Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1898-03-07
FACTS SET OUT BY THE ARMY AND
NAVY JOURNAL.
OUR LACK IS OF EXPERIENCE.
DANGER FROM OyERCONFIDE.NCE
AND FROM IGNORANCE.
Lessons Taught by the Civil War
Should He Heeded-CoIored Troops
Especially Fitted for Serv-
ice I'm Cuba-Increas-
ingO Our Strength.

Boston. Mass. March 6.-The Army and
Navy Journal in this weeks issue publishes
long article under the head Preparing
for War" in which the situation is care
fully reviewed and necessity of the hour
made clear.
At the outset the article says: THE at
tention of the newspapers and the atten-
tion of the country are concentrated on the.
navy and army just now. From every
point where ships or troops are gathered
come dispatches announcing their present
and prospective movement Some OF these
are absurd others are misleading, but they
testify to the general fact that our mill
tary forces are being put into shape Tor
action to meet possible contingencies
Everywhere is heard the note OF busy
preparation and all branches of the public
service. the state troops included. are re-
ceiving useful lessons in the work for
which they are intended. The militia are on
the alert and anxious to know their duty
1t then outlines the authority of the pres
ident over the militia in time Of war, the
duties of governors. and continues:
I'm case of extremity there would be
such an uprising OF great people as would
shake the world. 1t is not numbers or
zeal We lack, but experience and an ap-
probation of the necessities of military
service. The country is still full OF OLD
soldiers of large experience who are no
longer fit for active duty. but whose coun-
sci and guidance would be invaluable il
those needing it were wise enough to make
| use of it. The grave danger is that igno-
rant and overconfdent assumption would
be allowed to usurp the place Of knowledge
Fatal Effects of Ignorance.
"The artillery BILL for example. was
thrust aside last week because a New York
| lawyer who is apparently more ignorant
| OF war than a member of a boys brigade.
| assumes that he can pick up in the streets
of New York on twenty-four hours no.
/ tice body OF men fitted to handle with
out instruction the modern ordinance in
our fcrts. This would be amusing if ii
| were not melancholy and did not bring
up to the vision the headstones that MI
| our national cemeteries and dot the village
| graveyards of the country over. telling
| their story Of cruel fate that Ignorance
! infiicts upon its victims.
III there Is even a remote possibility
| of war, congress should without delay pass
| the artillery bill and follow it Immediately
| with the bill providing a. three-battalion
| organization for the infantry. With these
! two bills upon the statute book, and the
| bar upon enlistments removed, We could
expand our army at once into an efficient
| organization of over 100000 men. all or
| them trained soldiers, for there are thou
Gated in our own or other armies who would
| flock to the colors at once If they saw .
prospect Of active service.
| Colored Troops for Cuba.
I'VE would expand our four colored rcsi-
| ments into an efficient force of twelve
| regiments or battalions, composed of men
| especially fitted for duty in the malarious
| climate of Cuba We could man every
battery, and by calling into the service
/ the young men who have had theoretical
| instruction and practical experience with
| electrical appliances, many of whom have
| had training in our national academies.
l we could enlarge our corps OF torpedosts
i school and at Willets Point the men to
direct them are receiving instructions al
ready.
i an efficient first line. besides which the
| state troops could be organized and pre-
pared for the field. instead of being hurried
| to their death under the lead or men with
i more zeal and influence than knowledge
i The lessons Of our civil war are so recent.
early stages are so apparent in our great
Il debt, and our enormous pension roll. that
j only criminal negligence can prevent us
l from avaiing ourselves of them. In the
| way suggested, We could insure efficient
4 action Immediately. instead of reaching 1t
over the thorny road or useless sacrlhceS
| and national humiliation.
Meaning of Recent Orders.
"Orders were received at Willets point
/ this week from General Wilson. chief of en-
L glneerS, ulTeCtlHS tHdl Tie phttohoh VI Si'-
| gineers should give extra attention to the
drills in torpedoes. including their loading
| and planting, and that the troops should
| hold themselves in readiness for any emer-
| gency that might arise. This is made more
| significant by the fact that shipment or
| torpedo cable and submarine mining sup
I plies was received soon after this advice
| from General Wilson. These are being
| tested and sent out to the various import
1 ant seacoast ports on the Atlantic-Boston,
| Philadelphia, Norfolk. Savannah, Charles
| ton Key West, and other points to be de-
1 terrnined later. as circumstances arise.
| The article then outlines the preparations
for the defense of New York city with fish
Il torpedoes and submarine mines, and states
| that rapid movement in this direction Is the
| all-important thing in defending the coast
i cities II states that the system of subma-
| rine mines would be most formidable
| weapon for US to use in a war with Spain.
| The cost of single torpedo and its
| charge and equipment Is stated to be about
| 81 900, and it may be seen at once that n
| mine system of 100 torpedoes would cost
about $4,000. This would make five lines
| of torpedoes. each line nearly one-half mile
| In extent. ,
| a narrow channel and effectually bar out
hostile vessels.
In conclusion the article gives the i'm
portant news that Representative Boutelle
| nrop,;ce1 Sprrafary T0pO when they Were