The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1898-03-02

v ANT To FIGHT
Veterans Will Not Listen
to Any Talk About
Indemnity.
Declare the Maine Was Blown
Up and That the 1reachery
Should Be Avenged.
However, the Regular Army Men
Are Less Warlike, Although De-
Tense Measures Proceed.

The work of mounting the guns at
Fort Point and putting in the new NOR
tar battery near Point Lobos progresses
with commendable rapidity In army
circles the war talk is subsldlng, but
there is no abatement in the prepar-
atoms to resist the approach OF an
enemy from the ocean. The usual Wig
lance is maintained at the forts to
prevent unfriendly or suspicious intru-
sion
The story teIegraphed from Wash
ington that Major-General Nelson A.
Miles, commanding the army or the
United States, is on his way to San
Francisco. is hardly credited In army
circles of this department. It's thought
that General Miles would not place the
distance of continent between him.
self and the probable scene OF active
operations on the Atlantic or the Gulf
at this particular time.
Later dispatches may bring the in
telligence that the commanding gen
eral has gone to New Orleans, Mobile
or Galveston 1t is quite natural to
suppose that he would personally sur
vey the exposed coast in that region
of the country.
1t is possible that General Miles may
decide to meet some of the department
commanders at ST. Louis, Leavenworth
or Chicago. and this may account for
his westward journey. There does not
seem to be anything in the known con-
dition of military affairs on the Pa
cific Coast to call the general to San
Francisco He was here not long
since and carefully Inspected the de-
fensive works of this harbor He paid
particular attention to the Lime Point
position on his trip around the bay
and indicated that the work there
should be advanced without delay.
General Shafter, commanding the De-
partment of California, was at Bakers
field yesterday. There were no dis
patches at army headquarters to indi-
cate that he had journeyed East to
meet General Miles.
Colonel John B. Babcock, adjutant
general Of the Department Of Califor-
MIA. remarked yesterday that no Off
cial advices had been received that
General Miles was on his way to this
city.
Among the veterans of the Grand
Army there is strong sentiment
against the TfgoRsed acceptance of in
delIlnity for me loss OF the battleship
Maine. There was regular meeting of
George H. Thomas Post G. A. r., last
evening. Before the commander called
the comrades to attention there was a
good deal of talk about the situation in
Cuba.
One veteran remarked: TT makes me
tired to hear this talk about indemni-
ty. 1 believe the ship was blown up by
the Spanish, and no indemnity in mon
ey can avenge the wrong. 1t is time
the Spanish were taught lesson. They
have very little respect for Americans
now, and they will have less when they
hear of our talking indemnity for the
lives of the sailors who were lost on the
Maine. l have been in the navy, served
there. and visited in my time many
Spanish ports Wherever the Spanish
language is spoken-in Spain, Cuba or
in South American countries-insults
are constantly offered TO the American
marine and the American flag. Eng
lishmen and the English flag are not
insulted, but the feeling of hatred to
the Americans is openly expressed"
Another veteran of the Civil War
said; L believe also that the Spanish
blew up the Maine, and If this is
smoothed over some other dastardly
crime will be perpetrated. 1 believe
that Congress now understands the
subject and knows the temper of the
Spanish people The next act of hos
tility upon the part of the Spanish will
be the signal for war. Congress is
getting ready for war. The sentiment
or the country is ready for 1t, and If
wal uOtS come II VIII De d SOTTy IeCh-
oning for old SPAIN / am convinced
that the administration is not evading
the responsibility of the situation. 1t
is refreshing to know that our Govern
ment Is making preparations Yes. the
President should call for three hundred
Thousand men. We have any number
OF men fit to command companies, bat
tal1ons, regiments, brigades, divisions
and army corps. This Grand Army
post could supply a splendid lot of Of
hcers-men who have been tested under |
fire, and who are capable of command
Ing troops in battle. The young men of
the country are ready to march and
fight. 1t is all right for Congress to go
SLOW and get everything in good shape |
before opening the ball.
The Confederate veterans Of the late
war are as patriotic as the Grand
Army men. They do not like the talk
OF settling the Maine affair by indem-
nifty. An officer who served with dis
tinction in the Southern army said in
commenting on the Maine disaster:
The exAConfederates are ready to fight |
under the old flag. l know of several |
VINO would offer their services should |
war be declared. l believed from the
start that the destruction of the ship |
was an act Of Spanish treachery. and |
TINS outrage may be followed by others |
until war will be forced"
The boys of the cadet contingency of |
the National Guard are full of the |
spirit OF American patriotism. Activ- |
lty IN enrolment and drill has been the |
order recently. The High School cadets |
are getting all the large boys interested |
in warlike exercises.
The Winslow Will Sail South.
NORFOLK, Va, March 1.-The torpedo