Semi=weekly graphic. (Pine Bluff, Ark.) 1895-1902, 1896-05-30
IF THERE WE'RE WAR
OUR NAVY COULD EASILY REACH
CUBA IN SPITE OF SPAIN.

Admiral isanoe's Fleet Right al Hand.
Spanish Fleet 40 Match For ou7s-Fhe.r
Army Is Larger-The Insurgents would
Aid Us.
Should the United States and Spain
go to war the battles would be fought
first on the high seas and afterward on
the island of Cuba.
1t is altogether probable that the war
ships of each nation would attempt to
lombard the great ports Of the other if
the war continued for any time, but
operations would begin, in all lkeli-
hood, with an assault by the United
States ON Havana and other Cuban
strongholds and the mobilization Of
Spanish forces for their defense.
Any suggestion that the United States
would ever seek to send an invading
army into Spain, or that Spain would
attempt to send an invading army into
the United States, seems too improbable
to entertain
1t would be the nayies that would
first have to meet and, so far as modern
fighting ships are concerned, the United
States has the advantage four to one.
Furthermore, the pick of the United
States navy are now where they could
be quickly sent to Cuba.
The most formidable fleet of war yes
sells ever brought together by the Unit
ed States government is now gathering
i'll New York ha1bor and will soon all
be here, This fleet, which is under the
command of Rear Admiral Bunee,
would be able to make quick work of
the fleet which Spain has in Cuban wa
ters, and it would take Spain consid-
cradle time to get another fleet there.
First and greatest of the available
American feet is the battleship Indi-
ana. Spain has only one warship that
can in any way compare with her-the
Pelayo-which has a complete belted
armor of steel, varying III thickness
from IL s to If inches The Indiana
has steel afmor reaching in some
places Is inches III thickness. Her dis
placement IS 10, 231 tons, and the dis
placement of the Pelayo is $500 tons.
In speed the Indiana has an advantage
of nearly three knots an hour.
The armament of the Indiana is far
superior TO that Of the Spanish battle
ship She has four 3 inch guns, two in
the forward turret and two aft, arranged
In pains; eight s inch guns in barbette
and six inch quick firing 5000 tons,
four z 8 inch, six 4. and fourteen ma
chine guns, with five torpedo tubes
The cruiser Reina Mercedes, 5000
tons, six So, two 2. inch, thirteen rap
i'd fire guns and five torpedo tubes, one
torpedo destroyer and seven torpedo
boats
In operations ON the island of Cuba
Spain would have all the advantage at
the beginning, as she now has an army
there of about $50, 000 men, She has a
standing army ut home III times Of
peace of 100, 600 men and in times of
war of $50, 000 men. Her colonial forces
would add another goo, 900 to her total
army strength. She has naval reserve,
in which, as in the army, service is
compulsory, Of more than so, 600 men.
The present regular army strength Of
the United States is only 20, 900 men.
The national guard of the various
states has Il strength of 100, 900 men,
but they cannot be called upon for sery-
ice outside Of the country any more
than can any other citizen. In short, if
the United States wanted to raise an ar
my with which to invade Cuba it
would have TO be made up largely of
volunteers or drafted men.
But in fighting Spain ON the island of
Cuba the United States could rely on
the aid of the insurgent armies now
struggling there, and this would be a
most important factor. Speaking on this
point, Dr. J. Castillo, Cuban delegate
to this country, said:
IF the United States should send q
feet to Havana, it would naturally
cause the drawing i'll of the Spanish
lines This would leave the country
comparatively free, and within ten days
| believe an army of 30, 000 patriots
would be on the outskirts of the city
ready to cooperate with the American
naval forces. Within another ten days
think that the numbers of the Cuban
army would be increased from the prov
inces of the east to about so, 600
tOf course the Spanish army could
not mass anything like its full strength
at Havana, for there are other impor-
tant points which would have to be pro
tected, yet it is certain to my mind that
the appearance of a United States feet
off Havana would result in the break
ing of the blockade generally, and it
would be an easy matter to land all the
men, arms and supplies needed by the
patriots on the island
ct is certain that if the United
States did go to war with Spain there
would be very large number of patri
OTIS now III this country whose services
would be of special value who would
volunteer. There would be pilots among
them thoroughly acquainted with Gu
ban waters, physicians skilled in fight
ing yellow fever and other maladies
prevalent in that climate, and guides
who would be of great value ashore.
New York World.
Arrowheads and Chain In a Tree Trunk.
Edward Timson of Long Meadow,
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