The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1898-03-30
Preparation for War.

Gen. H. V. Boynton, a Washington
correspondent of the New York Sun,
and himself veteran of the late war,
writes:
At every turn in present preparations
the experiences OF the late war are proving
an Invaluable resource. The bureau OF
military information has stores OF compila-
tions and studies Of the greatest value,
based on the operations OF that war. The
work Of protecting the eastern coast, 80 rap
idly and effectively carried forward Of late,
could not have been accomplished in the
time 1t has been by men without actual war
time experience.
The task executed by the war department
became an easy matter with President, q
Adjt.Gen. Corbin, Chief Of Engineers VIII.
son, and Chief Of Ordnance Flagler, each
of whom had seen prolonged field service
and been promoted for gallantry in action.
And 80 Of the navy, where the heads OF bu-
reaus are men fully informed about every
thing that is needed to put ships OF mod
ern navy in complete fighting trim Every
bureau OF these departments was found
| ready upon the instant to take up the prac-
| tical work OF war as If 1t were daily rou-
tine. The progress made has astonished
every one who has had opportunity to OBJ
serve this tremendous but most orderly
activity from the inside. AT the present
moment only slight cause is left for anxiety
at few points Of lesser importance. By
the last Of next week these will be meas
urably protected, and, as matters now
stand, before any outbreak of hostlities ia
| possible everything will be everywhere se'
cure against any OF the ordinary contingent
| cies Of war.
Beyond garrisoning the harbors in force
the present expectation Is that hostile move
| ments will be confined for some months tC
come to the sea- There is no intention, in
any event, to expose American troops tc
the ravsges of yellow fever. The President
is very emphatic upon this branch OF the
| subject. Among the countless offers o.
services in the field which he has received
| there have come declarations from coloreC
veterans that all the soldiers needed FOL
operations In Cuba could be promptly re
cruited from negroes who are immunel
with regard to yellow fever. This is bu
one indication Of the universal character o.
the offers which are received from tn,
South. In the opinion OF military men, i
may turn out that there is very practical
side to this suggestion. AS to the South q
large, 1t Is not too much to say that offer
enough have crowded In from that section
to fight war with Spain, without regard t.
its proportions, II the North did not send {
man. II that fantastical "revolt" of tn,
Spanish press occurs in the South 1t will b,
an uprising against the President for not al
lowing that section to precipitate itself IL
mass upon Spain.
1t is interesting to know how our veteran
naval officers talk of the probable results o
engaging the Spanish navy-that is, wha
the cool headed ones believe about it'll,
men who have too keen an appreciation o
what such contest will be to speak eithe
lightly or boastfully about it. To a man
such officers have absolute confidence il
our ships, and believe that with some un
avoidable, and probably serious loss to our
selves, the navy of Spain will be destroyed
Much reliance is placed by our officers upol
the fact that for nearly year past the crew
of our best ships have been under constan
drill at sea. Officers and men are accus
toned to the evolutons of fleet, tn
handling OF heavy guns, and to all tn
movements on board which belong to &C
ton, except the fighting itself.