Mexico weekly ledger., 1896-12-10

no cnulre army mas now been equipped with
now magazine arms. and wise policy demands
should be 50 employed as to provide. within o
reasonable time. a sufficient nrmber to supply
the state militia with these modern weapons
and provide an ample reserve for any emer-
gency.
The Organized Militia.
The organized militia numbers liz 1873 mon.
The appropriations for Its support by the sew
srsI ss S.eeo is sp pgpnsrisasse Sss shs een snnas soy.
rnment Investigation shows these troopS
70 be usually wei drilled and inspired with
much military interest. but In many instances
me1St TINT q sudden call to active duty would
find them inadequately prepared for held
service. therefore recommend that prompt
measures be taken to remedy this condition
and that every encouragement be given to this
deserving body OF unpaid and voluntary efti-
zen soldiers, upon whose assistance we must
largely rely In time OF trouble.
Our Coast Defenses.
During the past year rapid progress has been
made toward The completion OF the scheme
adopted for the erection and armament OF
fortifcations along our yea coast: while equal
terial for submarine defense In connection
with these works
1t is peculiarly gratifying at this time to note
important undertaking since the date OF my
annual message to the Ftfty-third congress at
ses G 2sss Il % ,s sae , assen I i ssssana II the DsS com
gress of the approaching completion Of nine
R-inch. 20 ten-inch and 81 eight-anch high pow
This total then seemed Insignificant when COM
pared with the great work remaining 70 be
done; Yet 1t was none the less o source of
that 1t represented the FIRST instaiiment Of the
new ordnance OF American design and American
manufacture, and demonstrated our ability 90
supply from our own resources guns Of un-
exceiled power and accuracy. At that date.
however, there were practically no carriages
s s@pia SniSh 20 t mount 9uns sn saa & Guns mca ana onl kS 81
were all these emplacements In condition TO
receive their armame nt. Only one ~htgh-power
gun was at that time in position for the de-
Since that time the number OF guns actually
completed have been increased to Q total OF
s-inch h~igh-power breech-loading steel guns
ten rapid-hre guns, and eighty ie-fnch mortars.
In addition there are In process Ct eonssspc-
six l0-inch, twenty-seyen s-inch high-power
guns. and sixty-six I2-inch rifed mortars: In
s sea as gums l%me ana n0r'a prsoea RIsrins sh the s mss
riage bad been completed and clever
oil but one were of the non-disappering type.
These, however, were not such as tossecure nee.
s sssa iSte eoyeF t fos q ne 9o a5s,lle myassb anesr ssa aEnihs,
and high-power guns. The inventive geniues
OF ordnance and civilized experts has beer
viate this fault, resulting, It is believed, In the
| solution OF this dinicult problem. Since 1885,
the number of gun carriages constructed OIL
building has been raised to @ total Of 1e9, OF
which w are on the disappearing principle
and the number of mortar carriages to l62
while the 95 emplacements which were pro-
vided Tor prior to that time have been increased
to 2So built ana building.
This improved situation is largely due to the
recent generous response Of congress to the
recommendations CT the war department
Thus we Shall soon have complete about one
nith OF the comprehensive system, the first
step In which was noted In my message to the
congress OF December 4, 1892.
When 1t is understood that q masonry en-
placement not only furnishes q platform fol
the heavy modern high-power gun, but also In
every particular serves the purpose and takes
the place OF the fort of former days the i'm
comprehended.
In the hope that the work will be prosecuted
with no less vigor In the future. the secretary
of war has submitted an estimate by which, 4
allowed, there will be provided and either bull
or building by the end of the next fiscal yeal
such additional guns, mortars, gun carriages
and emplaeements, as viii represent not fal
from one-third OF the total Work to be dons
under the plan adopted for our coast defenses
thns afording o prospect that the entire wori
will be substantially completed within 81,
years In less time than that, however, we
shall have attained a marked degree Of Sc.
| curity.
The experience and result of the past yea
demonstrate that with q continuation OF pros
ent careful methods the cost Of the remaining
work Will be much less than the original esti
mate. We should always Keep in mind that d
all forms of military preparation coast de-
Tense alone is essentially pacific In its nature
Whtle 1t gives the sense OF security due to
consciousness of strength. it is neither tn,
purpose nor the effect OF such permanent forti
feation to involve US in complications, bu
rather to guarantee us against them. They ART
no temptation to war, but security against it
Thus they are thoroughly In accord with al
the traditions OF our national diplomacy.