The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1898-03-17
HENDERSON, N. c., Thursday MARCH IT, 1885,

advance of other nations. The ex
periments with cast steel in thi:
. country have been developed wonder
fully within the last eighteer
months. DR.. Gatling says the United
States has made greater improve
ment along this line in year and {
half than it had in thirty years prev.
iOus.
CONDITION OF THE UNITED STATES.
DR.. Gatling says the United States
is at the mercy of almost ever,
country on the globe. The European
countries have for several years been
preparing for an international strug.
gle, which DR.. Gatling thinks is sure
to come. England is now building
III war vessels, fifteen of them great
battlcships. She is spending billions
of dollars on her coast defenses. He
says that at Vancouver, on the Pa
citic coast England has spent more
money in coast defenses than this
country has along it's entire sea.
board. He believes it is the duty OF
the United States to prepare herself
at once. New York, with it millions
of shipping and business interests,
is at the mercy Of any foreign battle
| ship that takes a notion to capture
it. Every other seabo ard town is in
the same position. One million men
could not prevent the destruction of
New York if any country should care
! to capture it under the existing con-
hn 81.
says DR., Gatling, and steel-clad YES
sells govern the world. He believes
the United States should build 1000
big guns and place them along the
coast. This would cost 500, 900, OO0
The day of the old stone forts is
past, says DR.. Gatling. With the
long-range, heavy-fring guns a stone
fort could be knocked TO pieces in a
few minutes. The latest design in
the art of warfare call for heavy
turrets, sand banks, motors, and dis
appearing batteries with a masked
front.
DR.. Gatling does not think this
country is in position to negotiate
a treaty. 1t can not now resent an
insult, but with new material, new
systems and new methods of con-
struction this country could be put
in position in four or five years to
resist any attack and to enforce any
demand.
War is unexpected, said Dr.
Gatling. .'Of the last 200 wars, not
more than four or five came when
they were expected. That is not the
way nations fight. They are always
seeking to take one another at a dis
advantage. | was in Paris Just be-
fore the last war between France and
Germany. | thought the conditions
looked critical, and told friend that
there were excellent prospects for a
war. He laughed at me. Within
less than two months a German and
a French officer became involved in
Il quarrel at watering place, and a
war between the two nations fol-
lowed.
The United States may become
involved in a war with Spain. The
feeling in Cuba among the Spaniards
is intense against Americans. Sup
pose some mob or fanatic should kill
COnsul-General Lee, we would be
fighting within month. 1t would
take little to bring on a war with
Spain, and then would come the pos
sibilities of the other European
nations coming to the assistance of
the monarchy, golden opportunity
to administer rebuke to the repub-
lican form of government. Look at
the situation in China. The grab
game going on in Eastern waters is
almost sure to cause a war. Africa
was not divided up until several
nations had fought it out with each
other. | have not much faith in
human nature when passions are
aroused, and the best way to subdue
passion is to enforce respect"
DR.. Gatling is an intensely in
teresting talker. He knows his sub
ject, and his heart is in his work.
Well on in years, his eye is clear,
his voice firm. and his carriage erect.
He has given the greater part of his
life to scientific problems concernin g
the art of war, but as the reporter
left him last night, he said: Young
man, / wish | was your age. I wish
that had another life before me to
devote to the study of these great
problems, which means so much to
the future of America and the Amer
lean people"