Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1898-02-24

ADMIRAL SICARD.
On Command Of the North Atlantic Squad
ROM
ago had been wholly forgotten. This
country has not wholly overlooked the
wise old proverb, ''in time of peace pre-
pare for war"
Our navy has been developed during
the past Is years until we are capable of
Epholdirg the honor of our flag upon
the nigh seas, but we have not made ade-
quate provision for our army, nor for
our coast defenses. Upwards of $40,0c0,-
900 have been appropriated and ex-
pended for coast defenses, and we are
SO weak tt at our principal coast cities
are practically at the mercy of any
foreign foe that might assail them, IN
less our naval vessels could be on hand
for defense. But, strong as our navy
is, we have not yet enough war ships
to protect all of our cities.
Gen. Miles says that we have not
powder and shot and shell enough to
even defend our national capital. I'm
less some of our battle ships could be
conveniently on duty, any unarmored
cruiser of Spain could steam past Fort
ress Monroe, past Forts Washington
and Foote, come up the Potomac river
and shell the capitol building in which
ell this war talk has been going on so
bravely
On our coast fortihcatio we have
a number of the finest rified cannon
Of high power, and the gun factory at
Washington is constantly turning out
splendid guns of the same pattern. But
all of these coast defense guns are as
powerless as popguns, because we have
no ammunition in our coast defense
magazines. Big cannons are as harm
less as big Jumps of steel unless we
have plenty of ammunition for them.
Who is to blame? Gen. Miles says
that he has disposed of all appropria-
tions as carefully as possible, but that
money sufficient has not been appro-
priated by congress. This statement
has been made in the war department
again and again by the general COM
manding our army. 1t nettled the COM
mittee on appropriations, and Gen.
Miles was summoned to appear before
that committee. He came and made
his statements. He said: This coun-
try is in no condition TO go to war with
Spain, nor with any other civilized ma
ton"
Before the meeting was over, it was
concluded that our Yankee self-confi-
dence had almost led us into serious
difficulty. The next modern war will
be short, sharp and decisive. Unless
our coast defenses are Immediately pre-
pared for emergencies, our great, big,
powerful nation is likely TO be hunili-
a:cd and disgraced. before j chance
could be given for US to get good and
ready We have before us a dreadful
example. The great Chinese empire,
with its 400. 100000 of people. went to
war with little Japan. But big China
was unprepared, while little Japan was
ready for every emergency. Big China
was whipped in short order. One of
the humorous newspaper paragraph
of the time said: The japanese are
only 100000, but they fight like
sixty"
We are 10000. 900 people, and, in spite
of the hard times which have depressed
our business interests, we are a rich
people, with almost boundless re-
sources. There is not nation on earth
that could defeat us if we were pre-
pared; but so great is our self-confi-
dence that we have been liable to be
too hasty. Gen. Miles has given fair
warning in patriotic manner. He is
no coward. His whole career as SOL
der demonstrates that he is fearless
During the civil war, and in several
Indian wars. he showed his mettle, and
he has often been under fire of the hot
test kind No. he is simply a prudent
soldier. and before going into war
he wants to be fully prepared. There
fore he has told the statesmen on Capt.
tol Hill exactly the situation, as viewed
by military man. and it is hoped that
ample appropriations viii soon be
made
While the general was in conference
with the committee on Appropria tons
he was reminded of the fact that up
wards of million dollars have been ap-
propriated for ammunition during TIE
past two years. He replied that the
amount would be ample for the army
and for the coast defenses while we are
at peace: but in time of war. he said,
that amount would be Insignificant. He
informed the committee that during the
last year of the civil war the army ex-
penses reached the enormous sum Of