The times., 1898-05-06
THEY WANT TO FIGHT
Men With the BIOckading Squad
ron Growing Discouraged.
WOULD LIKE TO GO TO SPAIN
TP to This Time the Administration
Has Done Nothing to Arouse the
Least Enthusiasm i'm the Navy
The Men Cannot Understand a Pol
fey OF Peace i'm Time of War.

with the Blockadine Squadron off Ha-
vana, April 80, via Key West, Fla, May
L-The men Of the North Atlantic Squad
ron, under Admiral Sampson. the majority
OF whom are now in or near what may
be called Cuban waters. are rapidly COM
ing TO the discouraging conclusion that
the Administration is committing itself
20 the porcupine policy in conducting the
naval part, at least, Of the war for the
Spanish expulsion.
Many things have served TO drive them
toward this conclusion. The establish
ment Of what was called in Washington
"a peaceful blockade, was one Only
about one hundred miles Of the coast
Grom Cardenas 10 Mari.D Is under guard.
though war steamers do cruise a few
miles beyond each point. And then. after
having bIocRaGed the ports and excluded
from them an sorts Of supplies, along
comes a transport, under Government
supervision. loaded with LOCO tons Of the
best kinds Of foods and medicines. and
these are 10 be sent through the block
ade and distributed 10 the Spanish troops.
OF course. the nominal destination OF
these supplies is among the starving
non-combatants. whose condition has been
rendered by the blockade still more griev-
Gus than it was formerly.
The Administration seems to hope that
reconcentrados viii receive the food and
medicines and that, too, in spite Of the
fact that soldiers rule in Cuba and are
now undoubtedly in need Of a variety
in their diet if not in need Of a suffi-
tain . Gordon Of ships of shore with one
hand for the purpose Of starving the
Spanish while the other hand shoves
through not only large quantities OF
plain food. but delicacies and medicines
a. well, is a policy that plain men-o1-
wars men cannot understand.
Ii Locks Like Covardice.
However, that is not the chief cause
q their complaint. Indeed they would
much rather meet a Spaniard with a fun
belly than one weak wiki hunger.
The one order that has discouraged
them more lhan any other was that
which sent The Columbia and AIinneapo-
lis TO The New England coast 10 protect
the towns there from couple of Spanish
arm0red cruisers that had left port on
the other side and might be manned by
brave and aggressive men. and so might
come over and make trouble for peaceful,
New England seaside resorts. Two-con-
slider il welI-iwo Spanish cruisers had
left port, destination unknown, and at
once the great American porcupine must |
curl up and stick oct a quill here ana /
there. TO iTritate the throat Of the ag- |
gTessiVe Spanish cur.
Certainly-so the officers unanimously |
say-if ever there was an exhibition OF |
c0Warclce BY an American Administra- 1
lion. < was when The Minneapolis was
sent 10 the coast Of New England, in /
stead of the coast Of Spain.
Worse SET is The report just now cur
rent IL The Zee; off Havana saying that
the battlsshlps and monitors are 20 be l
drawn from the squadron here and sent
North 20 protect the Atlantic Coast from
Inc aggression Of these two scooter
cruisers, leaving the unarm0red cruisers
ana gunbOats 20 blockade the Cuban
coast But this TumOr. the rnen-of-wars
men refuse 10 believe. Il IS impossible
Tor them 20 imagine The American people
ln such panic as 10 demand the battle
ships for harb3r defense against TWO
svp0-tOn cruisers.
No Enthusfasm Aroused.
The truth of The matter Is there has
not been single move IN the program
q me war So far 10 arouse one wave OF
enthusiasm aii9at. The Administration
thrust aside the Infamous destruction Of
Inc Maine and substituted as 4 cause "a,
War matter On which The NAVY hsd NJ
interest u held the ships at Key West
inactive unt.l their crews were d!ssglIstea
~ sent them an last TO Cuba not 10 6pbf
bli under strict orders not TO shoot until
am nHr. I'D