Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1898-03-10
PREPARING FOR WAR.
The Army and Navy Journals Review
of the Situation.
State Troops on the AIert-Expansiou OF
dur Regiments of Colored Troops for
Service In CubR-The Defense
OF New York.

BosToN, March 1.-THE Army and
Navy Journal in this weeks issue pub
fishes long article under the head
Preparing for War;" in which the sit
puation is carefully reviewed and the
necessity of the hour made clear. AT
the outset the article says:
The attention OF the newspapers and the at
tention OF the country are concentrated on the
navy and army just now From every point
where ships or troops are gathered come dls-
patches announcing their prospective move
ment Some Of these are absurd, Others are
misleading, but they testify to the general fact
that our military forces are being put into
shape for action to meet possible contingencies
everywhere is heard the note OF busy prepara-
tiol and all branches OF the public service, the
STATE troops included are receiving useful les-
sons in the work for which they are intended
The militia are on the alert and anxious to
know their duty.
1t then outlines the authority of the
president over the militia in time of
war, the duties Of governors, and con-
stinues:
In case of extremity there would be such an
uprising of great people as would shake the
world. 1t Is not numbers or zeal we lack, but
experience and an appreciation Of the necessl-
Ties of military service The country Is still
full Of old soldiers of large experience who are
40 longer fit for active duty, but whose counsel
and guidance would be invaluable II those
needing 1t we're wise enough TO make use OF It,
The grave danger is that ignorant and over
confident assumption would be allowed to usurp
she place OF knowledge.
II there Is even remote possibility OF war;
congress- should without delay pass the artil-
alery bill and follow 1t Immediately with the bill
providing ree-battalion organization for
the infantry. With these two bills upon the
statute book, and the bar upon enlstments re-
moved, we could expand our army at once into
an efficient organization Of over 100, 900 men, all
Of them trained soldiers, for there are thou
sands Of young men who have been educated
In our own or other armies who would flock to
the colors at once II they saw prospect OF act
I've service.
We would expand our four colored regiments
into ON efficient force OF Il regiments Or bat
talions, composed of men especially fitted for
iuty h. the malarious climate OF Cuba We
could man every battery. and by calling into
The service the young men who have had o
theoretical instruction and practical expert
ence with electrical appliances, many Of whom
have had training in our national academies
we could enlarge our corps OF torpedoists to
proper dimensions At the artillery school and
at WilletS Point the men to direct them are re-
ceiving instructions already.
In this way we could establish at once an
efficient first line, besides which the state
troops could be organized and prepared for the
field instead Of being hurried to their death
under the lead of men with more zeal and in
ituence than knowledge. The lessons Of our
civil war are so recent the evidence of its mis-
management in the early stages are so appar-
snt in our great debt, and our enormous PEN
sion roll that only criminal negligence can
prevent us from aVailing ourselves of them, In
the way suggested, we could insure efficient
action Immediately, instead of reaching it over
the thorny road Of useless sacrifices and ma
tlonal humiliation.
The article then outlines the prepa-
rations for the defense of New York
city with fish torpedoes and submarine
mines, and states that rapid movement
in this direction is the all-important
thing in defending the coast cities. 1t
states that the system of submarine
mines would be most formidable
weapon for us to use in a war with
Spain. The cost of single torpedo
and its charge and equipment is stated
to be about $1,000, and it may be seen
at once that mine system of 100 tor
pedoes would cost about $500, 900. This
would make five lines of torpedoes,
each line nearly one-half mile in ex-
tent These lines are placed diagonal
ly across the narrow channel and
'effectually bar out hostile vessels.