Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1895-12-29

best OF our new guns. Under pressure.
the naval gun factory. near Washing
ton, could add to the ordnance of the
War Department, and the army gun es-
adjustments could do wonders if urged
to speedy work and would furnish in a
Few months many batteries of powerful
guns.
For manning the defenses and for
supporting any undertaking by bodies
or troops there would be that part of
cur regular army of $4,000 men that
could be spared from its present duties
and the national guard. Reliance
would not be placed in those troops If
the menace from England were very
serious. The regular army would offer
10 It's officers who seek fame and adj
Vancement the opportunity to win both
by entering the volunteer Service as
organizers. If all the men of military
age could be considered as available TO
swell a volunteer army. it would be pos
Sible to put in the field several millions
OF men if the emergency became so
great as TO demand the enrolment of
every male person who could carry a
musket.
The danger from attack by British
battleships is not regarded as very
great. The cOaling capacity and sail
ing radius of these ships are small.
and they could scarcely do much more
than steam from Bermuda to New
York without exhausting their fuel
supply, tnus rendering them worse
than useless at the time they would be
expected TO do their most important
work. An advantage would be enjoyed
by cur w3rshipS, which would keep
near the ports Of the principal cities
for their defense and would at all times
be within a days sailing of their base.
THE PART THE ARMY WOULD
PLAY.
The part the army would play in this
predetermined war has been discussed
in the War Department, where it is not
admitted that our military resources
are limited, crippled or incompetent.
It is said at army headquarters that the
army was never in better condition
than at present. 1t could be easily
augmented by volunteers and the use of
the national guard. 1t is admitted,
however that the greatest difficulty to
contend with would be in arming a
large body OF sOldiery. This includes
the question Of ammunition, Of which
there is little on hand. At present the
national guard is equipped with a
variety of guns, which makes identical
ammunition impossible
1t would take time to properly equip
large body Of troops and a large ex-
pendiure of public funds There is
no question that the national guard
could be readily modified and easily
brought within the discipline of the
regular army.
General Miless capacity for com
handing and campaigning is readily
agreed to. His youth, activity, ex-
perience and ambition combine TO make
him a fit commander in any operations
by land.
Many Of the War Department officers
are of the opinion that the invasion Of
Canada is less likely as a military
operation on account of the present in
cident than the occupation Of Vene-
zuelan territory. An officer said in re-
ferring to this subject:
The invasion Of the neighboring Do
minion grows out Of the assumption
that there we must make the principal
strike at Great Britain. since our naval
force is pidably inadequate. England.
it is felt, cannot withdraw her armed
forces from India, Gibraltar and the
colonies to increase the military in
Canada. and it is taken as granted that
the United States can easily obtain
possession of Canada. 1t seems TO me
that this viii precipitate an attack on
our undefended coast. a result Of i'm
meose cost TO our seabOard cities, 10
say nothing OF the loss Of innocent life
After all, the contest. if there be one
must be at sea. or at least between Two
navies. The army is more likely. it
seems to me. TO 60 10 South America
and there sustain the Monroe doctrine.
the military allied with the naval force
OF this country.