The copper country evening news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 18??-1907, 1897-09-16
HOW TO THRASH SPAIN
Plan OF Naval Experts in Case
War Is Declared.
AMERICAN LINERS AS SCOUTS.

rno,e Sam Could Muster "a Squadron Equal
a. .nv Afoat on short Notice-some of
a.. D,a,eulties That Would Beset the
snanish neutrality-suspicious. at Navy
n.nartment I'm View of n Recent Visit of
Spanish Spy.
New York. Sept. 16.-The news that
Contain Jose Sobral, the naval attache
Of the Spanish legation, had been spy
tho around the United States coast for
ti6cations and navy yards has aroused
The navy department to the formation
~ n plan Of campaign against the fleet
cnain is bound to send in case war is
declared The north Atlantic squadron,
now cruising eff the capes of Virginia,
will he the fleet to meet and do battle
with the modern armada OF Spain. 1t
consists of the battleships Iowa, Mas
sachusetts, Indiana, Maine and Texas;
the armored cruisers New York and
brooklyn and the unarmored cruisers
Marblehead and Montgomery. This
squadron. in point of armor. speed and
weight of metal that can be thrown
broadside in a given time. is the strcng-
est ever gathered under the United
States flag and is compares favorably
with any squadron OF the worlds great
powers.
Dolphin In Bcadi-o's.
The secretary Of the navy knows at
every hour of the day just where it is.
and the dispatch boat Dolphin lies at
washington with steam up all the time.
IT, for instance. war should be declared
tomorrow the Dolphin would go dying
70 Hroir
sending him to Hayti, to the alternative
ports (Which are also coaling stations)
of SANTANA bay on the east coast. Both
have cable communications with Wash
ington for further orders. Then the
commerce destroyers Columbia and
Minneapolis would be sent straight
away to the coast Of Spain, and the four
American liners, ST. Paul, st. Louis,
Paris and New York, would be sum-
moned to the Brooklyn navy yard to
have fve-inch guns placed upon the
twelve platforms with which each is
equipped These six scout or OBJ
fervation ships would be told off TO
watch the ports of Cadiz or Terrol, the
only places in Spain where fleets can
be utilized.
Not Expected to Fight.
They are not supposed to do any
fighting. In fact, if any battleship came
out after them they are to run out of
danger, and then return to their watch.
In case the Spanish fleet takes five or
six weeks to get ready and the scouts
get out of coal, a collier will be sent
from some English port to fill them up
at sea. When the Spanish fleet-which
our naval experts expect will be made
up Of two battleships, five armored
cruisers, several unarmored cruisers
and three torpedo destroyers-gets un-
der way, il cannot move as a whole
faster than twelve knots. Our six ships
can keep up with this at half speed in
front and in rear and on the TANKS.
If any battleship leaves the. Spanish
squadron to engage an American yes
sci 1t will run-no ship in the Spanish
fleet could possibly overtake any one
Of our sX-and then work back to it's
bulldog watch.
Could Not Go Back Alone.
If one of the Spanish boats should
break down the whole armada would
nave to wait, for no boat would dare at
tempt Iimping back TO Spain alone. One
or two of our scouts could easily be
spared IN such emergency TO send it to
the bottom. In case of such a wait.
the four American liners, which carry
SOOO extra tons Of coal apiece in their
cargo spaces, could keep Columbia and
minneapolis supplied. In case the first
naval battle should turn in favor Of
the Spaniards our coast fleet, mobilized
at Key West, could keep them from
loHoWlng up the success. If our main
meet should defeat the Spaniards in the
nrst battle this coast squadron would
De sent across the straits Of Florida to
engage the fortifications of Havana.
Lee Says 1t Is Inevitable.
consul General Fitzhugh Lee, in con-
Versaton with personal friends since
ms return, has repeatedly expressed the
opinion that the Spanish are losing
srouhd every day in Cuba. and that
,heir chances OF subjugating the revo-
tu'lohlsts are more remote now than
ever In his official intercourse with
.ne state department he has not ven
'ureu 10 suggest a policy for this gov
'nneht TO assume, holding that il
~ouiu be improper for him to do so.
Al private conversation, however. he is
niore free, and does not hesitate to saw
nc , oelleves this government eventually
VIII De obliged to interfere and put a
s.op 10 the barbarity now being prac-
oced on the island.