The San Francisco call., 1898-06-20
THE WAR OUTLOOK.

NUR preparations for aggressive war have now | jOeen well nigh completed We have driven the
 V Spanish from the sea, and our troops are on the way to complete the conquest ot the Philippines and Spains colonies in the West Indies. We are virtually ready to make descent upon Spain herself if 1t should be necessary, and from this time forward 1t may be assumed we shall force the fighting and bring the war, ii possible, to swift conclusion
 Despite the canor of yellow journals to the con trary, this work of preparation has been done with remarkable efficiency and dispatch The declaration of war was issued during the last week Tn April, and before another week passed our fleets were in the West Indies, Mantanzas had been bombarded and blockade established at Havana, while Dewey had made his attack upon Manila and destroyed the Span ish fleet in the Orient The volunteer army was being rapidly enrolled and the regular force massed at points from which it could make descent upon the enemy at the first opportunity.
 This record has not been surpassed in modern wars even by European natons which are at all times prepared for war. In the contest between France and Germany the declaration of war was ls- sued July I5 1Szo but, near the combatants were to each other and already armed as both ot them were the first battle did not until August and peace was not made until May 1871. The war be- tween Turkey and Russia began in April, 1877, but it was near the end of July before the Russians crossed the Danube The British hostites against Egypt in 1882 began in June, but it not until July that her fleet bombarded Alexandra, and not until the middle of September that her army ot oc- clIpation advanced to give battle to the enemy.
 Since the great nations of Europe whose armies and naves are supposed to be at all time ready for immediate battle have required so much time to make the attack after the declaration of war, it is clear that our achievements have been remarkable for promptness rather than for delay The work already done is therefore, promise of vigorous ac- ton from this time on. We moving upon the Spanish lines on both sides of the globe, and the de mand is for unconditional surrender.
 The Spanish authorities evidently intend to pro- long the war as much as possible. Neither their troops nor their fleets are taking any risks They have hidden themselves securely possible be- hind Notifications and are leaving to take the initiative and do the fighting. Even by continuing in these tactics however, 1t is doubtful f they can hold out much longer It Is significant that many of their troops in Cuba instead of fighting desperately against the small American forces landed their entrenchments have either run away deserted The heart of the Spaniard is not in this fight He will quit as soon as he can, and perhaps his Government will initiate the example.
 At any rate the war, whether long or short, will not seriously disturb business, though 1t will en- tail heavy taxation and add to the public debt The great masses of our people will go with trade and industry as if there Spain IS vir- tually whipped already, and we have provided the means to defray the cost of the whipping, whether she yields to the inevitable this summer or next fall makes but little difference.