defend the British coast against q for
eign fleet; therefore he argues that the
While General Miles does not anticipate
war in the near future. he shows that in the
last two hundred years In less than ~ per
cent. OF the wars has there been any formal
warning or declaration before hostilittes.
and as IL would require years OF timc 20
construct modern weapons OF war. II would
be unwise to disregard the lessons or his
tory In our own country for nearly tive
hundred years there has never been period
Of y w. years Hs N ponts to the case Of
China which made the fatal mistake or
relying on its vastly superior numbers for
sa fety and argues that the best guarantee
of peace is a condition or readiness for war.
Therefore, he strongly recommends the con-
struction OF all the high-power guns and
pian of the board OF ordnance and fortihca-
lions and other boards. and. to meet IN
part the expense Of this costly gnaertakinE:
that might be derived from the sale OF
abandoned military reservations To mar
these guns he asks an increase OF the ar
at Fort Hancock. ~. y. for the accommo-
dation OF these troops, and the systematic
detail OF subaifern of1cers Tor construction
in rotation at this place.
Touching the infantry, General Miles rec
Ommends the tnree-Dattanon organization
and regimental posts, TO keep the companies
OF a regiment together. He thinks at least
one full regiment OF cavalry should be as
sembled at Fort Riley. Kan. where field
manoeuyres might be undertaken annually
To thoroughly demonstrate the utility OF
bicycles and motor-wagons In the army. IL
is recommended that force Of twelve CON-
panies be equipped with these devices. TO be
manned from the 1000 officers and men I'm
the army able to use bicycle which has
been already found extremely useful.
General Miles argues for an increase In
the strength OF the army. saying that there
is no reason why IL should secome crystal
lied and kept at one strsag-a as IL has for
years. 1t should Increase with the growth
OF the country, and be determined BY the
census. at minimum OF one soldier Tor
every 2ooo population and maximum OF
one In 1900.
General Miles concludes his report with
several recommendations intended TO benc-
At the condition OF ---e officers and men and
attract 10 the military service the best ele-
meat in the community One suggestion Is
that where a soldier has served honorably
for five years and wishes 20 leave the serv-
ice he may. after passing an examination.
be commissioned as second lieutenant and
discharged. Such a man would benefit any
community. be useful in the national guard
and constitute valuable reserve IN time
OF war. TIE pay OF noncommisssoned ofil-