New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-02-25
WEBER
PlIAl. NOS
Fifth Avenue and Sixteenth St.
A CHANGE IN THE HOUSE.
TENDENCY TO THINK THE MAINE WAS
DESTROYED BY TREACHERY.
GRAVITY OF THE SITUATION sILENcEs EVEN TIE
EXTREMISTS SENTIMENT FOR sTREN@Ih-
ENING COAST DEFENcEs
[pY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIpuNE.1

ENING COAST DEFENCES.
Try TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIpUNE.]
Washington Fep. 2i-The situation In HaVah"
Harbor and the results which may foiio" the ue
structlon Of the Maine have been dscusseo Ny
members of the House OF Representatives In graver
tones to-day tnan at any previous time. Inc Iecl-
inps Of suspense and anxiety are hourly becoming
more painful and tense and the impression Oh "e
lief that the loss OF the noble batte-shp ana so
many Of her gallant crew was due not to accident
but TO trcacherous design. is daily growing
stronger even In the minds of cool-headed dispas-
sionate men. who at first accepted the acciucH'
theory without reservation. and who have steadily
counselled and are still counsellng suspension oil
Judgment and Withholding of expressions oil op'n-
ion until the report OF the Court OF inquiry mas
been received and made public.
None Ct them profess to be in possession OF any
Information or additional facts TO Justify their ne"
belief or impression. In fact. they confess thit
they cannot explain why their opinions Oh 'ni'
question have undergone change. But that sucn
n change has taken place fact. 1t Is likewise
true mat # has produced feeling OF grave appre
henslon even among Representatives VINO wouiu re-
gard war between the United States ana SPAIN
or any other foreign Power at this time as
calamity TO be avoided or prevented II II cah pc
done without National dlshonor
Even "the LIMOGES of the House.. who nave peer
tuning and frothing and clamoring for months
past for a war with Spain, have been suddenly
silenced and sOOered. They seem TO reallZe thu' II
might be better for them if they had not indu'scu
in any vocal and rhetorical war-dances' and 10 de-
sire that those performances shall be forgotten.
Some OF them have also learned a few things, one
OF which Is that the United States is not thor
oughly prepared and equipped for foreign war
with any country that has a navy. even one no
bigger or stronger than SPANS; that. while the
American Navy would stand ct least An even
chance Of winning against that Navy several Inn
portant cities would be virtually AZ It's mercy
SO far as land dofences were concerned.
Many members OF the House sadly and frankly
admit In private conversation that Congress IS
largely responsible for this unhappy and dangerous
condition OF affairs and say that more adequate
appropriations ought 10 have been made for the
building. armament and manning OF scacoast de-
fences. Some Of them also declare that the War
Department has also been neglectful az iis duty
and must share the responsibility. because it has
not made the best and most effective use OF the
means at its command. Members OF tho Commit
tee on Military Affairs and others who have made
Investigation of this subject supper; their
criticisms by such statements these:
There five regiments Of artillery In the per-
manent military establishment Their aggregate
strength Is about four thousand officers and men
We informed that It requires forty or fifty
well-drilled. skilful and Intelligent artlersts
properly 10 man and handle in time OF war single
one OF the big modern guns On July !. 1897 there
tars mounted and ready for service In various for
tihcations. 1t does not appear that any efforts
have been made to man these guns; that any de-
tails OF men have been made from the artillery
regiments and drilled and instructed In the use
Of these modern guns. and gun-carrages properly
to caro- for and handle which, we have been In
formed by the head Of the Army requires most
expert and skilful knowledge the part OF both
officers and soldiers There does 10 be
any good or sufficient why have not
been detailed from the artillery regiments. and
even from the infantry regiments II necessary.
fast as tho big guns mounted and taught
how to for and load and fire them. That sort
or training requires months ana II could nave been
given to a sufficient number of men man all the
guns now mounted and ready for service. not only
without detriment but with actual benefit 10 the
Army. and increase I'm its efficiency Moreover no
action by Congress was necessary 10 carry out the
plan"
"Of course Congress will authorize the enlistment
and organization of the two new artillery regiments
recommended by the Secretary OF War and the
Major-General I'm command Of the Army but those
regiments cannot he properly drilled and instructed
In the use OF modern heavy guns render
effective service in the new seacoast fortfcatlons
sixteen hundred men and the detail OF that number
Of men from the artillery regiments in service who
have been thoroughly drilled and instructed in the
OF the field guns and have thus acquired n good
deal OF knowledge which would be useful 10 them IN
the use and handling OF heavier guns could well
and prohtably have been made"
There is no doubt that the Hawley bill providing
for two new regiments OF artillery will pass the
House of Representatives without any unnecessary
delay and speedily become law. Chairman Hull II
the Military Committee Will ask unanimous consent
IN the House FOR iis immediate consideration. II
that i not granted the Committee on Rules will
take tho necessary steps to such considera-
ton. Some members OF the Military Committee de-
sired 70 attach the Senate DILL 10 the one providing
for the reorganization Of the cavalry and infantry
regiments a modern basis but this might
cause delay the proposition was not adopted.