Evening star., 1899-01-30
WERE NOT READY FOR WAR
E1-Minister Woodford Tells About Our Con-
ditiOn Last Spring.
Capt o'NeiII Denies His Assertion re-
rnrding the NnNy-Grn. Flag
ler's Report.

Gen. S L. woodford. formerly United
States minister to Spain. revealed portions
OF the inner history Of events preceding the
war. In an address before the Army and
Navy Clnb in New York city SATURDAY,
night. According 10 the New York Herald.
he related circumstance showing how IA
prepared this country was to engage IN
hostilties. and declared that the United
States owes il to England thar the conflict
was averted long enough for the United
States to supply Itself with ammunition
He said that February lS lS.is three DAYS
after the Maine was blown up I'm Havana
harbor he received information by telc-
graph that this government did not POSSESS
enough powder 10 provide its warships and
iorjS Win two rounds for each gl.n
He was told that April l. would h. fhe
earliest date on which by any possibility
the United States could h. in any way pre-
pared. Even then n could not supply both
the army and navy with smokeless powder.
lie was instructed 10 use every arr G, pro-
long peace during the TWO months needed
for hasty preparation for war
Then England and her minister TO Spain
showed their friendship for America Rep
resentatiVes OF continental Europe In Mad
rid, General Woodford said. wer. hostile
10 this country and stood prepared 10
thwart any of our plans If only England
would Join with them. But THAI govern
ment and its minister remained luval 10
Gs, and by their attitude held the un-ym-
pathetic powers in check until AZ lrui-th
We were ready for the ISSUE. only FOR Eng
land. General Wn1dford said this might
have been impossible.
The secret Freight Train.
Ammunition for ships and forts had becn
obtained. and Admiral Dewey had received
his share. The way in which Il was FOR
wardei to him formed an interesting pnr-
ton OF Gen. Woodfara address. scaled
express train was sent speeding across tho
continent to San Francisco. So closely
guarded was the secret Of its freight irut
nobody outside Of Washington knew what
WAS on that train. and only TWO men IN
Washington possessed the Information.
Waiting for the train AT san Francisco
was steamship, "a which IN" cargo was
quickly transferred. The steamship made
all speed to Honolulu. and there again tue
cargo was transferred. This time TO N"
United States steamship Baltimore. She
took II Ia Hong Kong. where on April - Il
was distributed among the ships Of Dew
eys squadron. Ii was the powder lhat
won the American victory al Manila bay.
Minister woodford'> Demands.
Preceding this narrative Gen. woodford
told that when he was frs, sent TO Madrid
as minister to Spain his instructions were
to obtain justice for Cuba. procure prpr.s-
ton for Americas commercial interests in
the island ana demand the recall OF Gen.
WeyIer before October II lN9I.
The Duke of Tatuan. then Spanish minis
ter of foreign affairs. replied 10 the Amer
lean ministers demand that Cen. Weyler
would be retained in Cuba for TWO years.
But he was recalled TWO days before the
time named by President Mckinley. FOR the
Sagasta ministry had succeeded the con-
servatve government. and Weyler was or
dered home.
Readiness of the Navy.
Ordnance officers at the Navy Depart
statements regarding the alleged lack Of
readiness on the part of the navy.
Capt. ONell, chief Of the naval bureau
Of ordnance says:
IF Mr.. Woodfp-d received such informa-
ton on February l. ii was incorrect. 50 far
as the navy is concerned. The magazines
of all the ships Of the service were praCti-
caly full Of ammunition. Tho Navy De-
partment had for some time before thu war
fell that hOstilitics were impending and
had taken measures TO keep the ships well
supplied with powder and pcojecties."
Conditions in the Army.
Gen. Flagler, chief Of ordnance of the
army, in his last annual report, referred 10
the matter. in part. as follows: When hos
tilties We're apprehended The supply Of
powder aad projectIlcs was entirely mad
equate. only about one-hfth Of the supply
required being on hand. The plant for pro-
dUcinS SmOkeieSs powder was so small At
the outbreak OF the war that II was ncces-
sary 10 obtain ali powders of any kind that
could be manufactured. In fact. the man.
ufacturers were given orders to work on