The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1893-04-13

| from a modern gun would crash through their
sides though nothing resisted. modern
/ torpedo would creep along under darkness and
blow the ship TO atoms before the occupants
could say good-by to earth. A modern cruiser
could soon rid the sea of merchantmen if there
WAS better protection than of those
clumsy boats
Modern inventions run in two ways. As fast
as destructive machines are invented, some
! thing is Immediately searched after to prevent
| the sane. Probably the same inventor Will
4 invent one instrument TO prevent the use of
| the other
/ noticed these when | visited the Spanish
/ navy-yard at Cadiz. Although it is not tho
! most extensive i have seen yet it contains
specimens of all sorts of ships. and ships are
| constantly in course of construction. Side by
| side with u couple of old wooden ships was
moored a modern cruiser. Instead of having
| SO much deck out of water the new models are
| built low. The strength is. however, tbere--
| it exists in the mighty engines under water.
Then. several forbidding guns peep out from
convenient portfolios. In short. it does not
| look like a thing to be trided with.
large. new battleship WAS in process OF
construction. The hanmering at the heavy
steel plates was almost deafcnng. 1t is strange.
| too how long it takes 10 complete one OF these
sea monsters Months make little impression,
| aud ii is only after years Of constant work that
| tho ship is ready for floating; especially in
/ Spain tie time is very long.
There are four navy dock-yards Oh the coast
! Each one is very extensive, and vast
! scale None are being worked to their full
capacity. Thousands could be employed a,
each one were there any necessity.
Several of tho present boats Of the Spanish
| navy are very powerful ones. The "Reina Re-
! rente" or, in English, =" Regning Queen" is
! reckoned the best. and is usually sent to foreign
naval celebrations. Tive or three others are
also very creditable vessels. Ii will, OF course,
+, not compare in strength with the French OF
| English navy.
| What would be the comparative strength Of
| Spain in the event OF European trouble is diff
| cult to say. France. her nearest neghbor, is
| mighty power ! should say that the country
would stand little show by the side Of the most
of her neighbors. Her army is not SO numer-
| Gus. nor do think well trained.
Likewise Spain stands by herself as mill.
| tary power. No alliance of Nations includes
this country. So it is only by preserving strict
| neutrality that Spain can best exist
| Then comes the question. If country can
| not compete with its neighbors, what is the
use of supporting such a large army? 1t does
| seem like waste Of finances and a burden
upon the people.
Some of the towns are well fortified and
strongly garrisoned. Especially is that true of
| some of the coast towns
Spain is well situated to be neutral The
! Pyrenees Mountains separate it from the rest
| of Europe. 1t is almost as well situated as If
| it were an island.
No one can tell here in Europe how long
peace and quiet will remain. War may spring
| up almost any time, and then these armies will
be useful in reducing the surplus population
| Possibly at some time in the future tho Nations
may have thcis eyes opened to their folly