The Roanoke times. (Roanoke, Va.) 1897-1977, 1898-01-23


is in no condition to go to war with
Spain, nor with any other country in the
civilized world"
That startling statement was maize by
Major General Nelson A. Miles, COM
handing the army of the United States.
1t was not made for publication, but the
statement was made Co prominent
member Of the National House of Repre-
sentatives, and one who has great influ-
ence with the com mittee on military
affairs.
Inquiry was made in other quarters,
and it was aacertained that General Miles
has made the same statement to several
Senators, To Speaker Reed, to the acting
Secretary of War. 1t was also ascer.
tanned that while numerous belligerent
Congressman M airing their unprotected
patrio tism in the arena of harmless dis
cussion, they have opposed proper aprro.
priations for coast defenseS and for other
military purposes
One Senator. who has recently seen
General Miles, says that we have no pow
der and no projectiles for our high grade
guns on the Atlantic. Pacific or Gulf
coasts. He says:
~ lesrned from General Miles that any
European battleship or arulored cruiser
can pass Fortress Monroe, Forts Wash
ington and Fort Foote, on the Potomac
river, aud demolish our national capital,
because we have no ammunition tc fur
nish our guns with defensive proiectiles
or powder"
This condition is caused by the in
difference or gross ignorance of the gen.
tlemen of the national House OF Repre-
scAtatives, the very men who ara bowling
for war. They know, or should know,
that all appropriations must originate in
the House of Representatives, because
that is one of the best known PROVISIONS
OF our Constitution. They have lot pro.
vided appropriations. They have simply
howled and Ianted about national honor,
when they ought to kno 3 that there can
be no preservation of national honor with
out ammunition, as we'll as guns.
Here in the Washington navy yard
gunshop there have been turned ont a
number of long distance powerful llle,i
cannon, and u number of splendid mol
ern guns are now being made All along
our coast these guns have been placed
and ara to he place.. But th.v are as
harmless al iirecrdckers. Spain or Ger.
many, unless opposed ny prompt naval
action, could take Fortle ss Monroe and
the defenses of Washington almost with.
cut firing Il shot. They could send their
marines ashore to peer into the muzzles
Of these harmless cannon, take posses
sion of them and turn them against their
manufacturers.
These facts are not transmitted for
publication without careful INJURY con-
corning their probable effect. In CONVEX
sation with Congressman who has seen
.:ervice on many battlefield, and who is
reputed to be Il diplomat of superior nc
quirements, the fact was elected that
these publications will not lie in the ma
ture of news TO the EuI opean powers
They know all about it already. The
news will be startling alone to our own
people.
War with Spain would mean war with
Germany also. Both of these power and
all other powers have accurate mans of
orr coast delenses. There is no secrecy
here. Agents of tie government at St.
Petersburg, London, Paris, Madrid, Ber-
lin, Vienna, Rome and even CONSTANT
nople have freely inspected our coast de
lenses. They know our weakness per-
fectly we'll. The people most Interested,
those who should know most and be pre-
pared for the worst, our Senators aud
personalities, know less of our defense
less military condition than is known even
in Toxic ann Yokohama
We have not ammunition enough to
defend Boston, New Yo~k, philadelphia,
Baltimore, Wilmington, Washington or
any ether coast city. Our only depend.
ence would be upon our navy, for all OF
the available appropriation has been used
to give to our floating defenses COM
pete equipment of munitions of war
The navy now demonstrating in the vi
cinity of Florida and Cuba is we'll equip
ped. Our coast defenses are defenseless.
We have shot and shell, but not in abund-
ance. We have no powder at all, and
the War Department has no appropria.
ton available with which to purchase