The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-03-10
WAR is YET FAR DISTANT
An Interview With Colonel Burt
of Fort Missoula.
TROOPS ALWAYS READY
No Truth to the Report That Soldiers
Have Been Ordered TO Be Prepared
to Move on Short Notice-Possi-
bility of War Is Remote.

Col A. S. Burt of the u. S. A. is of
the opinion that war between the Unit
ed States and Spain is much farther
of than most people conclude from
the reports of the preparations
the government is making for a con-
fict Colonel Burt is IN command of
the military post at Fort MissouIa and
is in the city for few days. Colonel
Burt expressed the above sentiment
when asked last evening IL he had re-
ceived any orders from the war de-
partment 10 put his command in readi-
ness TO move in the event an emergency
arises.
You can say" said he, that In my
judgment the reports we have read
about the commanders of the various
posts throughout the country being or
dered to have their troops ready to
move on n hours notice are all bosh.
| don't believe such an order has been
issued. | know | have received no such
orders and / don't believe commanders
of other posts have, and il they had
they would not tell the people about
it, 1t is my opinion that such reports
emanate from writer's who oyerhear
something they don't understand. To
| illustrate. If some newspaper man had
been with me at the last inspection and
| had any use for an item he might have
written a report that / had been or
| dered to have my command in readi
ness to go into the field on short no
| tice and have thought he had good
grounds for 1t. In making the inspee-
| ton | inquired of the captain of each
| company If he was ready to take the
/ field. as every commander does at diff
!
/ what shape his troops are in, for ii is
| q part of our business to be ready for
! it the minute we are called on, The
! same as ii is for your fire department
/ TO be ready to go at the tap of the
| gong. That inquiry had no other sig
nificance, yet an enterprsing newsra-
| per man hearing 1t might have con-
/ strued ii into an order from headquar-
ters 10 be ready for the field, and /
have no dougt that 1T is from such in
cidents that the report / mention has
emanated, at least in most cases"
Colonel Burt. when asked his opinion
| as to the likelihood OF war between
this country and Spain said:
II am not in position to judge with
| any more accuracy than any other cit
| iZen, as my source of information is
| the same as theirs, the newspapers,
| until | get orders. 1t does not seem to
=
1t would seem to me that the spectacle
of nation putting its hand in Its
| pocket and raising $50. 1000 in a day
| without having to resort to bonds but
literally lifting it out of the treasury
and placing 1t at the disposal OF the
| chief magistrate without asking any
| questions as to how IL is to be spent
| and still leave d surplus from which as
much more could be taken and the ma
ton feel il just as little, would be
| enough to deter a nation much stronger
than Spain. | regard the appropria-
ton of so much money for national de-
| Tense by a unanimous vote OF con-
gress SO divided as ours. as the most
! magnificent play that could have been
made by the administration to ward
1 off hostilities, and after Spain has wit
| messed such n spectacle IL does not
! seem to me she would rush blindly into
| war with such a country.
mo, | think the possibility of war is
/ quite remote as yet, and God knows,
! / hope il is more so. even than ! think.
/ / wonder If the people realize what an
| awful thing war is. The younger gen
| Grafton of course don't, for they have
not been through 1t. 1t is they who
| have who pray most sincerely that war
| may be averted, although they are the
/ first to offer their services Ii is the
| women of country who suffer most
| from war, for war keeps nations wo-
men constantly in tears and they suf-
| fer far more than the men on the bat
/ tlefield. Let US hope yet, and as long
as we can, there will be no war.