The Monte Vista journal., 1898-03-19
NOT READY FOR WAR.
THE SITUATION OF THIS NATION
While We Have Immense Resourcss II
Would Require = Long Time to Pre-
pare for Actual Fighting.

pare for Actual Fighting.
Some time ago Representative Hi.
born Of California delivered an address
to the students of the University Of
Chicago upon our military helThessness.
1t will be remembered that his disclos-
ures cnused quite sensation. and
when Congress assembled half II dozen
earnest patriots went to the Navy De-
partment to obtain material to reply
to him from the floor of the House.
But they were informed by Secretary
Long that the records of the depart
ment sustained Mr.. Hilborn's state
mems and that 1t would be better for
Congress to vote money to place the
navy and the army in proper condi
tion than 10 indulge in debate which
would only expose our weakness to for
clgn powers.
Every officer of the army and navy,
almost without exception. who is com.
pe'ent to speak, will tell you that Spain
Is much better prepared for war than
the United States. and that 1t is prob
able that 1t would be victorious in the
first two or three battles, although we
would certainly win in the end.
a man who knows said: III all tho
powder factories In the country were
kept running night and day 1t would
take seven months for them to pile up
ammunition enough to make 1t safe
for us to begin shooting. There is no,
enough ammunition in sight to-day to
half fill the magazines of our navy or
half the easements Of half our coast
defenses. The new guns. the big ones,
takes half n ton of powder every time
they are fired. and 1t must be n certain
Kind of powder In order 10 make them
effective. II we should use the old,
fashioned powder in one of those big
rifles the smoke would not clear away
for week. All the powder factories
are now running on government orders
to their full capacity, and they are
turning out some pretty good stun, but
we are not ready for n battle by n good
deal, and we don't want TO lose the
first one II we have got 10 fight. We
don't want any Bull Runs in the next
war.
There is no doubt that we could
raise an army of 5,O00.O 900 men. and we
could equip them with polcemen's
clubs in few weeks. but we could
not make arms enough for such II
force for several years. While there
are probably 5.oO0,ooO rifles and shot
guns and other shooting irons in the
country. they would he practically use
less, and there are not enough modern
rifles in reach to-day To arm the exist
ing militia. In most of the states the
militia are carrying Springfield rifles
that We're made in 1873. In other
states they have Peabody. Sharp's,
Spencer Martini. Remington and Whit
ney rifles, which from the inspectors
reports range from ''wrctchcd' up TO
fair in condition. In several of our
armorics and arScnals. both of the reg
ular and state troops. we have Calling
guns. brccchloaG,-c rifles of two-inch
and threeinch .nlibrc, twclvc-pound
Napolcons, 'arrott guns and other OBJ
solctc ordnance which would have
been condemned long ago In any other
army than that of ihr United States,
while tie artillery harness is absolutely
worthless.
III the militia of the United States
We're 10 bc called to arms to-day nol
more than onc-third of the men could
pass an ordinary inspection. and the
regulars are not too well supplied.
The greatest difficulty with The militia
would be the variety of their equip
mcnis and the fact that they carry
arms that are Obsolete aud very little
more. We have military s,Orehouscs
at Philadelphia, .Icncrsonvlllc. ST.
Louis and san Francisco. but the ma
tcral on hand would not he sufficient
10 equip the regular army II Il wcr.
called into action. or course we have
great resources. We are n remark
able people. We could do all that needs
To be done quicker and better than
any other nation on earth. hut the
youngs;cr spoke the truth who said
that even God could not make two
ycnr-old colt In minute
The navy IL In better condition than
the army. although eight or ten OF our
best ships, Including tie Columbia
and the Minneapolis, which are the
crack cruisers and the fastest ships
ailoat, are quite ont OF commission.
and II would require several weeks IL
not months TO II, them for sea. From
| 500 to 1000 sailors are absolutely
necessary 10 furnish crews for the YES.
sells We have In time OF peace. and TO
place the navy on "A war footing would
require not less than 5000 more men.
1t would he easy enough Ia get them.
but there Is vast difference between
naval warfare to-day and In 1864.
Then any sailor could me made useful
Now man.of-war Is n monsirous cn.
ginc. filed with machinery OF the mos;
complicated and delicate character.
The guns are loaded 10y steam and
fired by electricity. and It requires
months and years Of training To con.
vert raw sailors into skilled macllnisis