The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-05-28
General Miles on War.

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General Miles on War.
The editor of the Cosmopolitan mag
azine recently requested General Miles
TO prepare a paper giving an outline OF
probable first steps in a war between
this country and a great European
power, for instance, England. The
general properly declined to comply
with this request, upon the ground that
it would necessarily involve a giving
away of official secrets. But he wrote,
and the June number Of Mr.. Walkers
magazine contains, an interesting pa
per on the duty which Americans owe
to themselves to prepare in time Of
peace such means of defense as would
shield them in case of war.
General Miles. we take it. Is not hope
full of speedy realization of the golden
dream of universal peace. Happy"
says he, would 1t be for Il nation if it
could reach such a stage Of excellence
and moral character that all its affairs
could be administered with intelligence,
"AStoAii oio JhSiiSC, SO tidt
to physical force would be unnecessary.
either in the adjustment Of it's Internal
affairs. dissensions and disaffections. on
in the maintenance Of its interests and
character with its neighbors. We have
not reached those millennial days. how
ever; and while we would not encour-
age war or "a spirit of hostility, yet we
would simply deceive ourselves should
we close our eyes to the lessons of his
tory or the obvious perils in which the
defenseless would find themselves in the
event Of war"
Assuming, therefore. that the posi-
bility Of war has yet to be reckoned
with, the bulk of General Miles en-
delay the work of preparation. He is
especially anxious to remove the i'm
preston that war would be likely to
be reached only after long interval
of word-bandying, sufficient to allow us
to get properly ready for the inevitable.
He cites in this connection the result
of an inquiry by the British adjutant
general as to the historical cases in
which hostilities had taken place be-
tween civilized powers prior to decla-
ration Of war. The period covered was
between 100 and 1870; and while there
were more than 100 cases Of war where
in the first blow has been struck before
notice was given, there were only ~
cases to the contrary. This proves he
thinks. that the only safe way is to be
prepared at all times for the unex-
pected
But how shall we prepare? The gen.
eral Of the army, obeying traditions,
takes little stock in the talk of q larger
navy. Already, he points out, we have
spent sl10,371, ,7101O on that portion of
our equipment for war, or Sl0.O0O,0O0
more than would have sufficed, accord
ing to the estimate of the Endicott
American port so rs to make 1t inn
pregnable in the event Of naval attack:
yet that navy Is still only small
affair, ranking eighth in the
worlds list. Great Britain alone"
he says. ''has 30 battleships
to our 3; SC coast defense ves-
sells and armored cruisers to our 20; 140
unarmored cruisers to our AZ; 1S9 tor
pedo boats in service to our .; and G2
in process of building to our Z. And she
has enrolled $3.50 officers and men to
our 13,460. including marines"
Not only is Great Britain's navy SUI
perior to ours now, but 1t is the purpose
OF the English government to keep it
superior. "Her policy" says General
Miles, "is known to be to maintain the
strength of the British navy in equality
II not in superiority with the navies Of
any two foreign powers. No effort on
our part to equal her naval strength at
sea is likely to succeed in the near fu-
/ ture." And while it is England's plan
in case of war ito place her first line
Of defense at the enemy's coast" the
United States. on the contrary" "are con-
solidated and able to reinforce their
the vicissitudes of protracted sea voy-
ages and of foreign climates"
In brief, the advice Of the general Of
the American army is to waste no more
money OH warships, but work night and
day until every important American
seaboard city shall be 80 protected by
coast defenses that II the predatory
squadron Of an enemy's vessels should
! ever suddenly anchor In its harbor with