Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1898-04-22
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! Spirit Of the pre:s. 9
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THE GAIN BY DELAY.

THE GAIN BY DELAY.
Three months ago the United states |
was about as unpreparad for war with !
maritime power as it was possible for j
nation OF our wealth aud population ioI
he. We had a navy which consisted
mainly of a few mOnstrOus and magniii
cent battleships, and few cruisers of
modern style and armament, but we were
nearly lacking in torpedo boats, mont
tors, and the other smaller vessels which
it is understood are essential to success
in modern warfare upon the sea- Two
of our best ships had not been finished
because the senate had got into wrangle
over the price that should be paid for the
armor plate needed to protect them'
Others were in various stages OF cOnstruc-
ton, and still others were out OF commits
sion, undergoing repairs, which were
proceeding as leisurely as though it made
no difference when they were completed.
The vessels that were aloat were widely
scattered some of them so far away that
they could not be brought home for
weeks. In actual fighting force upon
the ocean we were probably weaker than
Spain. rotten and bankrupt as she was
and is.
our coast line, stretching for thousands
of miles and studded with hundreds OF
cities, was almost as unprotected rs
nature made it. Not more than three
cities could be said to have the harbor
defenses which would make them safe,
and these and few others that were pro-
tected by their location were all that
spanish battleship could not have des-
troyed, barring accidents, in Day
What Notifications we had, and they
were mostly relics of wars OF when TINS
generation knows nothing except from
history and tradition, were UNNAMED
Our stock of ammunition and proectlles
was only what had been procured Tor eX-
hihition practice. OF coal and other sup
,,lios at naval stations we had scarcely
enough for the requirement in times Oh
Deace. OF enlisted men who could De
assigned to new duty we had absolutely
none,
ON the first of January, when the san
culinary congressman began to insist
unon instantaneous war and the anhlhl-
lation of Spain in fifteen minutes or six
DAYS n Spanish fleet could have sailed
from Nova Scotia to Mexico without
Ending ten cities that were not COM
pletelv at its mercy, unless perchahce IL
foil in with one of the dozen ships OF our
navy. We were as weak on land as on
sea. Our army was skeleton. All told
if did not contain privates enough to
defend a single state, and we had arms
uniforms and ammunitiOns Tor no more
This was not the fault of the executive
officers of the government. They nae
spent the sums congress had authorized
them to spend, as they were required tC
spend it, and they could do no more
Really II was not the fault of anyone, FOL
no one had anticipated war. Resting Sc
curelv in the certainty that if we did mo-
NEEDLE with foreign nations they woulc
not attack us, and adhering strictly t(
the doctrine that we should mind our owl
business. there seemed to be little neeC
TO prepare for war, and peace establish
ment appeared to be all that was neces
sary.
A great change has been brough
about in short time. VI the nlty NIL
lions placed at the disposal of the presi
dent by congress, about forty million
have been expended without waste in tn
purchase of ships and munitions, the re
construction and armament of fortified
tions, the repair and equipment of oil
vessels. the collection of coal and othe
supplies and the planting of harbors an
other exposed points with torpedoes an
mines Twelve or fifteen ships OF tn
kind of which we were most in need haV
been added to the navy. and the most q
the battleships and cruisers have bee
concentrated within striking distance c
Cuba. Twelve million dollars worth c
AMMUNITION and prOiectiles have bee
bought abroad and are close at hant
Our own factories and shipyards haN
been worked to their utmost capacity
providing arms and supplies, and recruit
ing offices have been kept open to fill I'll
vacancies in the ranks of the army an
navy and provide men for new organic
lions Officers in both arms of the Sc
vice have been assigned to the position
for which they are best fitted. III
National Guard has Deen put upon W.
footing and is ready to move at an hour
notice. Nearly every important harb'
has been provided with some means