The times., 1898-02-23
TO MAN THE BIG GUNS.
The senate Adds Two More Artillery

The Senate Adds Two More Artillery
Regiments TO the Army
The readiness with which the Senate
yesterday passed Gen Hawley's bill pro-
viding for the addition of two regiments
of artillery to the army indicates the ten
sion reached in that body and the ascend
ency of the war feeling. The bill was
passed after very short discussion, and
by the Overwhelmingly one-sided vote of
% to 4. The only negative votes were
those of Senators Bate, Chiffon, Clay and
Vest
For the first time since the civil war the
standing army OF the United States has
been increased, and in the face of argu-
ments that have been advanced that an
increase of the army threatened the
liberties, of the people. this bill was en-
acted into law, so far as the power of the
Senate is concerned, practically without
opposition. The bill was urged by Gen
Miles and the War Department and rec
commended by the unanimous vote of the
committee. Had there been no threat OF
war with Spain, the increase would have
been necessary for the simple purpose of
taking care of the new defenses that have
been erected to protect the American sea
coast cities. but it is doubtful If the pro-
posed Increase would have been sane
toned had not the war scare pervaded
Congress and the entire country
Existing contracts call for the emplace-
ment and mounting on or before June 30
of l39 modern high-power steel guns.
ranging in caliber from to II inches;
Il of 5-inch caliber; 4 6-pounders. and 232
Finch mortars. making a total of 3S7
pieces of ordnance. These are TO be scat
tered, according to the best judgment of
the engineers and ordnance officers, from
Maine to Puget sound, having careful re-
gard for the relative positions 10 be de-
Tended. Men fit to be trusted to operate
these great guns cannot be had at mo-
ments notice, and this costly machinery
and ordnance might be ruined at the first
attempt To put them into service IL IN
trusted TO unskilled hands. For the pur-
pose of effective work and firing with pre-
cision these guns require the highest class
of skilled labor, ana 1t is really in the line
of economy for this increase in the ar
tillery equipment of the army to be au-
thorized.
In discussing this matter with Sena-
tor Hawley yesterday, Gen. Miles said, in
outlining the work accomplished up TO
date by the Notifications board. that bat
teries had been placed in position in new
Notifications at Portland Head. Me-;
Growers Cliff. Boston harbor; Fort Han
cock, the approach to Philadelphia; the
approach to Washington, the coast Of
North Carolina, Charleston harbor. Mo-
bile Ala: Galveston Tex: Fort Baker.
Cal; Fort Point, Cal, and Fort Stevens.
Ore Gen. Miles also saws that batteries
will be placed In a few months on new
Notifications at Great Diamond Island,
Portland. Me: Fort Constitution, Ports
mouth. n. H.; Long island Head. Bos-
ton harbor: Dutch Island, Nara gansett
Bay, r l.: eastern entrance 10 Long ISL
and Sound, y. Y: Delaware City. Del;
approaches to Baltimore, approaches TO
Washington. approach TO Savannah, Ga:
New Orleans. La: San Diego. Cal: en-
trance to Puget Sound. Wash. making in
ali twenty-six new seacoast Notifications
for the defense of the great cities of the
Atlantic, gulf and Pacific coasts where
fortifications have been and are being
erected. and where artillery is required 10
protect and to man these batteries. Cen
Miles added that his department was
sending detachments of men to keep
these Notifications IN condition and pro-
tect the ammunition, but these. he said,
Were not sufficient to man the battery.
and for this reason the two additional
regiments of artillery were imperative
and should be authorized Immediately.
1t is believed that the House will coin
eide with the Senate and authorize the
outlay necessitated by this enlargement
of the armed forces. These two regi-
ments will consist of 1.610 men and the
necessary officers, and will make the to-
tai regiments of artillery foot up to sew
en-, although il would only increase the
number of officers of artillery by twenty
one. The total cost of the increase in the
roster of officers will be s6I, $50 The in
creased cost on account of the enlisted
men in pay. clothing, and rations will ag
gregate 1862 ia 20 IL wear