Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1898-03-10
PREPARING FOR WAR
The Army and Navy Journals Re-
view Of the Situation.
DANGER FROM yER.C0yFIDEyCE.
state Troops on the AIert-Expansi0n Of
Our Regiments Of Colored Troops for
Service In Cubs-The Defense
Of New York.

BosToN, March THE Army and
Navy Journal in this weeks issue pu b.
fishes long article under the head
Preparing for War" in which the sit
uation 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 dis
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 preparH-
ton 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-
tinues:
In case Of extremity there would be such IN
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
no longer tit for active duty, but whose counsel
and guidance would be Invaluable II those
needing 1t we're wise enough to make use OF 1t
The grave danger Is that ignorant and over
confident assumption would be allowed to usurp
the place Of knowledge.
II there is even remote possibility OF war,
congress should without delay pass the artil-
lery bill and follow 1t Immediately with the bill
providing three battalion organization for
the infantry. With these two bills upon the
statute book, and the bar upon enllstments re-
moved we could expand our army at once into
nm efficient organization OF over 100 QUO 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
duty Ii. the maarious climate OF Cuba We
could man every battery. and by calling into
the service the young men who have had a
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 torpedolsts to
proper dimensions. At the artillery school and
ut Willets Point the men TO direct them are re-
ceivlng instructions already
In this way we could establish at once On
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
fuence than knowledge The lessons OF our
civil war are so recent, the evidence OF Its mis-
management In the early stages are so appar-
ent 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 1t over
the thorny road OF useless sacrifices and ma
tlonal humiliation. ~
The article then outlines the prepa-
ratlons Tor the defense OF New York
city with fish torpedoes and submarine
mines, and stateslthat 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 war with
Spain. The cost Of u single torpedo
and Its charge and equipment is stated
to be about $4,000, and it may be seen
at once that mine system Of 100 tor
pedoes would cost about 5000, 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
effectuaily bar out hostile vessels