The record-union., 1898-02-23
Provides for Two Artillery Regiments to
Man Coast Batteries.
A Resolution Also Adopted In.
structing the Naval Affairs
Committee to Inquire and Re-
port Whether a Man-of-War
Equal to the Best in the World,
to be Named the George Wash
ington, Can Be Built and
Commissioned Within Twelve
Months.


Months.
WASHINGTON. Feb 22.-As soon as
the reading of the historic farewell ad-
dress of Washington was concluded by
Lodge of Massachusetts in the Senate
to-day, Hawley of Connecticut, Chair
man of the Military Affairs Commit
tee, called up the bill providing for the
enlistment of two additional regiments
of artillery for service in manning the
heavy coast defense batteries which
Congress has provided during the past
two years.
Bate of Tennessee objected to the
bill, because it tended to an increase
of the army, TO which he said he was
unalterably opposed. He thought that
there was enough troops already under
enlistment to man all the guns now be-
ing provided for by the Government.
He argued that it would be better to
assign infantry regiments to the man
ming of these guns than TO put them
in charge of raw recruits.
In reply, Hawley pointed out that the
strength of the army was really de-
creasing in proportion to the inhabi-
tants of the country. In addition, he
said, Congress had made large appro-
priations in recent years for great guns
for forts and coast defense stations. OF
these guns 139 We're guns of large cali
Der and delicate mechanism. To this
must be added 232 rified steel mortars
already placed, or soon to be placed in
the coast defense stations. In order
that these guns may be properly
handled, a body of trained men is nee
essary. Each of these war engines
requires to handle it as much skill as
ii requires to run a locomotive or an
ordinary river steamer. The War De-
partment estimated that the Leo men
which this bill calls for will be neces-
sary to properly man these guns.
Cockrell Of Missouri said he was OPP
posed to an increase in the infantry
or cavalry arm of the service, but in
this case the country was confronted
by a serious condition He regarded
it as necessary that the guns provided
by the Government should be properly
cared for and manned For that rea-
son he had consented, as a member OF
the committee, to have the bill favor
ably reported.
The negative votes We're cast by Messrs.
Bate of Tennessee, Clay of Georgia
Chiffon of Texas, and Vest of Missouri
Morgan of Alabama secured the adop-
ton of the following resolution:
That the Committee on Naval Af-
fairs IS instructed 10 inquire and re-
port whether a nan-of-war equal, at
least, 70 any warship in the world, 10
be named the George Washington, can
be built, armed and commissioned
within a period of twelve morths by
the use of facilities of the shipyards.
machine shops. mines and forests OF
the United States, wherever the same
are found. and that the committee have
leave 10 report at any time by bili or
otherwise" :"
The resolution was adopted without
debate.
At 1870 the Senate went into execu-
tive session. and at 4 y. m. adjourned.
THE INCREASE A NECESSITY.
WASHINGTON, Feb. %. - Senator
Hawley in reporting the bill for the
increase in the artillery arm OF the
army by two regiments said:
The speedy passage of this bill or
its equivalent appears to be an abso-
lutte necessity. The Government, after
long aud careful consideration ~ those
whose Offices and studies qualify Them
to give the most valuable advice. has
eLter2d uron the execution of q syste-
matte and elaborate plan of coasr de-
fense. The progress therein is indicat-
ed in extracts from the report of zen
era. John NJ. Wilson, Chief of Ensi-
neers. Existing contracts call for the
emplacement and mounting on or be-
fore June 30 1898, now rapidly ap-
preaching, of 139 modern high COVER
steel guns, ranging in caliber from :
to II inches: twelve of 5-inch caliber,
four 6-pounders and 233 12-inch NOR
tars, a total Of :3S7.
These are to be scattered, according
to the best judgment of the engineers
and ordnance officers, from Maine &c
Puget Sound. having careful regard to
the selative Importance of the posi-
tons to be defended. The great ex-
penditure will be wasted treasure un-
less sufficient number of artilerymen
carefully selected and Thoroughly drill-
ed, lie assigned TO the care and use OF
these costly instruments Of defense. As
these works are from Week to week
completed, the utmost the General CON-
manding can do is to deta;! few care
takers TO each station. With the aid
of the actives of the National Guard
and those who have been discharged
therefrcm after years Of instruction,
effective cavalry and infantry could be
collected in a comparatively short time;
but in case of war, short notice would
be given 20 the men III charge of the
guns On the coast, whose costly machn-
cry requires much mechanical skill anc
practice.
Men fit to- be trusted TO run great
engines on our railroads, or even the
ordinary steamers of river and lakes,
cannot be called into service at a days
or months notice. To handle, but
especially to fire with precision, the
new guns requires the highest class of
skilled labor A careful estimate of
the annual additional expenditure re-
quired to- maintain the two regiments
us $3.50, OH. But some months will ex-
pire before the regiment can be fully
enlisted and organized, and while the
scale of the first year. with its equip
ment. will be very considerably greater