The weekly intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1891-1901, 1898-03-12
READINESS FOR WAR.
The Army and Navy journal Sizes Up
the Present Situation.
Lessons Taught by the Great Civil War
should lie Heeded-C6Iortd Troops
Especially Fitted for SsrV-
ice In Cuba.

BOSTON, March T.---The Army and
Navy Journal in this weeks issue pub
fishes a long article under the head
Preparing for War" in which the sit
uation is carefully reviewed and the
necessity of the hour made clear In
part the article says:
UprIsIng That Would shake the World.
In case OF extremity there would be such an
uprising OF q great people as would shake the
world II is not numbers zeal we lack, but
experience and an appreciation of the necessi-
ties OF military service. Tho country Is still
full OF old soldiers of large experience who are
no longer fit tor active duty, but whose counsel
and guidance would be invaluable II those
needing 1t were wise enough To make use OF It.
The grave danger is that ignorant and over
confident assumption would be allowed to usurp
the place OF knowledge.
Thousands of Available Young Men.
II there Is even remote possibility OF war,
congress should without delay pass the artil-
lery bill and follow IT Immediately with the bill
providing q three-battallon organization for
the infantry. With these two bills upon the
statute book. and the bar upon enlistments re-
moved, we could expand our army at once into
an ehcient organization OF over 10000 men, all
OF them trained soldiers for there are thou
sands OF young men who have been educated
in our own other armies who would fiock to
the colors at once If they saw prospect OF act
i've service.
Colorsd Soldiers Fitted for Service In Cubs.
We would expand our four colored regiments
into an efficient force OF ~ regiments OF bat
talions composed Of men especially fitted for
duty II, the malarious climate OF Cuba We
could man every battery, and by calling into
the service the young men who have hnd
theoretical instruction and practical expert
ehce with electrical appliances, many OF whom
have had training in our national academies,
We could enlarge our corps OF t0rpedolSts to
proper dimensions. At the artillery school and
At Willets Point the men to direct them are re-
ceiving instructions already.
Fatal Effects of Ignorance.
In this way could establish st once
efacient hrst 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
huence than knowledge. The lessons OF our
civil war are recent, the evidence OF Its mis-
management in the early stages are appar-
ent In our great debt, and our enormous pen
sion roll. that only criminal negligence can
prevent US from availng ourselves OF them. Ia
the way suggested, we could insure eneienf
action Immediately, instead Of reaching IL over
tho thorny road Of useless sacrifices and Ia
tional 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 q most formidable
weapon for us to use in q war with
Spain. The cost of a single torpedo
and its charge and equipment Is stated
to be about So, 900, and 1t may be seen
at once that a mine system of 100 tor
pedoes would cost about $500. 600. This
would make five lines of torpedoes,
each line nearly one-half mile in ex-
tent. These lines are placed diagonal
" across the narrow channel and
effectualIy bar out hostile vessels