New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-04-25
SPANS POINT OF VIEW.
THIS cOINTRY's MILITARY AND NAVAL
DEFENCEs EMBODIED IN A
MADRID REPORT.
THE ARMY's OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES OF THE
STATE MILITIA FAULTS ~ RECRUITING
SYSTEM f COAST DEFENcEs - THE
NAVY ILI~TREATMENT or

SAILORS ARMAMENT.
The following is an abstract OF a Spanish report
on the military and naval power OF the 'hn'd
States in 1896. and is significant in showing the
value which the Spanish Government dt'd'"'s -
our defences land and al sea.
The first chapter has for its subject the orsd"i"'-
ton Of the Army and after giving the eight de-
partments into which the regulars are divided ana
which in the last few weeks have heen chdhse"'
describes the composition Of the siaAuinS army
and us armament. In regard 10 the latter II says
The North American infantry is armed Win m, nlG
Improved Krag-Jorgensen rife. commonly sais s
tine new magazine rife which may , % uirny an
scrihed having calihre OF 90 eos
magazine holding five charges inc ca<aia "a 10
coi revover The artiliery field gun is of the Par
ro,t system. 49,, A.. IN
Gently adopted the Maxim machine gun Win
with a range Of sOH1 metres and an initial Veoci ,o
OF 5s4 metres for IS projectilcs, Is capaoe o. wv
discharges minute
VARIATION IN STATE MILITIA.
on the State Militia the report says
Besides the standing army there is an orssi'Ieea a
militia which may ne con siasreS a az modes
and into whose composition enter the eemen's :"
all the ahG to Sa{ }sTrt and artillery
The contingent o. these forces is very va1ah,"
on and I12on men. with only 500 officers. which
the figures corresponding WIN '"e ''oNo W
the last year 1875.
After a table OF the distribution OF the regular
troops and that Of the militia throughout the coun-
Try the report estimates the value OF the contingent
required TO bear arms 4, case Of war.
The United STATES ARMY has no reser.e 21opepS
peril the Constitution imposes the es n befWee 20
ssrSc upon al cze Sea ~o' nose persons who
snscordns to the statistics OF 1871 come under these
5 ,s. none 1S OF them has military instruction no,
even the most "dmentary II Is Gear tnat a, srS S
such an olcr.ert can he CONSIDERED OF o"' SnE"'
Importance In campaign service
1MpERFECT1oNS OF RECRUITING SYSTEM
Recruiting in the Army is the next subject con-
sidered IT,,
recrng Of ods5G' is by aTo Tn
NECESSARY physical ability TO be OF an age hoooe We
sixteen and under thirty-hve years ana 10 nH al
Least nye feet three inches in height Iho en-, bo
meoi il for :ern ot five years. renewable al 'he
desire Of tho parties inseresteS srcour,sred by the
recruiting service that, among the expenlen1ss en-,
worth While to TnG bY WSeh
fns officers may rural districts IN the hope O.,
sos ssen wafranrea P By the ssus
Among the nconveniences arising from tie I'm, I'M
e. ~ assertions observed in the Army. This Is O.
such an extent that The War Depa1'n,en, no
Sreoucncy OF this offence. which has always
reached considerable proportions OWING 10 sh ~
;be differen; arms seldom have their complete
effective strength
THE ARMYS EFFICIENCY
=. .r hs affirmed that the standing Army has
IN general sufficiently good instruction. Inc III
,art,v excels in the practice of firing. on account
~ a. abundant issue Of ammunition ana 'he a"'e'
.,rnuIus Of prizes for good shots II Is the art''-
-. ,,a, enters mos, from need Of sufficient IN
..ruc,on for although It's officers do not lack COM
ne,ency the little practice IT has IN 'he naiu.'"s
OF modern material puts II IN conoi'ion Oh M.
oritv as compared with the neld artillery OF huro
The cavalry scattered in separate squadrons over
che Western territory. with no more taStl.s 'tn n
without any regmental instruction ,eHective
many mounted guerlas rather 'han e"'N''''
The state militia although Their ns'T sssemb has
~bere they have had brigade exercises couid nOo
without dculty answer the Ths romplex duties
Which in that they would at once nave s Nd
perform. such as preparing suosdsLen n large masses
for the execution Of military operations 10 %or Th' all
they are sSier without taking into account
his necessary educaton-are circums SO tew ~
abrupt change TO wnac an,sa,n could not readily
their civc-military orsa'''N"'
adapt themselves
NOT TRUE FIGHTING FORCh'
=, many States the militia as at present or
ranized serves in the first place TOT 'he 'ia'p
fenance Of public order: and, althoueh WIN so IN.
ching more Of experience certain regiments MIS-
- banded together. make credl'aole appe" :,
o,a NAV be assured that the militia as pou!
.hould not be regarded as true fighting 1orce'
rha cavalry and artillery OF the militia are no less
daAcient than the infantry. from Whatever punt VA
view they are considered ..,,
Moreover such troops have no trahspof 'a'o'
q. when the forces OF various states mgn. De
70 co-opera,te ,h each other in order TO be able
10 mobilize and concentrate a. par snb tbat me
on reterred 10 are scarcely prepared. as
a comrlete unit within each state 10 oPf'o'o az
TSs Country conhdes the militia on account of
Nali
he same condtion-without regulary uaI. ~. %
orceand tina; It t sTss nsred to- to fatigue and
bsTtle~a time for preparation upon whicH. a. >,
suredy It would not count IN case OF 'n'e'na''0'A1
There the Rep9oSs no A4mT uses .he
ssTe r res Of different models and cali
bres. and generally ..s n sTes Army
Cn.n,e, " is devoted 70 coast defences and aiter
=. statement of the plans OF defence adopteo' such
as organization Of WATERWAYS parahei 10 ."e 80.
,he singing OF submarine mines. oaroette ana hoat
49,. h,,,er,es and channel distractions. the report
n-oceeds 20 show the deficiencies In the plan noi-
Gated.
deficiency IN DEF1NCEs.
r..., m. NAV rest assured. upon the faith OF
n.-..n,ionable witness General Miles himself
Wa,or-General commanding the Army mat tne
coast defences are extremely de'icieh'' d.
Until the present time not a gun mas oeoh Pu' "
-. ,or the defence Of Puget Sound The pieces
e. noslt,on TO defend the entrance OF Coiumo,a
River IN the neighborhood Of The cities OF A sns
and Portland old and o. N,,e va tue mort o.
San 1Francisco but although several myoen eep p
OF there nevertheless lacks much 70 com
pes plan Of Ssfsof of 4 San Deso
POI % INA, Of Puget Sound mentioned aoo'o' 'e
Completely mercy Of d 19I Nesco and on the
ATOMS ' roast the important cities OF Galveston
NeW.orleans Mobile Key West Rs,moro ana Phil
sdepa 1npoydsd wit w.n oa asd Of e
The few guns In p9sn III e.n o Of none Of these
batteries 10 detan squadron eqI bpt even M
ali the modern improxemeniLs "a The batteries al