The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-04-28
More Fireworks Demanded.

great many people seem to he disap-
pointed because the bombardment of Ha-
vana has not been begun, and because
there has not yet been naval battle. They
want the lighting to begin, and to continue
day after day until Spain announces her
BilliEgness to get out of Cuba. They
wouldn't admit, of course, that
they want any of our men
killed or our battleships destroy
ed, yet if they think a moment they can
hardly conceive of a condition of affairs
in which Spain alone would be the puf-
ferer.
Congress has decided that the Spaniards
must be driven out of Cuba, aud II has
given the President authority to drive
them out. The President is not going to
try to produce a series of dramatic eff
fects simply to please the unthinking
crowd and enable the sensational newspa-
pers to increase their sales. He knows
that war Is a very serious business, and
he realizes that his responsibility is very
great. He has no right to uselessly 5acri-
flee the lives of those who volunteer to
fight the country's battles, nor waste the
/ money of the people Under the advice of
the ablest men in the army and navy and
capable assistants in civil life he will
conduct the war in accordance with plans
which promise to bring the most sadsfac-
tory results in the shortest time.
The Secretary of War said yesterday, 10
the Washington correspondent of the
Morning News, that the war was being
conducted in accordance with plans that
had been given very careful and thought
full consideration. He made that state
ment, doubtless, as an answer to the crit
icism of some of the newspapers which
are clamorng for the bombardment of Ha-
vana and the landing of an army at once
in Cuba.
1t is clear that it would be a mistake
to undertake to reduce the defenses of
Havana before an army is ready TO &C.
cupy Cuba 1t may be that the 1900
troops which could be spared from the
regular army would be sufficient, with
the insurgent forces to compel the Span
iards to surrender, but who is there who is
who knows what the number of the armed
insurgents is? There are reasons for
thinking 1t is very small. II can be greatly
increased, however, provided arms and
ammunition can be delivered to the in
surgents. 1t is understood that arrange
ments are now being made to supply the
insurgents with arms and ammunition. 1t
takes time, however, to do that.
It is certain that with the volunteers an
Havana, Gen. Blanco has between $1,000
and $4,000 troops in Cuba. That being the
case, it is apparent that not only must the
invading army be a formidable one, but
there must be reserve force of very con-
siderable proportions, not only for the de-
Tense of our coast, but also to supply re-
Inducements in Cuba should the invading
army need assistance.
TO prepare an invading army. and a re-
serve force requires time-a great deal of
time. 1t will be several months before
the 125,OOO volunteers for which the Presi-
dent has called wiz be fully armed, equip
ped and ready to take the field.
But, in the meantime, Spain is not grow
ing stronger. on the contrary, she is
steadily becoming weaker. She cannot
stand a long and heavy drain upon her
finances. land where is Havana to get
her food supplies? With the ports of Cuba
closed, the Spanish army on the island
will soon be in starving condition, and
the people, suffering from the pangs OF
hunger, will insist upon SPANS granting
the demands of the United States. There
Is no good reason, therefore, why we
should force the fighting. We may not
have to send an army to Cuba at all, and
if we should have to it would be better
to send it next October. rather than next
| June.