Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-01-25
A COMPARISON OF FORCES.
"nat the English May Have and what
| Americans Could Do.


From the Figaro.
NJ Vignaud's statement that the Ameri-
Can feet would be able to destroy or TO
paralyze in one month all the commerce of
England, and that the United States would
Immediately And the millions for as many
war ships as they might need, has not in
huenced the English. Confident of the
power Of their forty-four battle ships, their
142 cruisers and their ITO torpedo boats,
our neighbors on the other side of the
strait look with a certain contempt upon
the fleet Of the United States, which num-
bers only about forty vessels, or nine bat
Tie ships, twenty-five cruisers and few
torpedo boats. This disproportion of forces
appears to the English so utterly crushing
repulse.
On the other hand the Americans in
blowing the war trumpet Immediately after
the defiant message Of President Cleveland,
seem to be a little too hasty. 1t is evident
ly the recollection of the wonders accom-
pushed by their sailors during the war Of
the rebellion that fires their ardor. 1t is
true that during that fratricidal struggle,
Wnlch lasted during four years, the federals
ana confederates succeeded in creating
meets almost out Of nothing.
1t is also true that, taking advantage of
the initiative spirit and the boldness which
nave never deserted the Americans. the
men Of both north and south were able TO
revolutionize the art of naval warfare.
They made improvements, introduced
novelties and invented new engines, such
as ironclads. monitors and torpedo boats
But in 1861, at the commencement of hos
tilities, the two adversaries were evenly
matched In the means at their disposal
means which were utterly insufficient il
not completely worthless. The conditions
OF the possible future conflict are altogeth-
er Inherent. If the spirit of invention and
OF enterprise still remains as active as ever
among the Americans, if their industrial
resources have been developed during the
past few years in marvellous proportions
IL by intelligent and patient efforts they
nave been able TO create an effective fleet,
without drawing upon any foreign products,
II must none the less be remembered that
eEey propose to quarrel with a power es-
sentially maritime, which, on the one hand
occupies In an industrial point of view an
incompatible position, and on the other
Possesses the greatest navy in the world
Engllshmen would do well to remember
That in lS12 the Americans made war upon
them with a fleet small in number and
weak in preparation. But for all that, five
English frigates fell into the hands of the
eremy during the very first months of the
struggle, and it did not take long for those
IN London to become convinced that their
enemy, SO much despised on the outbreak
OF hostilities, was we'll worthy of serious
consideration. What happened at that time
might be repeated again, and the American
navy Of 1885, however small il may be in
the number o.. its Ships might well be able
TO make more imposing enemy suffer
very considerable losses A nation that
lives upon its maritime commerce alone has
much to dread from the attacks of cruisers
pololy commanded. And since the Ameri-
cans nave refused to sign a sanction of the
treaty of Paris. which would bind them to
the suppression of privateering, they are at
perfect liberty to create any number they
please of auxiliary cruisers, so that the
war which they could wage upon English
steamers and sailing vessels might be re-
equitable in the extreme