The record-union., 1896-01-11
Eastern business Omces.
ARE WE PREPARED FOR WARE

LiSllB.
ARE WE PREPARED FOR WARE
With the suggestion Of possible war
before the American people, the coun-
try is opening its eyes to the indefen-
sible condition of the sea coasts of the
republic We are beginning to under
stand General Miles of the army, Com
modore Hichborn of the Naval Con-
struction Bureau, and Secretary Her
bert of the Naval Department. One
tells US that we have not men enough
to garrison the defenses which we
ought to have, but have not; another
that such defenses as we have are
weak affairs at best, excepting possi-
bly, at two points, and that we are sad
" deficient in torpedo boat service,
while the third declares that we need
a thousand more men to equip the
ships we have built, and that the ma
tion should have a reserve force Of
naval militia from which it could call
ten or twelve thousand trained men
at short notice, to equip the reserve
steamers we are subsidizing. with the
right to call them into service as cruis-
ers and transports.
General Miles does not think we need
be useless for defense purposes. But
the Commodore and the Secretary diff
fer with him, and while admitting the
need for more land defenses on our
coasts they are emphatic in their state
ments regarding the high value of a
strong naval force as a preventive of
war.
Both these sides are right. We need
a strong navy and we have it now in
ships of excellent character. But we
do need a large and effective torpedo
boat service in addition. The country
can well consider the demand of Gen
eral Miles for an increase of the army
strength from 10000 to 10000 men; it
will also concede the wisdom of more
and better sea coast defenses, while it
will agree with the Secretary of the
Navy that thirty new torpedo boats
should be ordered constructed at once.
But these gentlemen are not novel
in their suggestions. Similar advice
has been given the people by men in
the highest positions in the army and
navy for years. 1t has been pressed
upon our consideration annually for
long time, as the best of advice to fol-
low in times of peace that peace may
continue. Our navy is now one to be
proud of; the smallest of any nation
with any special pretensions, it is suf-
hcient if only we had trained men in
plenty for the ships and a torpedo fleet
correspondent with the extent of our
seaboard and the Importance of the
great ports to be protected.
AS to coast defenses we have, out
side Of three points, none worthy of
the name-that would offer any sort
of resistance to assault by any of the
great navies of Europe. General Miles
tells us plainly that if we should mar
shall a million of men in arms upon our
seaboard they would be of no more use
than so many wooden dolls. because we
have not the appliances necessary to
withstand assault from modern ships
of war, which can cast shells from
distance where the vessel is hull down
and land the missiles within two
hundred foot square-ascertained by
calculation by the gunners.
We have 1000 miles of coast, on one
half of which it would be possible for
foe to land without ability on our part
TO do more than protest General Miles
does not believe that torpedoes and
strong navy are sufficient to protect
such q sea coast line, but that we need
in addition several offensive and defen-
sive works, such perhaps as the dy-
Mantle guns lately tested at the Golden
Gate. san Francisco, constitute, to pro-
teot the chief harbors in which a hos
tile fleet might anchor
such statements as these must CON-
mand our serious attention. They are
not 10 be cast aside as the vagaries or
fads of military men On the con-
trary. they are projected before us
by those whose patriotism and skill
cannot be questioned, and whose serv-
ices and lives have proved that they
are not wild theorists nor rafting
jingoes, but men who consider the econ
onies of all propositions they make,
and have the best interests of all the
people at heart. OF course, TO carry out
the plans of the Secretary. the Com
modore and the General, viii involve
enormous expenditure, and work ex-
tending over many years. But it should
be considered what the situation would