The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1895-12-28
MILLIONS FOR DEFENCE.
c0yGHESS xOW IWAKE TO THE
NEEDS OF THE COCNTRf.
Liberal Appropriations Will be Made for
Coast Forflfcations and for Battle
Ships and Guns.

War and Navy Departments concede
that the events of the past week nave
accomplished more toward impressins
upon Congress and the country the ovii
results OF a Digsaf1ly policy with lesdiu
TO defences on shore and sea thah 81
the appeals that have been made IN ten
years. In one eek IL becomes apparent
that the country would be piacucaiiy
al the mercy OK strong force TOT dt
least year. and, perhaps. longer pc
fore the resources at hand would ylelu d
defence sufficient to eventually deieat an
| enemy.
The unanlmiiy with which bills nave
been presented in Congress by members
OF both parties for an Increase OF the
naval establishment, an enlargement OF
the standing army, and provision lot
powerful coast dcfences, the purchase OF
millions Of small arms and larger ora.
nance for the nStOnal forces ana state
guards, is accepted as proof 10 a deter
minatiOn 10 make more liberal arprOprla-
tons for the services this winter thah III
any similar period since the war 6eherdl
Miles statement that fortincdtions can
not alone be depended upon for protec-
ton. but that a strong feet OF war SHIPS
Is essential 10 cooperate with the army
Is received with most Favorable con-
sGeratior by western members and sena-
tors, who heretofore have been rather
inimical TO the navy, on the ground mann
| ~ that the history Of the country snow
| ed that the Government was competent
| II EMERGENCY demanded, and until tnls
arrived It was poor policy TO lay out mil
lions OF dollars in battleships and cruis-
] ers. whose life. ct the best, was no, more
than fifteen or twenty years. These very
men. however. since the war scare. nave
come TO the front with propositions not
only for defending every great city on
| both coasts, but have indicated purpose
TO vote for several battleships and
small feet Of torpedo boats before TINS
session closes.
Unmistakabe signs have been shown
| here I'm the last few days Of an unusual
interest by the administration in the
1 question Of the nations Inadequate pre-
! parations tor war In all directions. IL has
| become manifest so both Secretary La
| mont and Secretary Herbert that The
| State troops are in no condition for eff
! Gent work In the Held. These two officials
/ have been I'm conference every day since
/ last Thursday discussing several features
! OF plan. which they will formulate and
! later present 10 the President. looking
10 more ample means for protection IN
| an directions. General Miles and the
! heads Of the staff corps OF the army
| have compiled some valuable data for
| MIR. Lamont, which does not encourage
| much confidence in the ability OF the Gov
| eminent 10 make a successful fent
against a powerful enemy. Some radi-
cal changes. they believe, must be
evolved, and If the standing army IS not
10 be enlarged. the National Guard sys-
! TEN viii REQUIRE more liberal provision
! from the Government. The State troops
| are found to be on the whole poorly uni
| formed and eduipped. and with such a
! lack Of uniformity of arms as to make IL
| practically impossible for them 10 be sup
| Piled with ammunition I'm the event OF
war. ii IS contended that board must
at once be appointed and some steps
/ taken to have a new small arm OF stand
ard calbre and type issued 10 the Ma
/ tonal Guard troops. State officials VIII
| be requested TO present 70 the War De
partment statements of the actual stand
! ing strength of their guards and the
! character Of their equipment Inspections
! made in the last two years by regular
| army officers have been suppressed by
the department. on the theory that just
| criticism of troops could not be expected
| If the results of summer ev0lutions ana
! drills were made pubic. The National
! Guard of the country is said on the
whole 10 have been found energetic and
industrious. but, except in a few states.
such as New York, pennsylvania, lllinols
and Ohio. the equipment - Wretchedly
bad and the organizations not on sound
military basis. The first thing that should
be done. IL is claimed by the leading
army officers i'm Washington. is 10 deter
mine the best small arm yet presented,
and then 10 issue them to all state troops
1t is asserted that there should be only
one design of small arm for all military
purposes. in order to avoid the possibility
of the navy getting cartridges intended
for the army or State troops. ana vice
versa
ence between the army and navy regard
| ing The best arm. the former claiming
that the gun of foreign invention when IL
las introduced Is the best piece, Whiie
| the navy holds that a smaller cdHDi'
gun OF lighter weight and enabling a
man to carry at least fifty more rounds
OF ammunition, presents more auNdn-
reyes. ana should he ADOPTED. Inc Ma
tOnal Guard. OF New York state. is sald
to favor the navy gun, and a board VIII
probably recommend 10 the Adlutant-
/ General of the State its acceptance as me
/ best type. For the present. however, IL
is not probable that the heads OF either
| the war or Navy Department VIII uh-
| dertake 10 decide on one calibre and type
! OF gun. but State troops VIII De ADVISED
! by army officers 10 have all guns con-
form 10 one general calibre' II not OF the
| same type and make
| But what all experts regard as neces-
sary for the country protection are
powerful fortifcations at the principal
| seacoast cities Senators W no were under
! The impression that the fertilization phls
which annually pass Congress had placed
! these cities In a fairly respectable state
| for defence have been surprised 10 leaIn,
| since disclosures were made OF the real
situation. that this money has been m
| sufficient to accomplish more tnah 10
/ form a basis FOR further expenditures
| and that only three hish-power guns are
now mounted along the seaboard. rms
| is true of a number of prominent eastern
| senators, notably those from New Eng
| land. who were rather conudeht OF IN"
] ablNtN OF the navy ~ NUM- va Gay
vading fleet that might approach New
! York or Boston Senator Sherman VIII
| unouc -tionably be one of the strongest
! advocates I'm the Senate Of increased APP
! NOMINATIONS for both the army and navy.
lie is closely connected by marriage with
| General Miles and has listened atten-
! lively TO presentations made To INN by
! tie new commanding General OF the Gov
| ernment's military weakness To num-
Der of friends he has signifed his pur-
| nose of aiding Senator Quay, who has
! introduced a bill providing formidable
! desences on an enlarged scale at every
/ important city exposed to attack from
the sea He will soon aite~the frst or me
| wear address the Senate on the subject,
/ and point out that the Government can
| no ,onger ignore its lack of defences.
| Consideration OF the Treasurys condition,
| i. is claimed by number OF senators
| favorable to "A large provision Tor guns
| and morfars and war-shsps, must neces-
| earilv preVent any unusually large appro-
| priations this session. but il Is believed
| that If a plan receives the approval OF
Congress for Certifying the main cities
| there will be no trouble hereafter In Sc
! curing money TO carry out the projects
! General Miles on his recent trp of in
! snection through the South. was Impress
| ed with the heplessnesS OF such cities as
| Charleston and Savannah from the sea.
| and was equally surprised 10 learn that
! existing defences we're OF no consequence.
| THE antiquated fort at Old Point. Va.
| was shown to he without value as a
means OF protecting Hampton Roads. and
| ne has determined 10 urge on the Secre-
| ,arv Of War the necessity of at once be-
| ginning on an enlarged scale proper
| scheme for it's defence. Hampton Roads
| he regards as the most valuable point
| on the coast south OF New York for