The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1898-04-14
FOR 0FFENSE AND DEFENSE.
Notes OF the Preparations for Warfare wit
Spain.

Notes OF the Preparations for Warfare with
Spain.
The Sub Committee of the Senate Com
mittee on Appropriations last week con-
The principal additions to the portion of
the bill providing for the increase of the
Navy were the follOwingi Four monitors
for coast and harbor defense, s., 200, 900;
four torpedo boat destroyers, 81 200 900.
These appropriations are for the vessels,
without arms or armament. Secretary
Long was before the Committee, and
recommended that three or four harbor de-
tense vessels be provided for in addition
to the other items of increase of the Navy
carried by the bill as it passed the House
He said he thought the vessels could be
completed for 81 geo Geo each. The Secre-
tary opposed the proposition TO substitute
these vessels for one OF the three battle
ships carried by the House bill, saying that
if they were to be provided for at all, they
should be in addition. The subcommittee
did not decide the battleshp question.
The Engineer Corps, under the direc-
ton of Col. Henry NJ. Robert, has begun
operations for the submarine mining of the
entrance to New York and other harborS
along the Atlantic coast. DetachmentS OF
engineers from Willets Point are now at
Portland Me- Boston; Charleston IS. c.,
Hampton Roads, Fort Wadsworth and Fort
Hancock. to lay cables and electrical APP
paratus for the moOring and operation OF
controlled mines. The mining fields for
New York harEor will be off Sandy Hook,
between Fort Wadsworth and Fort Hamil-
tom and at the eastern entrance to Long
Island Sound. 1t will take only seven
hours to completely mine this harbOr.
Over one half of the emergency appro-
priatiOn of $50 GOO 000 has been allotted to
the War and Navy Departments in their
policies of defensive operations. SO far the
Navy has secured The larger portion of the
appropriation, owing to the necessity OF
buying ships abroad and the addition to
the service of over 20 boats of all classes
purchased in this country. More money
has been devoted to ordnance and ammY
milton, however. by both Departments than
to any other branch of the defense work.
Millions of dollars have been expended by
each branch Of the service.
Tho preliminary work of drafting war
measure has been begun by the Ways and
Means Committee. Chairman DinCley has
believed for some time that war could not
be averted, and, with a foresight char
actcrlStic OF the man, began two or three
weeks ago to look over the situation in
general way to ascertain from what articles
revenue could best be obtained. Within
the last week. since the situation became
critical, other members of the Committee
have been working with Mr.. Dincley.
Numerous Army officers who have been
on duty at institutions of learning through
out the country have been relieved from
duty and will proceed to Join their regi-
ments and stations to which they are as
signed. The understanding is that they
are to return TO duty at the institutions at
the heginninC of the next scholastic year
il not prevented by war
1t is understood that the authorities
have prepared Il call Tor 40 GOO volunteers,
to be issued if needed. President Lin
coins first call was taken as a basis for
the general form of this one. The strategic
experts are formulating prospective plans
of campaign. IL seems to be the accepted
view among these experts that il will not
be necessary to extend the campaign be-
yOnd the Island OF Cuba, unless Spain
assumed an aggressive attitude, in which
case the operations of the United States
military and naval forces would be ex-
tended to the Spanish possessions of Porto
Rico. the Philippines, the Canaries, and
possibly Spain itself. But there are now
100000 Spanish troops in Cuba-fully
armed and equipped, and in fighting trim.
These, an Army officer declared the other
day, in the event of q failure to- Subdue
Spain at once, would retreat to the interior.
driving back the poorly -ammuni!ioned in
Surgents. Our troops would pursue but
not he able to diSlodge and capture the
SpanlaruS unless we sent great numferS OF
men. The result might be that a war in
Cuba will be waeed all Summer, with yell
low Sever and typhoid as side issues.
1t is possible that the Naval Militia and
merchant marine may be enrolled into
the regular service. In such case the
Navy will be increased by nearly five thou.
sand more or less weil trained officers and
men belonging to the militia and by the
further addition of large number of capa-
bic officers and men who form a portion of
the merchant marine. The Naval Militia
organizations would be used for coast de-
Tense purposes. but il is intended by the
Department that they be available in case