New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-01-11

and armament: the locality must supply the men. or
necessary by the fact that officers and men must be
trained whore the guns are and that 1t would be
extremely difficult to retain men for this Work III an
inland State.
Colonel Sanger then defines his plan. follows:
The second plan which suggests itself is that new
ture by act of Congress. or by the combined
action OF the State Legislature and of Congress II
TO have 4 sufficient number OF men to form
even the nucleus Of our artillery force 1t Will be
necessary to organize new force,
We find in few lines of the Constitution OF
the United States the groundwork of the plan
which in many respects is the simplcs, and most
practical That wonderful document. which beyond
all other written constitutions has successfully con
it was prepared gives Congress the power Ito plo-
vide for organizing, arming and di:cipilnins The
be employed the service Of the United States. re
serving the States respectively tn" appointment of
according to the discipline prescribed 10y Congress
Congress. under the direction Of its W sest military
force. The unit would. of course. be the battery:
and the number of batteries would he determined
The would be enrolled in their different States
from their States. This would give us the c)nstitu-
tional force contemplated by those who framed the
clearly defined purpose Of protecting the Nation
from foreign attack. and IN the best manner calcu-
avoid ali the Objectionable features Of "A standing
army. for would preserve the cnaracteristlcS OF
sions from their respective States. thus keepnG thar
proper balance between the State and National au-
force Such a force would have harmonious and
uniform organization. without which il could not he
efficient. while at the time the individuality
and sovereignty of The States would I've recognized
THE NATIONS VULNERABLE POINT.
The character of the attack which. in case Of war
would be made upon US has often been described
by military authorities. The danger which threat
ems us is an attack seacoast and the
capture or ranson OF one or more Of oar large
cities No nation would attempt the conquest Of
our vast territory. The fact that during the Re
bcllion We Waged 4 war for four years ana main
tanci a million under arms has proved To the
satisfaction Of the military authorities OF the world
that the conquest of our country. Is hnpos,i9.c.
No nation or nations could MAINTAIN so lar rom
their base of supplies force sufficient to attenpt
such task Our vulnerable point is our coast
S NGaG Ss The fm rs ana PSD % aac whn
involved in war with any foreign nation ana 'n nnI
capture or ransom would entail money loss ana
a National humiliation douhly unpleasant to con-
slider since We know that If atsackod we arr al
Il cannot be strongly emphasized thai on.
modern war, that attacks must he sudden: that
the foe must be overwhelmed with wei'-ors3h iz
the ocarsn s or Ssfence is not complete M
less we are able short notice TO resist such at
tacks A few months would probably be too long
TO coun; upon for PREPARATION ana as Wr haavy
seacoast gun in less than eighteen months ana
as one year is the shortest time which any military
authc ri;y has ever named for properly training
force of artillery the futiiy OF reyng on wn"'
A deliberate determination TO remain unpno-
tec,ed could only be founded upon the ee'nsiye
taken idea that II 1t comes we can prepare 70:
it wher the danger threatens. War Is possible;
and II is the part Of wisdom. well as souni
business economy. TO insure ourselves against ~
the fallacy that prepare FOR war al th'
outbreak OF hOstilities rests upon such utter iS-
norance OF the conditions OF modern warfare ina
II need not be discussed here II may be statel
as a proposition admitted by every one who mas
the slightest knowledge OF the subject that years
of work and millions OF dollars Will be neede
to secure defences suitable 10 meet the attack OF
even secOnd-rate Powers
In what precedes | have referred only 10 broad
principles 1t will. Of course. be evident that
multiplicity OF important details VIII arise Wn'n
an attempt IS made 10 apply these or any other
principles to the organi ,ation OF our s'acoast ar
til,ery. 1t is important that the questions mus
presented should receive tho most careful consider
alton. and that the plans adopted should be IN
harmony with the sentiments Of the people AM
ar the same time conform 70 the needs OF the ser.
vice these results could probably be best secuarI
by The appointment Of "A Commission under au-
thoriiy of Congress which should be charged win
the duty Of submitting a report. giving in de'nl.
the pan for the organization OF al our seacOts'