Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1898-02-24
GET READY FOR WAR
So Says Col. G. P. Austin,
of Phoebus.
WE'VE NO TIME TO SPARE.
The Barnes Hotel Changes Hands. Sorrow
In Professor Rathbun's Home.
.. board of Supervisors Paw
ing Bill Beaten

Colonel &. p. Austin. of Phoebus, who
naS Deen a close observer of events In
CUBA since the Ibattleship Maine wa
down up. lis Of the opinioni that a fair
investigation will show that the SPANS ),
government is respansi ble for toa !is1s
Ter IN WIN. n case, Of course, war is in
eEltds!le. The colonel has had consiiera
oIe experience as a soldier hayjney
l"uSht in two wars. hat is ready fo-
more Fis is now forming a company
at Phoe'bus and hopes to complete the
muster roll in "a short time. Last even
Ing. Whlie at the Daily Press Burea!. he
eNpressNi the following views:
We have no time for delay; the war
cloud IS passing over this country at a
last gate. and We should be prepared
before it bursts upon us and lays this
section OF cur country in ruins. Should
VAT occur, and the present outlook is
very favorable to that end, this part of
the country would iAe a very important
point for Alain to lay seige to- We have
at Newport News one OF the largest
plants in this country for shipbuiiding.
and at the present time two large men
"f-War are H=ing constructed by our
government. and are over half com
pleted- This fact is as well known, To
Spain as to ourselves. This alone is con-
c.uSiEe evidence that Spain would use
her tSsst efforts in trying to destroy one
OF cur great ports. I doubt very muc!,
II Spain could reach Us with her navy,
ior she would nave a q lri' time in try
ing to pass the gums at Fort Monroe
Ih:7 only way she could accomplish any
great success would be by landing an
armed force along our coast and Nv
overland route destroy crlr cities and
towns, which this section OF the country
is noted for
But We don't propose to allow Spain
any such privilege as this, for we will
mset the present issue at once by pre-
,iaring OURSELVES against such scheme.
should the enemy attempt to follow
this course of procedure. The whole
peninsula would need a picket linz TO
guard its water front in order to keep
the pirates of the sea from landing
ON our shore and committing such dep
relations as they could in time of war,
and ths only way for the people to do.
IN this section of the country, is to pie
pare at once. if they want TO protect
their lives and property, for the time in
my humble opinion is near at hand
When the war cry will be sounded, and
II we ore not ready to meet any and all
emergencies that may arise on account
or war, this section of country wohlli
De exposed to many hostile attacks on
the part OF our enemies. / suggest to
the citizens OF Elizabeth City and War
WICK counties to organize regiment of
volunteers for home protection, and no
t!me should he lost in organizing It is
my impression that a thousand men
could T4e raised to form regiment be
tween the two counties. The little town
OF Phoebus has already started in to or
ganlze a company of volunteers, and
they expect to number q hundred strong
when completed. Hampton will furnish
two companies, Wythe ami Fox Hill viii.
no. doubt furnish one more company,
and. I understand through reliable
sources. that Old Point Will raise a com
pan,yn After the war cry has been
sounded there VIII be no Trouble in rails
ing volunteers. But I'VE here want to lbe
prepartkl before hand in order to meet
any emergencies that may arise.
10 hear some people talk you would
come ito the conclusion that there Will
be no war between this country and
Spain. Such talk as this is nonsense
War is bound to come. Even tbs: very
air we breath is FULL of it, the clouds
tEot are passing over this country are
spreading it fast and furicrlsly and the
spirits of our dad heroes of our Ameri-
cam navy who are buriadI ON Spanish
sol. today. on account OF Spanish treach-
cry, are shouting war and vengence for
such cowardly and heinous act &C
complished' on the part of Spain in des
troying one Of our battleships in Ha-
vana ha.bor This act alone is sufficient
cause for war"