Rock Island Argus., 1896-11-18
FOR WAR
Is the Keynote Of the Report Of the
Board of Ordnance.
UNCLE SAM WARNED OF DANGER.

Fertilization Of Our Observation-Disclosures
Department. Ready and Only Waits for
Congress to Provide the Cash-Investisa-
tion Of the Alcohol-in -the-Arts Question
-Statistics Of the Worlds Sugar supply.
Washington, Nov. 1s.-The work of
placing our harbors in a state of de-
renee Is summed up in the report Of
the board Of ordnance and fortifica-
t1ons, which has been made public.
Under the increased appropriations of
the present fiscal year the work of
placing our harbors in a proper state
of defence is making good progress"
says the report; land if only the same
sums are appropriated annually for a
rev years our principal ports will
present q formidable front to an at
taclling fleet. 1t is hoped, however. that
even more liberal appropriations will
be made. in order that we may soon
be ready for an emergency that may
arise at any time. In view Of the pres
ent serious aspect of European politics
1t is only common prudence for this
nation to be on its guard, for should
conflict arise we are liable to be
embroiled with some power whose navy,
IN the present defenseless conditions of
our coasts might destroy or exact enor-
nous ransoms from our chief cities.
Wars Come without Warning.
"A war, if it come at all, will come
with no warning and no time for pre-
paration- China, with undefended
ports and an inadequate navy. was de-
feated in a few months. In the last
war between the great military powers
of Germany and France the surrender
at Sedan occurred only forty days after
the declaration of war. The wars of
nations occur in cycles of varying
length, but seldom does a generation
pass without n great conflict. Already
more than thirty years have elapsed
since our last great war. and another
may soon-if the past be a guide to
the future terminate one of the long
est intervals of peace we have ever
enjoyed. Our engineer department is
ready with the most modern plans for
Notifications, and our ordnance de-
partment is prepared with designs for
guns and carriages that are equal to
any in the world.
Preparation the Best Safeguard.
IF congress will but increase the ap-
preparations to the capacity of those
departments for useful and economical
work 1t will not be long before our
coasts are secure against the attack
of foreign powers. An effective pre-
paration for war is the best safeguard
against war"
The foregoing summary closes an ex-
haustive report giving every detail of
the progress of Notifications, the ex-
animation of innumerable devices of
attack and defense, the testing of guns,
gun-carriages, powders. arms, mortars,
armor, etc. A long list is given of
devices which have been examined and
not approved. and a smaller list of
those approved or under consideration
The report contains a letter from Sec
retary Lamont. indorsing the recon-
mendations of the board
Rapid Evolution of War Implements.
Recent years, the secretary writes,
have witnessed a rapid evolution in
war material. Foreign nations have
armed and re-armed at short intervals
Costly material has been manufactured
much of it to be thrown away as de-
fective or because outclassed by su-
perfor inventions IN the part Of a
the work would be expedited If the
board establishes certain definite
types" of implements and engines of
war. In answer to this the board
specifies a list of implements and en-
gines of war for which satisfactory
types have been determined.