New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1873-11-14


a great disadvantage. The Spanish navy is much
superior in the number Of vessels. men,
aud weight of metal, Spain ranking as tnc
fifth naval power of the world, while INC
United States is not more than tehVn
rate power in this regard. Notwithstanding 'hi'
fact the Admiral thinks that an efficient addition !"
the naval strength of the country could be promptly
improvised should occasion require, and spoke wiz"
satisfaction of the achievements of some OF thc
wooden huks used in the late war in the HANDS u
unrivaled seamen. Congress, he said, was nv.
unliberal, but he felt that they h''
never sufficiently appreciated the needs oil the navy
Those needs he had repeatedly laid before thch ~
his annual reports, but had uniformly failed 10 GU
list their sympathetic consideration. speahins
more infinitely of the two navies in question: ho
said that "our present available force was All III
cluded IN the North Atlantic Squadron, which -
composed Of eight vessels all told, with ~ guns
and 1000 men, whereas the Spanish squadron IL
Cuban waters consists of IS vessels OF war ana 'V'
men. Only three of our available vessels are iron
clads and our whole naval service can muster p"'
$500 sailors and 1900 marines. Orr people advise
parsiInonious policy in time of peace ana thei
abuse the Government for the nsufclency OF
the navy when there is prospect OF WAT
Notwithstanding these disparaging figures. however
II
Pacific squadron would doubtless seize Manila ana
greatly damage Spanish commercein Eastern waters;
in the Mediterranean coalition could possibly DC
formed with the Carlist squadron" while in the
case of Cuba he should place great renaueo
upon our torpedo-boat system, in which
our men are well trained, and would; doubtless pe
very Efficient Speaking of the quality OF American
Sailors he said that if the word was given he hau
no doubt our boys would undertake the capture OF
Havana even if they had to tie torpedoes vi
the ends of logs and paddle themselves across
the Florida Channel" The eight vessels composing
the North Atlantic squadron he said, included 'no
Mahopac at Norfolk the Manhattan at Philadelphia
and the Powhattan and the Kansas at the BrookSh
Navy-Yard. The Juniata, at the Brooklyn laIu'
lust returned from the Arctic region. has not YET
been assigned to any squadron. The Roanoke also
mt the Brooklyn Yard, he said was ou'
of the question, being unfit for anything
but harbor defense. I'VE have no similar veSsei
that could cope with the Spanish frigate ArapleS
now in dry-dock here; but the Admiral thinks our
monitors would easily take care of her. lie gave ',
az his opinion that a few Cubans with pluck and
brains could take small tug-boat, with 'orpedoeS
handled according to our system, and shortly clear
every port in Cuba.
With reference to the late butchery, be sa'd
since the days of the middle ages" Spain, profess
inc to be a strong government, he could not believe
such precipitancy in the matter of dlsposng oil a
few wrotched Cubans could be explained except
on the ground that among the passengers
OF the Yirginians were large percent
age of prominent men whose death
the volunteers believed would terribly and elect
ually close the rebellion. This was an opportunity
they could not afford to let pass. hence The barbar
ity of Nov and 8. Abstractly speaking the whole
matter was q direct slap in the face OF
the United States. He also thinks that when
full particulars are known, the matter viii
wear a more nexcusable aspect than at present.
The Admiral himself knows something of Spanish
prisons having been captured while in the Mexican
service in 1921 aud imprisoned in Havana six
months. As to the Cuban patriots, he said
that simple regard for tho proprieties
of the case in consequence OF his official position,
had prevented any expression OF his personal views
heretofore blt he now felt at liberty to say that
their patriotism would compare with any nation on
the face of the earth. and that any American who
could now withhold his sympathy must be devoid
nf heart