The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-11-29
Getting Ready for wnr.


The annual report of Mr.. Lamont, Sec
rotary of War, shows that while we are
not ready for a war with a foreign coun-
try, we are rapidly getting ready. Dur
ing Mr. Cleveland's first administration
Mr.. Whitney. who was Secretary of the
Navy, made the first real progress to-
ward building the new navy, and during
Mr.. Cleveland's present administration
Secretary Lamont has made the first real
progress toward providing our sea coast
with adequate defenses.
We do not mean to say that before Mr..
whitney's time no effort to build up
navy had been made, or that Mr.. Lamont
was the first Secretary of War to urge
upon congress the necessity for provid-
ing adequate coast Notifications. Before
either Of them made his influence felt
in providing the country with better means
for defense the importance of navy and
of coast defenses was fully discussed and
some steps were taken toward building
navy and constructing sea coast fortifica-
lions, but they were the first to secure
the legislation and appropriations re-
already decided should be done
While we have now a very respectable
navy, it is not what it should be, nor
what 1t is intended 1t shall be. 1t is much
smaller than the navies of nations which
are not half as important from the stand
point of wealth and population as the
United States and whose interests are not
l,o1f fam va
however as a naval power the United
States will be second to no other country.
In his report, Secretary Lamont makes
it clear that within year from next
January our sea coast cities will be so
we'll protected by Notifications that we
should feel reasonably safe if threatened
with war by a foreign foe, and within two
years from next January, If present plans
are carried out our sea coast cities will
be practically impregnable.
Since 1888 more than $26,0OO,OO0 has been
appropriated for sea coast defenses and
by the act of 1896 100000 was appropri-
ated. BY June l next it is expected that
294 heavy guns and mortars will be COM
pleted and a year later 3S9 more will be
ready for service, If existing contracts are
complied with. That will leave only sixty
three more to be constructed in order to
carry out present plans.
A great deal of preliminary work had to
be done before the actual work OF con-
structing the defenses could be begun.
That kind of work is now about finished,
and the construction of the defenses will
now be pushed forward vigorously.
Our army is a little one, but it could be
increased with wonderful rapldity if the
occasion for increasing it should arise
The means for satisfactorily equipping it,
however, are not at hand. The truth is
we are greatly lacking in ammunition for
both the navy and the army. This defect
will doubtless soon be corrected. There
ought to be no delay in correcting it, be-
cause, in these days, if war comes at all
it comes suddenly. To make the cart
ridges needed by an army of 100000 men
ready to take the field would require sew
eral weeks with the facilities which We
have
However, there is not much room for
complaint The work of providing de-
lenses for the country is well under way.
Congress can see clearly what must be
done to insure the protection which we
should have and will not hesitate to pro-
vide the necessary means.