The times., 1898-06-13
HAMPERED BY WAR BOARD.
The Naval Chieftains Wanted to
Strike Havana.

New York, June l2.-The Board of STRAIT
egy should be disbanded, not because of
any personal fault found with its men,
bership, but because it fails of its pur
pose.
Congressman in such matter hesitate
to be quoted. 1t was not possible to talk
with members Of the Strategy Board and
obtain their views as 10 the propriety
Of dissolution of that body. The board 5
door is locked. They decline to be ques-
toned on anything, past, present or flu
ture.
While one may not get near enough 10
any member of the Strategy Board 10
offer him a ripe peach, still one may get
at him from a distance
Sicard is a gray, wan man, worn with
years of sickness. His manner is kind
ly. his eye tired, his walk feeble and his
possibility of long, strong effort slight.
Sicard has never been aggressive nor orig
inal. His overstore OF caution has been
enhanced and impaired by age.
Crowninshield is the opposite Of Sicard,
they say in the grave, slow matter OF
caution, as above chronicled. He is be-
lieyed 10 be headstrong and reckless and
a born gluttton for gore.
Mahan is tail and exceedingly spare,
He Is a man of theories and sentences
No vast amount Of sea service ever ieli 10
Mahan- He was president OF that KIN
degarten OF naval conflict, the War Col
lege and Torpedo School, AT Newport
AT this seminary Mahan was indefatiga-
bic as well as skiliful TO invent numbers
of those war games that there ind
vogue.
None Of the three-Sicard, Crownin-
shield or Mahan-has seen much rigor-
Gus war service. All are looked on by
their brothers as book folksmen of bu-
reaus rather than sea dogs of rude stam-
ina and practical worth.
with the going Of Roosevelt and Bar
ker the roster of the board showed only
Mahan. Crownlnshield and Sicard. 1t so
stands today
There are sundry reasons for the de-
mand that the War Board should go.
AS first source of trouble the officers OF
the feet. from Sampson and Schley down
10 the newest cadet, resent the board. Inc
fleet officers are the day and night tar
gets of every Spanish bullet within range.
Their lives and honor are on the present
table of affairs being gambled for. Per
force they hate "theOrist."
What is the Board of Strategy sup
posed TO do? The theory is that IL VIII
advise with the President and Secre-
tary Long, both of whom confess TO naval
ignorance. The board may suggest an
operation against San Juan or an ad-
vance on Santiago.
This beard may. in its wisdom, possibly
by the advice of such as Hanna and Ell
kins who sell coal 10 the Government
as well as 10 many others, who as fur
nishers Of food and raiment and equip
ment and shot and shell and transporta-
ton make present money of the Govern
ment, fail TO suggest a smashing blow at
Havana.
When hostilities were declared Il was
war logic TO reduce Havana and delay not
a day. There she repOsed, the Spanish So
lar pleXus within arms length Of Key
West. She could have been made prey
and a spoil to our fleet within fOrty-eight
hours of lighting. And Sampson was
eager 10 begin.
Had Sampson and Schley acted by their
own impulse we would have had Havana
before Dewey took the Philippines But
such a point-blank hammer-and-tongs
movement was TOO blunt. too headlong and
too unstrategic for the Board of Strategy
and they counseled against II.
For the mistakes Il has done, for those
i; is doing. for others. so far as prophecy
may see. il threatens 10 do, the Strategy
Board should be dissolved.