The herald., 1898-04-26
NEED OF ARTILLERY
GEN. LAST THINKS LOS ANGELES
SHOULD HAVE CANNON
FEELING OF NATIONAL GUARD
They Are Eager to Go to the Front
Under Any Circumstances but
Want Their Organization

General C. F. A. Last last evening, when
questioned about the need of artillery to
defend Los Angeles, spoke most emphatic
ally.
1--WE should have some artillery here as
quickly as circumstances will permit, ne
said "As Spain has declared that she Will
go in for privateering as extensively as
possible, there is no telling when hostile
vessel will appear off the coast She could
land a few hundred men with moderately
large caliber rapid fire guns, and could
stand off for time any force we could
put against them.
s"There are plenty of men here who
would fight, and doubtless some sort of a
defense could be put up. but without ar
tillery our men would simply be slaugh-
tered.
"If privateersmen come here they will
be we'll armed and be manned by good
fighters, for that will be their business.
The crews will not necessarily be Spanish,
but will be composed of daredevils and ad-
venturers of all nations who would take
desperate chances for the opportunity of
looting a town or getting ransom money.
''I think that the quicker few guns, Big
inch to 6-inch ones, are placed here the
better it will be for the safety of the COM
munity and the protection of our property.
"I am not an alarmist, but war is war,
and one dollar we'll spent to prepare for
possible emergency is better than a barrel
of money after the test has come"
There have been many rumors in the To-
cal National Guard regarding the possbil-
ity of the regiments being merged into the
federal forces and losing their identity and
the ratings of their officers. Regarding this
General Last said:
II do not understand that it is settled
that the National Guard will be deprived
of it's present organization, but only that
such action is possibility.
''The men are not angry at this contin-
gency, but feel deeply hurt and dissatis-
fed, though this will not make particle
of difference as to their readiness to serve.
They would feel that they had not been
fairly treated and 1 think with justice. The
officers and men for years have given their
time and study to perfecting themselves
and were always considered good enough
soldiers in time of local disturbances to do
their duty in the hardest kind of service
that of doing duty against members of
their own community. But they are all
loyal and are eager to go to the front with
their present organization if possible, but
go they will anyway that Uncle Sam may
wish.
PERSONALLY, I expect to be shelved, for
the president has the prerogative of Sc
lecting all general officers 1 have ten
dered my services to both the president
and to Governor Budd, and will be ready
to obey any CALL"
Colonel Berry's Views
Colonel Berry OF the Seventh regiment
Endorsed General Lasts views.
Captain Alphonse said: 1.-THE various Of
ficers throughout the regiment held an in
formal meeting on Thursday, at which the
general opinion was that the regimental
organization should be maintained. AS
far as any refusal to serve was concerned,
nothing to that effect was discussed"
Lieutenant Colonel w. G. Schreiber
said: 'If the men are called to enlist as
volunteers without regard to their organ
ization or the officers who would be placed
over them few would respond
Captain Robert Wankowski said: The
members of Company A feel that they
would not care to serve unless the regi-
mental organization is maintained; above
all, they certainly want the company to go
intact"
Captain Lawrence of the signal corps
"This corps will be unwilling to serve un-
less they can do so under the present or
ganization.
Captain F. L. Reynolds: I'VE wish to
go, if possible, with the present regimen
tai formation, but are more particular
about going in present company formation.