The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-03-17
GRESHAM is CRITICIZED.
Diplomats Think He Should
Not Have Acted Upon
Moments Impulse.
PRESENT NAVAL SITUATION
Warships to OverWheln1 the Span
iards Can Be Ready in a
Week.


Gresham is still very sick, but was at the
department for a few hours to-day He
said TO CALL correspondent that he had
not yet received any word from Minister
Taylor at Madrid in regard to the Alliance
affair, and also that there had been no
developments in the case Great interest
is manifested in the matter in official
circles. There is an impression that the
Spanish Government will make its reply
by merely handing Minister Taylor his
passports and severing all diplomatic re-
lations with the United States. This would
place the countries in the position now
assumed by Venezuela toward Great Brit
ain, France and Denmark.
As might have been expected Secretary
Gresham is severely criticized for his course
IN the Alliance affair. There are many
persons outside of the pale of national poll
ties, including several prominent diplo-
mats, who believe that ne has allowed his
patriotic zeal to warp his sober Judgment
in his treatment of this important inter
national incident. These critics united in
the opinion that he erred in demanding
reparation and an apology before Spain
had been given an opportunity Of present
ing its side of the case.
According to them it was only fair that
judgment should be suspended at least
until the Spanish naval officer alleged to
have been responsible for the outrage COM
planned of had reported the matter to his
own Government. According to one diplo-
matte authority this report might have
been entirely unsatisfactory to the Spanish
Government, in which event the officer
would be court-martialed and a proper
apology offered to the United States, with
out even suggestion that such a thing
was expected.
Regardless of the action of Spain, the
United States is fortunately better pre-
pared now than ever before to protect its
commercial interests in the West Indies.
Ifit becomes necessary there can be con-
centrated on the coast of Cuba. within a
weeks time at most, a feet of warships
UNNECESSARILY superior to any similar force
OF Spain.
This condition is more the result of cir
cumstances than design and is due pri-
marily to the fact that the principal part
OF the home squadron has repaired to
neighboring waters for fleet evolutions and
exercises in accordance with programme
prepared months before anybody ever
dreamed OF any occasion for their presence
there for the maintenance of national
honor.
Never before has the United States had
such powerful array of warships in the
Caribbean Sea. The feet is in command
of Rear-Admiral r. w. Meade. 1t COM
prises the armed cruiser New York, Cap
tain r. D. Evans. of $500 tons, carrying six
eight-inch and twelve rapid-tire four-inch
guns; the triple-screw flyer Minneapolis,
Captain Wadleigh of 1915 tons, with one
eight-inch, two six-inch and eight rapid
fire four-inch guns; the cruiser Cincinnati,
Captain Glass, and the cruiser Raleigh,
Captain Miller, sister ships of 3213 tons,
and each carrying one six-inch and ten
rapld-tire four-inch guns the Roach, the
cruiser Atlanta, Captain Cromwell, of 1925
tons, with two eight-inch and six six-inch
guns, and the cruiser Montgomery, Com
mander Davis, of 2074 tons, carrying nine
rapid-fire nine-inch guns
These are all new steel cruisers, provided
with the best modern armament, are with
the exception OF the Atlanta, and capable
of the highest speed. Although somewhat
scattered at present, they can easily be
concentrated at any given point in the
than weeks time
The New York, Minneapolis and Gin
cinnati are at La Guayra, Venezuela; the
Atlanta and Raleigh at Colon, and the
Montgomery is on the Honduran coast
These vessels constitute force overwhelm-
ingly greater than that of Spain at present
available for service in Cuban waters.
The other vessels that can speedily re-
enforce the squadron are the triple-scre
cruiser Columbia, which is under orders to
sail from New York next week to Join Ad-
miral Meade's feet, and the cruiser Chi
cage, Captain Mahan, of $500 tons, carry
ing four eight-inch, eight six-inch and two
five-inch guns, which arrived at Bermuda
to-day from Europe. The Columbia is
sister ship to the Minneapolis, and carries
the same number and character of guns.
The other vessels that can be made
available within a few weeks are the battle
ship Maine, 6682 tons, with four 10-inch
and six 6-inch guns, the new monitor,
Puritan, 5000 tons, with four Pinch Essex
rapid-tire 4-inch guns, and the modern
monitors Miantonomoh, Amphitrite and
Terror, 1890 tons each, and each carving
four 10-inch guns. These vessels are at the
navy-yards on the Atlantic coast and can
be put in commission at short notice. Two
other vessels that could also be utilized are
the nondescript Vesuvius and the old
wooden man-of-war Lancaster, now receiv-
ing modern battery at New York.
Thus it appears that the United States is
fully prepared to maintain any position it
may assume with Spain with regard to the
free, unmolested navigation of the waters
of the West Indies.
WILLING TO RECTIFY.
C..:., MN DID,. n Dn..o...