The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1899-11-10


THE ordnance department has had
its attention called to it's lmperfeotions
In such strong terms, especially as re-
CARDS its failure to have on hand a
proper supply of smokeless powder,
that 1t is hardly necessary to make any
further comments. But there are few
other points, not so well known to the
public, that should be referred to.
There was some excuse for the coast
artillery heavy guns not being supplied
with sufficient projectiles, for the ma
terial was new and recently installed,
and the field artillery was also in
good condition Except as to powder);
but the siege artillery was in a pitiful
state, and Gen. John T. Rodgers had
Il stupendous task to perform to get it
into any sort of shape at Tampa be-
fore it could be taken to Santiago. It
was slow to arrive, wrong parts were
sent, the carriages did not At the
pieces, and everything went about as
wrong as it could. Indeed, after arrival
at Santiago hardly single piece could
have been used. Again, the depart
ihSht Hdu Idlleu 10 duOpL a Tdplu-uTs
gun for the coast forts. Now, IL is a
principle, laid down by our best au-
thority, Gen. Abbott (formerly of the
Engineers), that the rapid-fre guns OF
a fort should at least equal those
which any fleet can bring to bear on II.
But the ordnance department had
provided none, and yet our government
bought what it could of the English
Armstrong kind when the war opened.
Why did the department not have a
supply on hand? If they have no good
rapid-fre pattern of their own, why
not recommend the best foreign pattern
obtainable and adopt It until they do
have one Of their own? Turning to
Major Story's report again. we find that
not single artillery fire command in
the United States Is properly equipped,
that is, the equipment for position
finding, control and direction of fire has
not been supplied by the ordnance de-
partment. The act of March 2, 1899,
provides for two machines for each
battery of heavy artillery, but the
ordnance department has not yet sup
piled the tools to render this act ef-
fective. Orders of the war department
and army regulations indicate that the
ordnance department should supply the
blanks for target practice, but 1t has
not done so. OF course. these points
bear only in a general way on the sys-
TEN and efficiency of the department,
but they serve to illustrate that even in
peace time there is room for improve
ment, and in war time several of the
departments have not been all they
could have been"
Now these charges, given in detail
without personal motive and typical of
many brought in similar spirit by re-
putable army men having in view
simply the good Of the service, are too
indicative of faulty staff organization
to justify letting them pass. We doubt
If there are ten men in the regular
army not personally interested in main
tanning the staff on it's present basis
who agree with the opinion expressed
by Adjutant General Corbin. In fact,
General Corbin gives his own case
away "ACA ilS piOpOSeS the uetdll OIL
an extra first lieutenant from each
troop, battery and company for SER
vice in the several staff departments. In
order to fit them for work in those
departments in an emergency But
there is needed, moreover, a general
staff college for the special training Of
officers in the higher tactics, strategy,
organization and mobilization; great
er elasticity in the organization Of the
staff, with the staff personnel subject
to the orders of chief of staff remov-
able at the presidents option; and.
above all, opportunity in time Of peace
to drill and vancouver the regular
army in brigade and division masses,
so that, when it has to work in mass
its officers and men will know how to
go about it.
The idea that war can be prepared
for after IT has been declared ought
by this time to be pretty we'll ex-
exploded in this country.
According to General Ludlow, mill
tary governor of Havana, the death
rate in that city, which last year was
lLJ in 1000 Oh the population, is now
only fraction over 26 In 1000. Ha-
vana, says he, is substantially as
healthy city as Washington or New
Orleans. General Ludlow adds: eve
are weakening the inherited proclivity
for cruel and bloody forms of sport
by substituting horse racing for bull
fighting and cock fighting. Something
has been done toward the codification
of the laws. and a school system in
which Spanish will be used is being es-
tablished. The charges upon the pub
lie support are decreasing. At the be-
ginning of the year we were feeding
$4,000 persons. Now the number is
1000. The Spanish immigration con-
sists of laborers and will prove bene-
ficial in the end. l think. The island
will attract few Americans. As yet
there is no comprehensive plan of de-
veloping railway communication Time
and money are required for the re-
Mobilization - the sugar industry. The
tobacco industry is recuperating more
rapidly, as it requires less capital. The
general outlook for Cuba is good, but
much is still to be done" That so
much has already been done certainly
speaks we'll for the men who have
done It.
Before the true facts concerning the
situation at Ladysmith can be learned,
It is probable that the liars Will have
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