Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1898-03-09
LONGSTREET READY.
What He Has to Say About the
Prospective War.

Washington, March 2.-To the
correspondent of the New York
World here Gen. Longstreet, of
Georgia, has given the following
interview relative to the Maine
disaster and the outcome:
"The United States could sum-
mon 100000 men into the field
in case of war with Spain.
"Our greatest difficulty he con-
tinued, would be to arm and
equip them. 1 am receiving more
letters every day from members
of my old corps who hope to be
able to enlist than I can answer
in a month. In ninety days, even
in our present incomplete condi-
tion for war, we would he on suffi-
cient war footing to deal with
Spain.
"Why, Napoleon, within three
months after his disastrous retreat
from Moscow, raised, armed and
equipped another army equally as
powerful. With far greater re-
sources and with the spirit of pa
triotism burning ia, brighter than
in that particular period OF
Frances danger, we ought to do
equally we'll. In fact we ought
be able to eclipse that most mar
vellous feat of that most wonderful
military genius.
SHOULD war be declared, the
first move of the United States
government would be to throw its
forces into our commercial cities
on the Atlantic coast to repeal an
attack of the enemy's warships.
For some time after the beginning
of hostilities the tug of war would
be between the navies of the
United States and Spain. On the
seas we are about equally matched
80 far as vessels and armament are
concerned. So soon as circum-
stances would permit we would
throw a certain portion of our
forces into Cuha. The question OF
transportation of men need not
concern US very much, for, with
the present spirit existing among
our people, we would reach the
island. We would get our soldiers
there if the men had to swim.
GAS to leaders, let no one have
fear that we would lack military
talent. The graduates of our mill
tary schools have had far better
advantages than had Grant, Lee,
Jackson, Sherman or Sheridan.
We have right to expect from the
younger generation of officers men
even more brilliant than they
were.
GAS to the fighting qualities Of
the'spaniard, we will do we'll not
to underrate them. Ihave never
met any men bearing Spanish
blood in the field more seriously
than the Mexican 'greasers.' In
our war with Mexico, in which l
took part, we found that the Me1l-
cans were good enough fighters.
What they lacked was leadership.
"Spain has no great military
leaders, but the war may develop
them. Napoleon used to cay that
he could make soldiers but he
could not make generals. Spain
has never been prolific of great
military leaders. Nevertheless the
spaniards possess the martial
spirit. 1t is safe to predict that
after we got fairly started the war
would be question of a few weeks
and that the navies of the two
countries would bear the brunt of
the contest for supremacy.
"Now, while I deprecate war and
have every reason to believe that
through the frmness, good judg-
ment and calm temperament OF
the president, war with Spain will
be averted, I stsnd ready to offer
my services in case they are need
I'd.
"I have never offered my SER
vices before. Had I done 80 it
would have only tended to increase
the excitem ent already pervading
the country. I can still advise. 1
am still able to mount a horse. |
have no doubt all the surviving
officers of the Confederacy are ac-
tuated by g similar spirit"
.JOllnSOn'S