The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1898-02-17

4 -
ADMIRAL s1CARD.
On Command Of tho North Atlantic Squad
ron)
ago had been wholly forgotten. This
country has not wholly overlooked the
wise old proverb, lin time Of peace pre-
pare for war"
Our navy has been developed during
the past Is years until we are capable of
upholdirg the honor of our flag upon
the high seas, but we have not made ade-
quate provision for our army, nor for
our coast defenses. Upwards of $40, 000,-
600 have been appropriated and ex-
pended for coast defenses, and we are
SO weak that our principal coast cities
are practically at the mercy Of any
foreign foe that might assail them, un-
less our naval vessels could be on hand
for defense. But, strong as our navy
is, we have not yet enough war ships
to protect all of our cities.
Gen. Miles says that we have not
powder and shot and shell enough to
even defend our national capital. I'm
less some of our battle ships could be
conveniently ON duty, any unarmored
cruiser of Spain could steam past Fort
ress Monroe, past Forts Washington
and 'Foote, come up the Potomac river
and shell the capitol building in which
all this war talk has been going on so
bravely
On our coast Notifications we have
a number of the finest rifled cannon
of high power, and the gun factory at
Washington is constantly turning out
splendid guns Of the same pattern. But
all Of these coast defense guns are as
powerless as popguns, because we have
no ammunition in our coast defense
magazines. Big cannons. are as harm
less as big Jumps of steel unless we
have plenty of ammunition for them.
Who is to blame? Gen. Miles says
that he has disposed of all appropria-
lions as carefully as possible, but that
money sufficient has not been appro-
priated by congress. This statement
has been made in the war department
again and again by the general COM
manding our army. It nettled the COM
mittee on appropriations, and Gen.
Miles was summoned to appear before
that committee. He came and made
his statements. He said: "This coun-
try is in no condition to go to war with
Spain, nor with any other civilized ma
ton"
Before the meeting was over, it was
concluded that our Yankee self-confi-
dence had almost led us into serious
difficulty. The next modern war will
be short, sharp and decisive. Unless
our coast defenses are Immediately pre-
pared for emergencies, our great, big,
powerful nation is likely to be humili-
ated and disgraced, before a chance
could be given for us to get good and
ready. We have before us dreadful
example. The great Chinese empire,
with it's 400,ooo,ooo of people, went to
war with little Japan. But big China
was unprepared, while little Japan was
ready for every emergency. Big China
was whipped in short order. One of
the humorous newspaper photographers
of the time said: ''The Japanese are
only 100000, but they fight like
sixty"
We are 100000 900 people, and, in spite
of the hard times which have depressed
our business interests, we are a rich
people, with almost boundless re-
sources. There is not nation on earth
that could defeat us if we were pre-
pared; but so great is our self-confi-
denee that we have been liable to be
too hasty. Gen. Miles has given fair
warning in patriotic manner. He is
no coward. His whole career as SOL
der demonstrates that he is fearless.
During the civil war, and in several
Indian wars, he showed his mettle, and
he has often been under Are of the hot
test kind. No. he is simply prudent
soldier, and before going into war
he. wants to be; fully prepared. There
fore he has told the statesmen on Capt.
to, hill exactly the situation, as viewed
by military man, and it is hoped that
ample appropriations will soon be
made. Il 55e:a3@ az:
While the general was in conference
with the commit lee on appropria tons
he was reminded of the fact that up:
wards of a million ollars have been APP
propriated for ammunitio dnring the
past two years. He replied that the
amount would be ample. for the army:
and for the coast defenses while we are
at peace; but in timeaaof war, Ghe+said,
that amount would be insignificant. He
informed the committee that during the
last year sof the civil war heSarmy ex-
penses reached the enormous. sum Of
81 ,o0o, 900 a day, or an approximation
Of that sum. The next war will cost
about half a million dollars: a day from
the very beginning. Consequently the
money which has been appropriated for
coast defense, SO far as ammunition is
concerned, would ) scarcely last over
night. Y . TX .s,=,9.ss 5...s zs@r,ss 3=t
That shows, to begin with, what 4
costly thing. war is; not tospeak Of the,
losses Of life and the suherings to be
entailed upon fhousands Of bereaved
families. Consequently the wisest
course would avoid war, anyway,
g loag =, u en- g q 81 honor s.