The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1898-02-26
10, s,4o7-the smallest that of Idaho


its borders, is in most case merely an
estimate, but in several cases, notably
Illinois, Indiana, New York and Penn
sylvania, 1t is based on actual exper-
ience, when the whole or the greater
part of the National Guard has been
called upon suddenly
The time required for concentrating
the entire command ranges from three
days in California and oregon to
twelve hours in Connecticut, and three
hours in the District of Columbia, for
service in Washington, although
twenty-four hours would be necessary
If the guard were to be used outside
the District.
New York's infantry is armed with
Springfield rifles, calibre thirty. In
Florida and Wyoming some Spring.
field rifles, calibre City, are in use.
With these exceptions the infantry
of all the states are armed with the
Springfield rife, calibre forty-five, of
all models, from that of 1873 to the
latest. The condition of the arms
ranges from excellent in Illinois and
the District of Columbia to very bad.
AS rule the condition is fair to good
The armament of the most of the ar
tillery consists of Gatling guns and OBJ
solete field guns. In New York, Penn
| sylvania, Vermont and Utah, the ar
tillery is wholly or partly supplied
| with 3.2-inch breach loading steel
| rifled guns, all of which are in good
| condition.
The equipment of the troops varies
very much in the different states both
| as to completeness and condition. Some
states, notably Illinois, Massachusetts,,
New York, Pennsylvania and Utah,
have their troops of all arms Of the
| service completely equipped, and their
| equipments are kept in good condition.
| The personnel Of the officers and en-
| listed men is reported as being general
| ly very good, and it is said that moth
| ing but practical experiences is need
| ed to give excellent results. The Of
| ficers are generally well selected, but
very largely lack experience, and do
not in some states sufficiently control
| their men.
In an interview General ]. p. S. Co
bin. commander of the Third Brigade,
had. this to say about the National
| Guard of this state: You can depend
| upon it our National Guard would re-
| spond promptly and efficiently. They
! are all soldiers and by that 1 mean all
that the name implies. Why, do you
| know that in my own brigade of 5000
1 have met more men qualified to act
as sharp-shooters than were in the en-
tire Army of the Potomac during the
war. That seems very remarkable
| statement but it is true and 1 guess
the other two brigades are as well
| qualified as my own"
"You see this means everything"
said the general as he proceeded to
diagram upon his knee the method of
modern open warfare. Things have
changed since the last war. In modern
| fighting there will be no bayonet
charges and the firing will be done
at long range, so you see good marks
manship means evrything. Then, an
other thing, the men in the National
| Guard know how to and do obey or
! ders"
How many men could the National
Guard Supply?" asked the reporter.
"The three brigades of the National
| Guard of Pennsylvania could put about
| 5000 soldiers at the country's disposal
at moments call. and in twenty
| four hours could place them in any
| part of the state or at the sea-coast.
| This number could be doubled in
! twenty-four hours by the re-enlisting
of men who have served full time in
the National Guard, so you see that
would mean eighteen thousand troops,
trained and well-equipped and that,
sir is quite an army corps in itself.
Then, ! believe the younger genera
ton would respond to our couEtry's
call just as quickly as they ever did
in our nations history. But we don't
! want any war. It's a terribly barbar-
GUS thing" said the general, and he
unused reminiscently for a moment, and
| then added: But there is something
tremendously fascinating about army
life Notwithstanding the awful less of
life and great sacrifice entailed. 1t ap-
peals to every patriotic young man.
| But we don't want any war as the out
come of mere sentiment. If our coun-
try has been dishonored and our Ameri-
can sailors murdered at the instigation
Of Spanish authorities, that is a Giffer-
ent thing.
Personally, i have no use for the
Spaniard. He is a cruel, barbarous ty-
| rant, ana uOU want TO see any good
=, American blood wasted upon a lot of
| people who find their chief amusement
| in hull-fighting. They'e not worth it,
unless some grave question of honor is
at stake. Why, 1 was stationed down
at Key West during the war, and when
some of us officers had enough money
saved we used to go over to Havana
to spend it. They mated us then and
we used to often get in street fights
with those skulking devils, sometimes
or principle and other times just on
purpose" and the general smiled as
if he had found fighting Spaniards in
the streets of Havana in the SOS any
| thing but distasteful.
would our National Guard be an
| adequate force to protect our sea-
cOast"' asked the reporter.
Nov, it seems to me-" said the gem
eral, that this defenseless American
coast business has been greatly exag-
gcrated. Why we are pretty well pro-
tected now and from what read in
the papers in another week we will be
practically safe from any foreign at
| rOCitieS. Cuba would | Sunnosa he