New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-04-28
C0RBIN SPEAKS on ARMY.
Many at Dinner at Brooklyn Union
League Clnb.

About two hundred members and invited guests
~ the Union League Club 81 Brooklyn ard the
T. & Grant Post SO 90. c. a r.. were at "A
dinner last evenirg at the clubhouse. in Grant
square in honor Of The lirthday of General Grant
general Stewart l.. WUodfcrd presided. At the
rpe-ial guests tabie were General Henry e. Cor
lin T.. 5. A; General Thomas n. Hubbard. of the
loyal Legion; John ". Griggs, eN-l-uited States
Attorney General and former Governor Of New
Jersey: Senator Henry Marshall. David Thornton
president Of the Union League Cluh. Borough Pres
ideut Littleton Of Brooklyn. James S. Clarkson,
Police Captain Mics O'Reilly. commander OF Grant
Post; and the Rev. Marcus =. Taylor. chaplain Of
tho post
GENERAL CORBIN's SPEECH.
General Corbin spoke on THE Army and Nav
Zach Able 70 Sustain the Nation" lie said in part
Recently distinguished Senator made an appeal
Cor a reduction IN the expenses o. The army ang
me 20 make careful stuGy OF his suggestion 80 far
IL eco8ofnealiy a@mi1issred no one viii Question
that il is and mas beea. no one acquainted Win
FIRST let US take me say o. the officers and men
increase in the pay OF the enlisted men with an
additional allowance OF about 'hree doi-aTs >
Rico The paw OF the officers is the fixed
bg congress in 1870 and was either too much then
or is TOO little now. ] have known not few cases
where. with families anu frequent changes Of sta
lions. conditions have arisen little short Of piiEa-
sion and hardship As one whose term Of active
service is drawing 10 "A close. and who can Ia no
,,,-izeus ycur great influence 70 induce the
0ensatioa Tor these rnen-ren who have been ever
faithful 70 Their trusts enc VI by tRer , iate IN
iectations 81 their countrymen- a..
The subsistence OF soldiers costs moi quite
% cents a day each or less than Sc a month man;
their clothing $40 year; SO lnat the yearly esL 81
sood and clothing FOR each enlisted man in our ser
vice amounts to o1ly about SHE wlsh 20 5e-
Goods are OF standard qualltY.. DuIHg We eFa-
isn-Amer1can War many 5000 people We're as Is
was not Win he quantity OF the quality OF ne
cr-n
The rations were the same as were issued 70 our
10 hose o. any other army in that expedition. on
10 less authority than THAI Of Field Marshal Count
This however. is not the largest part OF the cost
The hospitals medicines and medical supplies quar-
ters Ior re oInceIS ana men ~ I4se .lIiu ti
cor those "a the held pack trains wagon. railroad
and field ariery-al of these obtained from the
snent. Expenditures this account are large much
larger than before the war with Spain. by reason
q the force required il the naw country We have 10
cover The Manufacture 81 ordnance. ordnance
fixtures and ammunition the best and most nodeTn
arms and explosives being used: i necessarily e1-
pensive Both guns and ammunition must he mace mace
~ tliiiS q 49, - ell a. = - s.1i,-r- 80
p-ojectiles for seacoast guns could he expected be
present rate. our reserve ammunition viii not he
completed for twenty-sx wears and this reserve j.
hcations a. the beginning Of a war and does not
include what should DE in the main depois ol
Our small arms are made AT government works
one at Springfield. Mass, and the other at Rock
Island Arsenal Il. al cost Of SO apiece The c.
pacity OF the two arsonals for eight hours work.
about one hundred thousand year: SO that Il viii
require some time TO provide sufficient number 70
the regular army and the militia - the sey-
eral States with the improved model recently
guns ana explosives have rendered those in use
? few years ago wholly obsolete and wortnlesS-
military establishment For this there is no help:
q must be So or We drop below the mark or 81
fciency and usefulness. A cheap arm IS but an
other name for an inefficient army.
We now have more than eleven hundred guns
r. position at different points on the Atlantic and
Pacific coasts An effort IS being mace 70 lno nc
the States having militia adjacent 70 our foTtica-
and have them instructed in the firing and handling
~ heavy guns. and from which, in case Of war,
liberal appropriation by the government FOR this
special purpose would be well
themselves in good condition and need give you no
concern, but the officers and men caring for them
forts in the harbor little short OF a reproach
10 rhe service and vet nc one connected with the
service is 10 blame. Time and again appropria-
rions have been asked Tor. and urged. but without
avail. Your own Fo-t Hamilton. marking IL
that with Wadsworth IS the first OF which all
and form their first impressions Of military
strength. So that over and above the comfort Of
81 no r1ean Importance involved. VIII you not az
good citizens ~ Brooklyn take this matter up
fhem 10 do ali fl their power to secure The much
needeo appropriation 70 rebuild Fort Hamilton
6nd the other posts n the harbor: Fort Hancock
Is the only that does not require treatment on
. liberal and comprehensive scale.
II I could have my say. in time OF peace re-en-
Istments would not be encouraged beyond num-
hers sufficient I'll the grade Of non-conrnissoned
ofhcers Men serving an enlistment OF three wears
should have every Instruction that be given
there enrolled national reserve force With
three years instruction, drill Of few days each
emergency. Mr.. Root. Secretary OF War, urged
this upon Congress hut without avail. II would
sble for legislation and urge il until satisfactory
results obtained.