The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1897-08-21
THE SHIPS Of SPAIN
concluded from Third Page.

The United States has four first
class battle ships and Spain only one.
The United States has four vessels
of the armored cruiser class and Spain
six. But although Spain has the
greater number of this type the four
United States vessels could undoubt-
edly destroy all the Spanish six.
Without going into details concern
ing all the craft on each side. it is
safe to say that within three months
of the beginning of war Spain
would not have vessel ahoat outside
of her best defended ports.
The United States has thirteen nom
sea-going coast defense monitors of
from 1.SOO to 2.10O tons displacement,
which could be utilized for the de-
Tense of harbors. Spain has two of
553 and 700 tons, respectively.
Spain has number of small gun
boats. used as coastguard and patrol
in Spain. Cuba. Porto Rico, and the
Philippines, which are more than off
set by thiry-four vessels in our rev.
enue service, and the small steamers
that are employed by the engineers
department of the United States
army. There are also in the navies
such as the Lancaster. Hartford, Rich
mond, Wabash, Minnesota and Frank
lin (American), and the Almanac.
Blanca. Carmen, Lealtad and Asturias
(Spanish).
Many war ships are being built for
each nation-77, 547 tons for the
United States and 1856 for Spain.
America builds her own ships. but
several of the Spanish ships are being
built in England and Germany. Should
war break out the ships building
could not be finished in time to take
part in it, for it is certain that Spain
would be exhausted financially in II
few months, even if her ships were
not destroyed in less time.
In the winter of 1S74sthe Spanish
ridiculed the motley feet that the
United States sent south to enforce
our demand for reparation on account
of the Nirginius affair. They said we
sent landing parties on shore to drill
because we were afraid to trust large
bodies of men on the rotten decks of
our ships. FL Cronista. a Spanish
newspaper published in New York,
declared that 10000 Spanish regulars
could march from New Orleans to
New York, whereupon the Herald re-
piled that they could if they be-
haved themselves, but if not the po-
lice would take them in charge"
That these ideas are held by men of
supposed intelligence is shown from
a conversation that took place a few
months ago between a Spanish con-
sui at one of our important seaports
and a well-known American author.
While discussing the Cuban question
the consul became very much excited
and declared that he, as well as hun
dreds of thousands of his country
men. would hail with delight the out
break of hostilities between the
United States. When asked what
Spain would do, he replied: "First
we would eat up your little navy and
then destroy your coast Notifications
and lay your cities under tribute"
If they should succeed with the
ships they might eventually collect the
tribute, but our navy was always diff
cult to swallow and apt to disagree
seriously with those who attempted
it. The Herald's Handwriting on the
WALL might so work upon the feo
ings of the guests as to cause ljG ~
to go home without partaking of the
feast,