The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-02-23
INCREASE OF
ARMY'S STRENGTH
Senate Passes Bill to Organize New
Artillery.
TWO ADDITIONAL REGIMENTS.
Mr.. Hawlcy Replies 10 Objections to
Increasing the Army-Says That IL
is Decreasing I'm Ratio to the
Population.

WASHINGTON. Feb. Pas soon as
the reading Of the historic farewell adj
dress of Washington was concluded by
Mr.. Lodge. Of Massachusetts, in the Sem
ate to-day. Mr.. Hawley. OF Connecticut.
chairman Of the Military Affairs Com
mittee. called up the bill reported from
his committee. authorizing the organiza-
ton Of two additional regiments Of ar
tillery. Senator Hawley in reporting the
bin, said:
"The speedy passage OF this bill. or its
equivalent appears to be an absolute ne
cessity. The government, after long and
careful consideration by those whose Of
fees and studies qualify them 10 give the
most valuable advise has entered upon
the execution Of a systematic and elabor-
ate plan Of coast defense.
WASTE.
"The great expenditure will be wasted
Treasure unless a sufficient number of ar
tllerymen carfully selected and thorough
" drilled. bc assigned to the care and use
Of these costly Instruments of defense.
with the aid Of the actives Of the Ma
tional Guard. and those who have been
discharged therefrom after years Of in
struction. artillery and infantry could be
called i'm a comparatively short time. but
in case Of war short notice would be
given 10 the men I'm charge Of the great
guns on the coast whose costly machinery
requires much mechanical skill and prac-
ticc
a careful estimate OF the annual adj
ditional expenditure required TO maintain
the two regiments is $53O,O4 But some
months will expire before the regiments
can be fully enlisted and organized. and
while the scale Of the first year. with its
equipment. viii be very considerably
greater than that OF average subsequent
years. IL is believed that $4,000. possibly
less. will suffice for the fiscal year 1899.
PROGRESS OF WORK.
"In a letter written yesterday general
Miles says:
My Dear onatOr.-Reicrring to our
conversation this morning ! have the honor
10 state that batteries have been placed In
position in fortncauons at Portland
Head. Ne: Growers BLUM, Boston Har-
Dor. Fort Hancock, approach to Phila-
delphia: approaches 10 Washington; coast
Of North Carolina; Charleston harbOr.
Mobile, Ala: Galveston, Texas; Fort
Baker. California; Fort Point, California,
and Fort Stevens, Oregon.
Batteries will also be placed with I'm
a few months on now forthcatiOns at
Great Diamond Island Portland Maine;
Fort Constitution. Portsmouth, y. H.;
Long Island Head, Boston HarbOr: Dutch
Island. Narrangansett Bay. r.. l.; east
orn entrance 10 Long Island Sound. y. y;
Delaware City. Del. approaches 10 Bal
timore approaches to Washington APP
3. = Itfsfes rrs
La: Sandiego California; entrance to
Puget Sound, Washington. making in ~
twcnty-six new seacoast Notifications for
the defence of the great cities OF the At
lantic. Gulf and Pacific coasts. whero
Notifications have been and are being
erected and where artillery IS required to
protect the ammunition but these are
not sufficient 10 man said batteries and
hence the necessity for two additional
reginnets Of artillery Is imperative and
requires immediate action"
Mr.. Bate Tennessee objected 10 the
bill because IT tended 10 an increase Of
army. TO which. he said, he was unal-
terra bly, opposed. lie thought that there
were enough troops already under enlist
ment 20 man all the guns being provided
for by the Government. He argued IL
would be better 10 assign infantry regi-
mcnts 10 the manning Of these guns than
TO put them i'm charge Of raw recruits.
A DECREASD.
In reply Mr.. Hawley pointed out that
the strength OF army was really decreas-
ing in proportion 10 the inhabitants Of
the country. In addition. he said. Congree
had made large appropriations in recent
years for great guns for Notifications and
coast defence. of these guns l39 were guns
Of large calibre and delicate mechanism.
TO these must be added 232 rihed steel
nortars already placed or soon 10 be
placed in the coast defence stations in
order that these guns may be properly
handled a body OF trained artillcrists IS
necessary. each Of these great war en-
gines requires 10 handle II as much skill
as IL requires 10 run n locomotive or an
ordinary river steamer
The bill was passed. 70 10 4. The mega
tive votes were cast by Messrs. Bate Cren-
nessee). Clay Georgia.. Chiffon CTexas).
and Vest Missouri The measure pro-
vides that the artillery OF the army shall
consist Of seven regiments. thus increas-
ing the total number OF enlisted men i'm
the army by 1910 mcn 20 De employed ex-
tluslvely IN the artillery arm OF the