The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1898-05-24
HALTING AND TIMID

Lord Macaulay was Of the opinion that
debating societies were not good COM
manders Of armies. No war has ever
BEEN successfully carried on with mass
meeting direction. Captain Mahan as
serts that the assumption of simple
defensive in war is ruin. War, once de-
clared, must be waged extensively, ag-
gressively-the enemy must not be Tended
on, but smitten down-'eYou may then
spare him every exaction, relinquish ev-
cry gain, but until down he must be
struck necessarily and remorselessly."
The complaint most frequently heard is
that the enemy is not being struck "inces-
sanity, remorselessly." or yet at all. The
answer that he cannot be found, proves
too much. If. with the aid Of all manner
of craft connected with our naval force
In West Indian waters, no enemy can be
found, what is there to prevent an inn
mediate advance on Cuba, with the ade-
quate land force now modified within
easy striking distance?
The ouly blow thus far administered
in this war was struck with weapons in
the hands Of the government long before
war was declared. The great victory won
Is jeojardized by the hardness Of the adj
ministration in taking advantage Of it.
The president and his advisers seem to
have been stunned by the vigor and eff
fectiveness of Dewey's blow. 1t has
proved more paralyzing to Washington
than to Madrid. That sort of warfare
was evidently not part of the program.
And IL orders were given to destroy the
Spanish fleet in Asiatic waters, 1t Is
obvious such an achievement was wholly
unlocked for, since no preparation what
ever was made to follow it up with REIN
forcements, with ammunition or supplies,
and there has not been a moment since
the last Spanish flag was struck in
Manila bay that our occupancy of the
islands has not been imperiled.
With half the Spanish navy at the bot
tom of the ocean, with the remainder OF
1t in hiding, the Washington authori-
ties still stand in awe of about the weak
est nation on the European continent to-
day. 1t was nine weeks ago yesterday
since the enemy's fiotilla of torpedo boats
left the port of Cadiz. Why we delayed
invading Cuba until it should cross the
ocean and make the achievement more
difficult, is one of the questions which the
people of this country are anxious to have
answered. The only Spanish vessels in
West Indian waters when the war be-
came imminent cleared out before it was
declared, leaving the ports, Of Cuba at
the mercy of our seal power, able at any
time to reduce the ancient and poorly
equipped Notifications and enter at will.
1t is conceded that, had we possessed
Cuba at that time, we might yet have
tomeet the Spanish navy on the water and
destroy it before peace would come. But
we should have accomplished what we
set out to do. We should have expelled
the Spaniards from Cuba. We should
have saved the lives of thousands of re-
concentrates, who have since died. We
of the land batteries upon the Spanish
ships when they came, instead of having
them turned upon our vessels. Indeed,
with the chief ports Of the island in our
possession, the. interior. held by. the in
surgents, there would be left no induce
ment for the Spanish armada to come
into western waters. Our combined fleets
would at all events be freed from the
onerous duty Of blockading ports, and be
In a condition to mass against any force
which might be sent against them.
n More than one hundred thousand vol
unteers have already been mustered into
service. Twenty-Five thousand are
camped at Tampa, as many more are
within twenty-four hours Of the gulf.
Our dispatches this morning say that
~"all Of the regulars and most of the vol
,unteers are equipped and we'll drilled,
ready for immediate SERVICE" and that
those who are not equipped can be
made ready at once" General Shafter
denies the report that the transports at
Tampa are not ready to steam away to
Cuba upon an hours notice. But he still
adheres to the belief that he will not
receive orders to move until the Spanish
Meet Is disposed Of" That may be a
month. it may be three months, or it may
be year. With the knowledge that
Cuba is not to be invaded until then. ID
Cervera likely to be more accommodate
Ing In the matter OF giving battle?
The plea is that the administration was
forced INTO war before 1t was prepared
The plea is that the army is not ready
The plea Is that time must be given fol
eflu and discipline. These several pleas