The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-04-07
l0UR NAVY AND SPAIN'S.
Some Things that Must BE Taken Into
Consideration.

The confidence and pride with which the
people of the United States regard their
new navy. as represented by the powerful
squadron now concentrated in Southern
Atlantic waters, is we'll justified. There
is good reason to believe that in a sea
fight, with any force that Spain might
possibly send 10 oppose us, the Stars and
Stripes would wave over decisive VIC
tory for American men, ships, and guns.
And yet. this is by no means the fore gone
conclusion that impulsiye patriotism
tempts us to assume.
In view Of the necessarily experimental
nature of modern naval warfare, the ter
rble destructive force of the new engines
Of battle, and the unexpected resources
of strategy that would develop, apparent
inequalities disappear. aud the combat is
as man 20 man. Meanwhile, a general
comparison Of the Spanish navy with that's
of the United States will show that the
existing inequalities while I'm our favor,
are less than the average American sup
poses.
In making such comparison. it is as
well TO eliminate speculations about phi
vateers and auxiliary cruisers improvised
from the merchant marine; also the pur-
chase OF vessels ready-made from neutral
powers. In case of actual war, probably
the issue would be decided by the battle
ships. the torpedo boats and the coast
and harbor defenders. Some authorities
think the torpedo boats would play the
most important role OF all
In such cases Spain would have the ad-
vantage of us in one respect, at least
Her hotilla, or flying squadron, which has
left the Canary lslan-s. pre- umably on It's
way to Cuba, and which we are watching
with no little solicitude, embraces three
hrst~class torpedo boats (the well-known
Ariete and RayO among thom) and three
torpedo boat destroyers. OF the latter,
the "destroyers," which are more feared
than even battleships and armored cruis-
ers. the United States has never built nor
contracted for one; our only immediate
hope is In acquiring one or more by pur-
chase abroad. OF the dozen or more tor
pedo boats nominally available for our
squadron under Admiral Sicard, not more
than half the number are actually in COM
mission at the present moment.
In the matter of coast and harbor de-
Tense we are, of course. better off, with
our monitors, new and old. Then, we
have the dynamite cruiser Nesuvius, and
the unique ram Katahdn. But when We
come TO battle ships aud other fighting
armorclads. how does the comparison
stand? We have in the North Atlantic
and Gulf waters four battleships-the
and the Texas; and two armored cruisers
the Brooklyn and the New York. Tho
Oregon is Oh her way from the Pacific,
via Cape Horn, but it will be many weeks
before she can reach Key West or Ha-
vaba.
The Spaniards have now at Havana the
three powerful armored cruisers Vizcaya,
Oquendo, and Alfonso XIf-vessels of
1908 tons displacement. with Pinch ar
NOR belts. 10 l-2 inches of steel on the
barbette. and carrying each two n-inch
rapid-hring guns, two machine guns, and
twenty guns Of lesser callber. These may
he compared, though somewhat disadvan-
;ageously as 10 speed and armament
tie Brooklyn and New York. Spain's
available hattleshps are the Pelayo
(sbout equal In our indiana class IN size
armor and armamenD, now preparing al
Marseilles: and the lesser second-class
ships Vitoria and Numancia, at Carta-
gena. Her other principal armorclads, onw
practically complete and ready for the
two flying squadrons organized at Cadiz
and Cartagena are: The first-class ar
mored cruisers lnfanta Maria Teresa
GOO tons. l2-inch armOr ll-inch guns)
and speed Of over 20 knots: Carlos V
q. 2S5 tons, Pinch armor. ll-inch guns)
and Christobal Colon; the second-class
cruiser Alfonso XIII: and three third
class protected cruisers-the Ensenada,
Luzon. and Cuba. This list does not in
cludc the new hrst-ciass cruiser VaTese.
which persistent runor declares Spain has
bought frcm Italy. The cadiz squadron
also includes, according TO latest report.
three torpedo vessels built IN Spain two
glish firms and the new torpedo gunboat
glish firms. and the new .orpedo gunboat
Dona Maria. whose recent trial trip at
Ferrol showed A speed II nineteen knots
These facts and comparison speak for
themselves The inevitable conclusion TO
be drawn from them is that less talk
and more preparation has been the mot.
TO with the Spanish naval authorities. at
least for a good many months past--Les-
lies Weekly.